A two-dimensional mathematical model was developed for a pilot-scale fixed-bed reactor for Fe-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The entire chain lengths of the hydrocarbon products were lumped to form several representative components, and the apparent kinetic parameters for the reaction rates were estimated by fitting experimental data. The model described temperature profiles, CO conversion, and selectivities, effectively, and the model was used to evaluate the effect of tube diameter on temperature profile and catalyst performance. The increase of tube diameter in the simulation showed that temperature increased in both the radial and the axial directions owing to the low radial heat transfer rate and the low heat transfer area, respectively. Through the sensitivity analysis, it was shown that the diameter specified in the present study maintained the temperature below the threshold value with the desired selectivities guaranteed.

Effect of tube diameter on the radial temperature gradient of a pilot-scale fixed-bed reactor for iron-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

248th National Meeting (2014)

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