Abstract: The invention provides a method, stage and plant for removing LTFT catalyst fines and/or organometallic catalyst compounds from of LTFT wax, downstream from the LTFT reactor. The method includes at least one stage having the steps of causing a differential pressure across a filter element; causing high mechanical shearing and/or centrifugal forces along and/or away from the surface of the filter on the high pressure side of the filter to cause the particles to be continuously removed from the filter surface; and wherein the differential pressure is selected to be sufficient to force flow of the wax across the filter to cause filtration.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a process and a plant for separating a suspension C from a suspension A, wherein the fraction of particles PC in the suspension C, which have a diameter smaller than a defined limit grain diameter, is greater than in the suspension A by at least the factor of 2. The suspension A is introduced into a container extending from the bottom to the top and a suspension B is withdrawn from the container, whose fraction of particles with a diameter greater than the defined limit grain diameter is increased with respect to suspension A. Due to the fact that suspension C is withdrawn from the container in a second partial stream above the first partial stream, in that the flow velocity of the suspension C is greater than the sinking velocity of the particles PC contained therein, an effective separation can be achieved.

Abstract: A system for a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using a three-phase reactor in which a primary filter removes coarse catalyst particles from the product and in which catalyst fines are removed in a secondary filter. Some or all portion of the product wax from the secondary filter can be recycled back to the reactor, either as a back flush medium for the primary filter or directly to the slurry in the reactor, whereby removal of catalyst fines is rendered independent of the rate of wax production.

Abstract: A slurry bubble column reactor with a gas distribution arrangement comprising an upper sparger, a lower sparger, and an open-ended tube. Gas from the lower sparger enters the tube and lowers the density of slurry in the tube. The difference in slurry density causes the slurry in the tube to rise, causing slurry outside the tube to move down, maintaining circulation and flushing catalyst from the vessel wall.

Abstract: A system and process for removing catalyst fines from a gas stream overhead the slurry in a Fischer-Tropsch slurry bubble column reactor. The gas phase at the top of the slurry bubble column reactor containing small amounts of entrained liquid and catalyst particles. The unreacted gases are passed through a demister, which removes larger droplets and catalyst particles. Smaller droplets and catalyst fines are conveyed to a secondary gas cleaner, such as a cyclone, whereby substantially all remaining particles are removed from the gas phase. A particle-containing liquid produced in the secondary gas cleaner can be further subjected to a filtrate cleaning unit to filter out fine catalyst particles and produce a substantially particle-free liquid product stream and a slurry stream of liquid product containing catalyst particles.

Abstract: A system and process for removing catalyst fines from a gas stream overhead the slurry in a Fischer-Tropsch slurry bubble column reactor. The gas phase at the top of the slurry bubble column reactor containing small amounts of entrained liquid and catalyst particles. The unreacted gases are passed through a demister, which removes larger droplets and catalyst particles. Smaller droplets and catalyst fines are conveyed to a secondary gas cleaner, such as a cyclone, whereby substantially all remaining particles are removed from the gas phase. A particle-containing liquid produced in the secondary gas cleaner can be further subjected to a filtrate cleaning unit to filter out fine catalyst particles and produce a substantially particle-free liquid product stream and a slurry stream of liquid product containing catalyst particles.

Abstract: A slurry bubble column reactor with a gas distribution arrangement comprising an upper sparger, a lower sparger, and an open-ended tube. Gas from the lower sparger enters the tube and lowers the density of slurry in the tube. The difference in slurry density causes the slurry in the tube to rise, causing slurry outside the tube to move down, maintaining circulation and flushing catalyst from the vessel wall.

Abstract: A system for a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using a three-phase reactor in which a primary filter removes coarse catalyst particles from the product and in which catalyst fines are removed in a secondary filter. Some or all portion of the product wax from the secondary filter can be recycled back to the reactor, either as a back flush medium for the primary filter or directly to the slurry in the reactor, whereby removal of catalyst fines is rendered independent of the rate of wax production.