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GASSMAKS-Økt verdiskaping fra naturgass

New concepts for conversion of natural gas to liquid products

Awarded: NOK 2.1 mill.

Project Number:

187230

Application Type:

Project Period:

2008 - 2009

Location:

The proposed new GTL process consists of 1) converting natural gas to aromatics, 2) converting aromatics to napthenes and 3) converting napthenes to branched paraffins in the gasoline range. The process has a promising theoretical basis as compared to oth er natural gas to liquid fuel processes, going either via synthesis gas (Fischer Tropsch) or acetylene (Synfuel) formation. The key process step of the proposed new route is the conversion of natural gas to aromatics - as the remaining steps can easily be carried out by conventional refinery processes. The conversion of natural gas to aromatics will in this project be investigated experimentally in a novel reactor type escpecially designed for this purpose. The reactor will enable running experiments at t emperatures up to 1600C at elevated pressures (up to 5 bar). An experimental data basis of the methane conversion to aromatics behaviour (conversion and selectivities) at different test conditions will be obtained. Besides varying the temperature and pres sure, the effect of the gas composition of the feed (CH4 and inert in different ratios) and the space velocity will be studied. Based on the experimental test results obtained, a preliminary rough technical economical evaluation of the aromatics based GTL route will be performed.

Funding scheme:

GASSMAKS-Økt verdiskaping fra naturgass