Optimization of hydrogen production via coupling of the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis reaction and dehydrogenation of cyclohexane in GTL technology

In this study, a thermally-coupled reactor containing the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis reaction in the exothermic side and dehydrogenation of cyclohexane in the endothermic side has been modified using a hydrogen perm-selective membrane as the shell of the reactor to separate the produced hydrogen from the dehydrogenation process. Permeated hydrogen enters another section called permeation side to be collected by Argon, known as the sweep gas. This three-sided reactor has been optimized using differential evolution (DE) method to predict the conditions at which the reactants’ conversion and also the hydrogen recovery yield would be maximized. Minimizing the CO2 and CH4 yield in the reactor’s outlet as undesired products is also considered in the optimization process. To reach this goal, optimal initial molar flow rate and inlet temperature of three sides as well as pressure of the exothermic side have been calculated. The obtained results have been compared with the conventional reactor data of the Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI), the membrane dual – type reactor suggested for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, and the membrane coupled reactor presented for methanol synthesis. The comparison shows acceptable enhancement in the reactor’s performance and that the production of hydrogen as a valuable byproduct should also be considered.