Fischer-Tropsch (FT)
Velocys has one of the largest dedicated Fischer-Tropsch (FT) teams in the industry. The FT process lies at the heart of both gas-to-liquids (GTL) and biomass-to-liquids (BTL). In the FT process, synthesis gas (syngas), consisting of a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, is converted into paraffinic hydrocarbons over a cobalt or iron catalyst.
The FT process is highly exothermic, or heat generating. Mass and heat transfer limitations reduce the efficiency of conventional FT reactors. In Velocys' microchannel FT reactors thousands of process channels with dimensions in the millimetre range and filled with catalyst are interleaved with water-filled coolant channels. The small-size channels dissipate heat more quickly than in conventional FT reactors. As a result, more active catalysts can be used.
Velocys' microchannel FT reactors use super-active cobalt catalysts, which together offer a superior yield (defined as conversion multiplied by selectivity) and stability compared with conventional systems, resulting in a high productivity per unit volume. Velocys' FT technology exhibits conversion efficiencies of over 90% and liquid selectivities of over 87% in recycle configuration, giving over 80% yield of valuable products.
With appropriate upgrading, the FT process can produce a broad range of ultra-high quality products. Because they contain very low levels of impurities, these products are of higher quality than those derived by conventional means.
Conventional FT plants are only economically viable at production capacities of 30,000 bpd or higher. Velocys' microchannel FT technology is commercially viable at production capacities of as low as 1,500 bpd, making it an idea choice for smaller scale GTL and BTL.