Fischer-Tropsch diesel

The major advantage of Fischer Tropsch diesel, compared to natural gas, lies in its liquid nature. It does not need special infrastructure and compression like CNG does, and unlike LNG, once converted, it is a liquid fuel that can be treated like any other liquid fuel. However, because the GTL process is more complex than traditional refining, it requires low-cost natural gas priced at less than 1 per million BTUs to remain cost-competitive. Without stranded gas, sources sold at a large discount compared to crude oil, GTL diesel would be considerably more expensive than traditionally refined diesel fuel. 

Diesel (Cu-Cie) Fatty acid esters (methyl = FAME, ethyl = FAEE) Levulinic acid esters (methyl, ethyl) DME Ethanol Fischer-Tropsch diesel (from bio-based synthesis gas) Deoxygenated and refined primary bioliquids... 

Second generation biofuels Non-food crops, wheat straw, com, wood, solid waste, energy crop Bioalcohols, bio-oil, bio-DMF, Biohydrogen, bio-Fischer-Tropsch diesel, wood diesel... 

Catalysts and reactors have been extensively investigated for liquid phase Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (Davis, 2002). The synthetic Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel can provide benefits in terms of both PM and NO emissions (May, 2003). Properties of FT and No. 2 diesel fuels are given in Table 3.9. 

Property Fischer-Tropsch diesel No. 2 petroleum diesel... 

Because of the low-sulfur, -nitrogen, and -aromatic content of Fischer-Tropsch fuels, there is renewed interest in these products. In two recent studies, Fischer-Tropsch diesel was evaluated and compared to an ultra-low sulfur California diesel and to a 49 cetane number, low-sulfur diesel. In the two studies, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbon, particulate, and carbon dioxide emissions were reduced in vehicles fuels by Fischer-Tropsch diesel. The fuel economy, however, was also reduced. The low aromatic content and high concentration of waxlike hydrocarbons in Fischer-Tropsch diesel can lead to the need for special handling and treatment of the fuel to prevent gelling when used in cold-temperature conditions. 

Clark, Nigel, Mridul Gautam, Donald Lyons, Chris Atchinson, Wenwei Xie, Paul Norton, Keith Vertin, Stephen Goguen, and James Eberhardt. 1999. On Road Use of Fischer-Tropsch Diesel Blends. Report No. 1999-01-2251. Warrendale, Pa. Society of Automotive Engineers. 

In this process, carbon from biomass is converted to gases (CO, CO2) by high temperature (above 800 °C). The produced CO2 can react with hydrogen to directly produce methane, but also other different products, such as diesel, and other chemicals such as 1-alkenes in the presence of catalysts (Dry, 1999). This process has been used to produce Fischer-Tropsch diesel (FT diesel). 

Montalvo, D.A., Engine evaluation of Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel, - Phase I , report submitted to Bechtel Group, Inc. by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI-03-7502), October 1995... 

This so-called producer gas can be used on the one hand as a fuel for the provision of heat through direct combustion or used in engines, turbines or even fuel cells. On the other hand the producer gas can act as a feedstock for the production of liquid and/or gaseous fuels (like Fischer-Tropsch diesel, biomethane, methanol and hydrogen). 

Fischer-Tropsch diesel Dimethyl ether (DME) from lignocellulosic materials waste wood, short-rotation woody crops (poplar, willow), switchgrass... 

With the increasing costs of petroleum, the gasification-based coal refinery is another concept for the production of fuels, electricity, and chemical products (Speight, 2011). Coal gasification has also been used for production of liquid fuels (Fischer-Tropsch diesel and methanol) via a catalytic conversion of synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons (Speight, 2008 and references cited therein Chadeesingh, 2011). 

The chemical conversion and refining of syngas to Fischer-Tropsch diesel fuel, wax, methane, ethanol, and other specialty chemicals is established Complete (holistic) utihzation of all biomass components... 

Karatzas et al. [34] investigated the performance of rhodium catalyst containing 3 wt.% rhodium, 10 wt.% ceria, 10 wt.% lanthana on alumina carrier for the autothermal reforming of n-tetradecane, low sulfur diesel containing 6 ppm sulfur, and Fischer-Tropsch diesel over cordierite monolithic reactors. At temperatures exceeding 740°C, full conversion of the feed was achieved. 

Karatzas et al. [34] performed autothermal reforming of tet-radecane, low sulfur, and Fischer-Tropsch diesel in a monolithic reformer over rhodium/ceria/lanthana catalyst. The reformer had a thermal power output of 14 kW. It was composed of an inert zirconia-coated alumina foam for feed distribution at the reactor inlet and two 400 cpsi cordierite monoliths coated with the catalyst switched in series. At an O/C ratio of 0.45, a S/C ratio of 2.5 and temperatures exceeding 740°C, full conversion of the low sulfur feed was achieved, while the formation of the byproduct ethylene was between 100 and 200 ppm. As shown in Figure 14.7, an increasing S/C ratio suppresses ethylene formation. The catalyst showed stable performance for 40 h duration. Karatzas et al. [44] determined experimentally as shown in Figure 14.8 that the efficiency of their ATR increased with increasing fuel inlet temperature and O/C ratio. 

Karatzas, X, Greaser, D, Grant, A, Dawody, J, Petterson, LJ. Hydrogen generation from n-tetradecane, low-suhur and Fischer-Tropsch diesel over Rh supported on alumina doped with ceria/lanthana. Catal. Today 2011 164 190-197. 

Another actual pyrolysis-based biorefinery concept is the Bioliq process that was developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).Bioliq aims at the production of synthetic fuels such as Fischer-Tropsch diesel and chemicals from biomass. Synthesis based on synthesis gas requires pressures of up to 10 MPa. High-pressure entrained flow gasification provides high-quality tar-free syngas with low methane contents. 

Vliet OPRV, Faaij APC, Turkenburg WC Fischer-Tropsch diesel production in a well-to-wheel perspective a carbon, energy flow and cost analysis, Energy Convers Manag 50(4) 855-876, 2009. 

Second-generation biofuels are based on nonfood crops (ie, Miscanthus) and biomass residues (from crops and forests), thus providing an alternative that is socially acceptable. However, conversion technologies to produce biohydrogen, Bio-DME, Fischer—Tropsch diesel, etc. are still under development. The overall efficiency and... 

GiU SS, Tsolakis A, Deam KD, Rodriquez-Femandez J. Combustion characteristics and emissions of Fischer—Tropsch diesel fuels in IC engines. Prog Energy Combust Sci. 2011 37 503-523. 

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