Optimal Design of a Gas-to-Liquids Process with a Staged Fischer-Tropsch Reactor

The optimal design of a natural gas-to-liquid hydrocarbons (GTL) process with a multistage cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch reactor and interstage product separation is considered. The objective function is to maximize the wax (C₂₁₊) production rate at the end of the reactor path. Sectioning of the Fischer-Tropsch reactor increases the chain growth probability inside the reactor which results in a higher production of wax. The carbon efficiency of the two-stage reactor is distinctly higher than that of the single-stage reactor.