Improved Fischer-Tropsch Economics Enabled by Microchannel Technology

Microchannel process technology offers process intensification, in the form of enhanced heat and mass transfer, to a wide range of chemical reactions. This paper describes the application of microchannel technology to the exothermic Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process, which converts synthesis gas into a petroleum replacement – synthetic crude or fuels. Synthesis gas to feed the FT unit can be derived from a variety of feedstock materials, including natural gas and biomass. By greatly reducing the size and improving process economics, microchannel process technology enables cost effective production of synthetic fuels from smaller scale facilities, appropriate for biomass resources as well as offshore and distributed on shore natural gas resources.