Synthesis of Liquid Fuels and Chemicals: Scale up and operation of the Catoosa Demonstration Facility, a GTL Demonstration Plant

摘要

Syntroleum Corporation located in Tulsa, Oklahoma has built and is operating a 100 bpd Gas to Liquids (GTL) plant called the Catoosa Demonstration Facility (CDF). The plant with support from the DOE and Marathon Oil Company has been operating since December 2003 and includes all of the principle components of a commercial GTL facility. First, syngas is produced with a proprietary Autothermal Reformer using natural gas, air, and steam. Next, two slurry bubble column Fischer Tropsch reactors (FTR) using a proprietary cobalt based catalyst, are used in series to produce hydrocarbon chains. In June 2004, the first stage FTR alone reached a production rate of 84 bpd. Additionally, the wax/catalyst separation system has demonstrated stable operation for several months without the need of offline cleaning or replacement. Finally, the raw FT products are fed into a Product Upgrading system that produces on specification diesel, jet and naphtha. The fuels are then shipped to meet contractual commitments with the DOE Ultra-Clean Fuels Program including the Washington DC Transit Authority buses and fleet tests in Denali National Park, Marathon Oil Company, and the U.S. DOD. By September 2004 the CDF produced over 158,000 gallons of diesel. The CDF has proved to be a valuable tool and training ground as well as a successful demonstration of Syntroleum's advancing technology.