Abstract: A method of operating a slurry phase apparatus includes feeding one or more gaseous reactants into a slurry body of solid particulate material suspended in a suspension liquid contained inside a vessel. The one or more gaseous reactants are fed into the slurry body through a gas distributor having downward facing gas outlets and are fed towards a fluid impermeable partition spanning across the vessel below the gas distributor. The partition divides the vessel into a slurry volume above the partition and a bottom volume below the partition. A differential pressure is maintained over the partition between predefined limits by manipulating or allowing changes in the pressure in the bottom volume by employing a pressure transfer passage establishing flow or pressure communication between the bottom volume and a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: A method is provided of shutting down an operating three-phase slurry bubble column reactor (10) having downwardly directed gas distribution nozzles (30) submerged in a slurry body (19) of solid particulate material suspended in a suspension liquid contained inside a reactor vessel (12), with the gas distribution nozzles (30) being in flow communication with a gas feed line (26) through which gas is fed to the gas distribution nozzles (30) by means of which the gas is injected downwardly into the slurry body (19). The method includes abruptly stopping flow of gas from the gas feed line (26) to the gas distribution nozzles (30) to trap gas in the gas distribution nozzles (30) thereby to inhibit slurry ingress upwardly into the gas distribution nozzles (30).

Abstract: A method of operating a slurry phase apparatus includes feeding one or more gaseous reactants into a slurry body of solid particulate material suspended in a suspension liquid contained inside a vessel. The one or more gaseous reactants are fed into the slurry body through a gas distributor having downward facing gas outlets and are fed towards a fluid impermeable partition spanning across the vessel below the gas distributor. The partition divides the vessel into a slurry volume above the partition and a bottom volume below the partition. A differential pressure is maintained over the partition between predefined limits by manipulating or allowing changes in the pressure in the bottom volume by employing a pressure transfer passage establishing flow or pressure communication between the bottom volume and a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: A method of operating a slurry phase apparatus includes feeding one or more gaseous reactants into a slurry body of solid particulate material suspended in a suspension liquid contained inside a vessel. The one or more gaseous reactants are fed into the slurry body through a gas distributor having downward facing gas outlets and are fed towards a fluid impermeable partition spanning across the vessel below the gas distributor. The partition divides the vessel into a slurry volume above the partition and a bottom volume below the partition. A differential pressure is maintained over the partition between predefined limits by manipulating or allowing changes in the pressure in the bottom volume by employing a pressure transfer passage establishing flow or pressure communication between the bottom volume and a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: A method is provided of shutting down an operating three-phase slurry bubble column reactor (10) having downwardly directed gas distribution nozzles (30) submerged in a slurry body (19) of solid particulate material suspended in a suspension liquid contained inside a reactor vessel (12), with the gas distribution nozzles (30) being in flow communication with a gas feed line (26) through which gas is being fed to the gas distribution nozzles (30) by means of which the gas is injected downwardly into the slurry body (19). The method includes abruptly stopping flow of gas from the gas feed line (26) to the gas distribution nozzles (30) to trap gas in the gas distribution nozzles (30) thereby to inhibit slurry ingress upwardly into the gas distribution nozzles (30).

Abstract: A method of operating a slurry phase apparatus includes feeding one or more gaseous reactants into a slurry body of solid particulate material suspended in a suspension liquid contained inside a vessel. The one or more gaseous reactants are fed into the slurry body through a gas distributor having downward facing gas outlets and are fed towards a fluid impermeable partition spanning across the vessel below the gas distributor. The partition divides the vessel into a slurry volume above the partition and a bottom volume below the partition. A differential pressure is maintained over the partition between predefined limits by manipulating or allowing changes in the pressure in the bottom volume by employing a pressure transfer passage establishing flow or pressure communication between the bottom volume and a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: A method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in a plurality of vertically extending horizontally spaced slurry channels inside a common reactor shell, the slurry channels being defined between vertically extending horizontally spaced divider walls or plates and each slurry channel having a height, width and breadth such that the height and breadth are much larger than the width. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in the slurry channels, thereby to form non-gaseous and/or gaseous product. Gaseous product and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: Method of operating a three-phase slurry reactor includes feeding at a low level at least one gaseous reactant into a vertically extending slurry body of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid, the slurry body being contained in at least two vertically extending shafts housed within a common reactor shell, each shaft being divided into a plurality of vertically extending channels at least some of which are in slurry flow communication and the slurry body being present in at least some of the channels. The gaseous reactant is allowed to react as it passes upwardly through the slurry body present in at least some of the channels of the shafts, thereby to form a non-gaseous and/or a gaseous product. Gaseous product, if present, and/or unreacted gaseous reactant is allowed to disengage from the slurry body in a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: A process (10) for at least partially removing hydrogen cyanide from synthesis gas includes feeding a synthesis gas (30) containing hydrogen cyanide to a gas-liquid contacting stage (18) and, in the gas-liquid contacting stage (18), contacting the synthesis gas with an aqueous washing solution (36) comprising at least one dissolved metal salt, with metal cations of the metal salt being capable of forming metal cyanide complexes and/or metal cyanide precipitates, and weak acid anions of the metal salt serving to buffer the pH of the washing solution in a range between 6 and 10. Hydrogen cyanide is washed from the synthesis gas by the washing solution to form a treated synthesis gas (38) and a spent washing solution (40). From time to time or continuously, at least a portion of the spent washing solution is withdrawn from the gas-liquid contacting stage. The treated synthesis gas (38) is also withdrawn from the gas-liquid contacting stage.

Abstract: A process (10) for producing liquid and, optionally, gaseous products from gaseous reactants includes feeding at a low level gaseous reactants (14) and, optionally, a portion of a recycle gas stream into a vertically extending slurry bed (70) of solid particles suspended in a suspension liquid inside a vessel (12), and feeding, as an additional gas feed (58), at least a portion of the recycle gas stream into the slurry bed (70) above the level at which the gaseous reactants (814) are fed into the slurry bed (70) and above the lower 20% of the vertical height of the slurry bed (70).

Abstract: Novel methods of providing fuels to a gas-to-liquids facility are disclosed. A gas-to-liquids facility typically operates in a remote location and therefore must supply its own energy needs. These facilities are often sustained by fuels having different heating values, and for smooth operation while transitioning from one fuel to another, (such as during startup, shut down, and emergencies) the Wobble Indices of the two fuels cannot greatly vary from one another. According to embodiments of the present invention, the Wobble Index of either or both of the fuels is adjusted such that their ratio is less than or equal to about 3. The fuel having the higher Wobble Index may be natural gas, and materials such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide and flue gas may be added to lower its Wobble Index. The fuel having the lower Wobble Index may be the tail gas of a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and materials such as methane, ethane, LPG, or natural gas may be added to raise its Wobble Index.

Abstract: A process for producing liquid and, optionally, gaseous products from gaseous reactants includes feeding, at a low level, gaseous reactants into a slurry bed, allowing the gaseous reactants to react as they pass upwardly through the slurry bed, withdrawing any gaseous product and unreacted gaseous reactants from a head space above the slurry bed and withdrawing liquid product and/or slurry bed to maintain the slurry bed at a desired level. The process further includes passing boiler water, as a first heat transfer fluid, in indirect heat exchange relationship through the slurry bed to remove heat from the slurry bed, allowing the heated boiler water to flash and separate to form pressurised steam, controlling the pressure of the steam to be substantially constant, and passing a second heat transfer fluid in indirect heat exchange relationship through the slurry bed to remove heat from the slurry bed.

Abstract: A process for producing liquid and gaseous products from gaseous reactants. The process includes a) feeding a synthesis gas stream of mainly carbon monoxide and hydrogen, as gaseous reactants, into a slurry bed of solid Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles suspended in a suspension liquid, with the slurry bed being provided in a reaction zone, b) allowing the gaseous reactants to react, by means of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, as they pass upwardly through the slurry bed; c) withdrawing liquid phase from the slurry bed, to maintain the slurry bed at a desired level; d) allowing gaseous products and unreacted gaseous reactants to disengage from the slurry bed and to pass upwardly as a gas phase into a freeboard zone of a head space above the reaction zone; e) subjecting the gas phase to distillation; f) returning separated catalyst particles and liquid phase from the distillation zone and g) withdrawing treated gas phase from the head space.