Comprehensive Fischer–Tropsch reactor model with non-ideal plug flow and detailed reaction kinetics

•Detailed model for a non-ideal Fischer–Tropsch reactor is presented.•The model includes detailed reaction kinetics.•The model includes a thermodynamic and heat transfer modules.•Model demonstrates the dependency of the reactions to varying operating conditions.•Upscale from laboratory to production reactor is demonstrated.

This paper presents a detailed first principle Fischer–Tropsch reactor model including detailed heat transfer calculations and detailed reaction kinetics. The model is based on a large number of components and chemical reactions. The model is tuned to a fixed bed nearplug flow reactor but can also be applied to slurry and micro-channel reactors.The presented model is based on a cascade of ideally stirred reactors. This modelling approach is novel for Fischer–Tropsch reactors and has the advantage of being able to represent none-ideal reactors. Using a large number of components and reactions makes it possible to better represent the product slate than with conventional modelling based on distribution models.The results of the simulations emphasise that temperature control is important. Global conversion and product yields are dependent on operating conditions especially the temperature. The model is used to calculate the dimensions of an industrial reactor from a laboratory scale reactor.

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