Abstract: A method comprising the steps of feeding a product stream comprising a mixture of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products and water vapour from a Fischer-Tropsch reactor through a sequence of first, second, third and fourth vapour-liquid separators inside which the product stream is separated into different liquids and gas streams, wherein the feed to the third vapour-liquid separator is at a first temperature and the feed to the fourth vapour-liquid separator is at a second temperature, and the second temperature is less than the first temperature and less than or equal to 50° C.

Abstract: A method of forming a liquid hydrocarbon product comprising: providing a feed gas of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen to generate a syngas, the syngas comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and steam; cooling the syngas to form an aqueous condensate and a water-depleted syngas, the aqueous condensate having a carbon-containing gas dissolved therein; stripping the aqueous condensate with steam to transfer carbon-containing gas from the aqueous condensate to the steam to thereby form a stripped aqueous condensate and a first stripper effluent steam; passing the water-depleted syngas to a Fischer-Tropsch unit to form a liquid hydrocarbon product and a co-produced water, the co-produced water having carbon-containing substances dissolved therein; stripping the co-produced water to transfer carbon-containing substances to the first stripper effluent steam to thereby form a stripped co-produced water and a second stripper effluent steam; and recycling the second stripper effluent steam into the feed gas.

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 reactor tube for a tubular reactor and a retaining device associated with the reactor tube; the reactor tube comprising an elongate tube defining a bore for receiving in use a catalyst and having an outlet at one end of the bore for discharging the catalyst out of the bore; the retaining device being configured to be rotatable between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position the retaining device at least partially obstructs the outlet for retaining the catalyst within the bore; and in the second position the outlet is unobstructed sufficiently for permitting discharge of the catalyst out of the outlet.

Abstract: A method for controlling a process comprising a steam system coupled to a reactor system, wherein the steam system comprises a steam vessel that feeds a stream of liquid water under pressure to the reactor system to cool the reactor system, thereby generating a steam stream, and receives the steam stream from the reactor system, the method comprising the steps of (i) obtaining a first total liquid level measurement in the steam vessel using an inferred level device, (ii) obtaining a second total liquid level measurement in the steam vessel using a direct level measurement device, (iii) calculating a difference between the first and second total liquid level measurements using a control system, and (iv) initiating an alarm using the control system when the difference between the first and second total liquid level measurements is ?1% of the lower of the first and second total liquid level measurements.

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 reactor tube for a tubular reactor and a retaining device associated with the reactor tube; the reactor tube comprising an elongate tube defining a bore for receiving in use a catalyst and having an outlet at one end of the bore for discharging the catalyst out of the bore; the retaining device being configured to be rotatable between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position the retaining device at least partially obstructs the outlet for retaining the catalyst within the bore; and in the second position the outlet is unobstructed sufficiently for permitting discharge of the catalyst out of the outlet.