Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) is a well-known reaction that is gaining renewed attention due to growing interest in the micro- GTL process. Associated gases in offshore platforms and isolated onshore gas fields (stranded gas) require compact units able to transform gas into liquid fuel on a much smaller scale than is possible in conventional GTL plants. Consequently, several papers, books, and patents have been published during the past decade from both industry and academia concerning the field of microchannel reactors including the GTL process and in particular FTS.
Microchannel technology offers new possibilities for FTS allowing highly compact units (process intensification), intrinsically safe functioning and excellent temperature control with substantial significance in control selectivity for liquid fuels (C5+ selectivity).
The objective of this communication is to present developments in adapting a catalytic test unit (PID-Micromeritics Microactivity Reference) for testing microchannel cross-flow blocks during FTS. The development permits the same unit to be used for testing powder catalysts, structured catalysts (monoliths), and microchannel blocks.
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