Abstract: Gas-liquid separation comprising a) feeding a product stream comprising a mixture of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products and water vapour; b) collecting the first liquid at a liquid outlet of the first vapour-liquid separator; c) discharging the first gas stream from a gas outlet of the first vapour-liquid separator; d) feeding the first cooled mixture from the first cooler into a second vapour-liquid separator; e) collecting the second liquid at a liquid outlet of the second vapour-liquid separator; f) discharging the second gas stream from a gas outlet of the second vapour-liquid separator; g) feeding the second gas stream from the gas outlet of the second vapour-liquid separator through a second cooler; h) feeding the second cooled mixture from the second cooler into a third vapour-liquid separator; i) collecting the third liquid at a liquid outlet; and j) discharging the third gas stream from a gas outlet.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to processes for initiating Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. In particular, the application concerns a process for the initiation of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, the process comprising: (i) providing the reaction zone with a temperature of no more than 140° C.; then (ii) purging the reaction zone with a purge gas comprising N2 at a pressure in the range of 2 barg to 10 barg; then (iii) contacting the catalyst in the reaction zone with a gaseous reaction mixture comprising H2 and CO in a ratio of between 1:1 and 3:1 at a pressure of no more than 20 barg and at a temperature of no more than 140° C.; then (iv) heating the reaction zone to a temperature of at least 200° C.; and (v) pressurizing the reaction zone to a pressure in the range of 30 barg and 45 barg.

Abstract: A method of forming a syngas for producing liquid hydrocarbons, the method comprising: providing a feed gas comprising carbon dioxide, hydrogen and compounds of sulfur; providing a carbon-monoxide-enriched feed gas by passing the feed gas to a reverse-water-gas-shift reaction chamber to convert a portion of the carbon dioxide and a portion of the hydrogen to carbon monoxide and water, and to convert at least a portion of the compounds of sulfur to hydrogen sulfide; passing the carbon-monoxide-enriched feed gas to a carbon-dioxide-removal unit to provide the syngas and a carbon-dioxide-enriched stream, the carbon-dioxide-enriched stream comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide; providing a purified carbon-dioxide stream by passing the carbon-dioxide-enriched stream to a hydrogen-sulfide-removal unit to remove hydrogen sulfide from the carbon-dioxide-enriched stream; and recycling the purified carbon-dioxide stream into the feed gas.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to processes for activating Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts. In particular, the application concerns a process for the activation of a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, the process comprising: (i) contacting the catalyst with a first gaseous composition comprising at least 80% N2 at a pressure in the range of 2 barg to 20 barg at a temperature of no more than 150° C.; (ii) contacting the catalyst with a second gaseous composition comprising at least 80% H2 to form a H2/N2 gaseous composition with a H2:N2 molar ratio in the range of 0.2:1 to 2:1, resulting in a pressure in the range of 10 barg to 30 barg; (iii) increasing the temperature to a range of 220° C. to 260° C.; (iv) maintaining the catalyst at the conditions of step (iii) for a hold period in the range of 2 hr to 96 hr.

Abstract: A method is described for shutting down a Fischer-Tropsch reactor fed with a reactant gas mixture comprising a synthesis gas and a recycle gas recovered from the Fischer-Tropsch reactor in a synthesis loop, said Fischer-Tropsch reactor containing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst cooled indirectly by a coolant under pressure, comprising the steps of: (a) depressurising the coolant to cool the reactant gas mixture to quench Fischer-Tropsch reactions taking place in the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, (b) stopping the synthesis gas feed to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, and (c) maintaining circulation of the recycle gas through the Fischer-Tropsch reactor during steps (a) and (b) to remove heat from the Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The method safely facilitates a more rapid return to operating conditions than a full shut-down.

Abstract: A process for synthesising hydrocarbons is described comprising the steps of (a) making a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from a feedstock in a synthesis gas generation unit, (b) removing carbon dioxide to produce a carbon dioxide stream and purified synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide for synthesis gas in a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis unit wherein (i) at least a portion of the FT water stream is fed to an electrolysis unit to provide an oxygen stream, which is fed to the synthesis gas generation unit. Carbon dioxide stream recovered from the carbon dioxide removal unit and a portion of the hydrogen stream produced by the electrolysis unit are fed to a reverse water-gas shift unit to produce a carbon monoxide stream, with carbon monoxide stream from the reverse water-gas shift unit fed to the Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis unit.