Temperature Stabilisation in Fischer-Tropsch Reactors Using Phase Change Material (PCM)

Abstract

The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction is a highly exothermic reaction. The high exothermicity combined with a high sensitivity of product selectivity to temperature, constitute the main challenges in the design of FT reactors. The use of micro-encapsulated- Phase Change Material (PCM) in conjunction with the supervisory temperature control mechanism has been suggested as an effective way of mitigating these challenges. A 2-dimensional, pseudo-homogeneous, steady-state model, with the dissipation of the enthalpy of reaction into an isothermal PCM sink, in a fixed bed reactor is presented. Effective temperature control with the PCM shows a shift in thermodynamic equilibrium favouring the selectivity of C5 to the disadvantage of CH4 selectivity - a much desired outcome in the hydrocarbon Gas-to-Liquid industry.