Simulation of Fischer-Tropsch Fluidized Bed Reactor for the Production of Methane from Synthesis Gas (Gas to Liquid Technology)

Abstract

Models describing the steady state behavior of the Fischer-Tropsch Fluidized Bed Reactor has been developed. Kinetics and operating parameters of an industrial plant obtained from Dry, (2002) were adopted and used in the solution of the developed models. The model equations were integrated numerically using the Fourth-Order Runge-Kutta algorithm. Results obtained had a deviation ranging from 1.3% to 23.2% between model prediction and industrial plant output data indicating reasonable agreement. Reactor simulation with the model equations of process parameters such as superficial velocity, bubble diameter and total pressure gave: optimum yield of methane as 73% (the most significant variables) at superficial velocity of 0.0801m/s; bubble diameter of 0.0487m and a total pressure of 18 Bars.

Keywords: Modeling, Simulation, Fluidized Bed Reactor, Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis.