Sasol Technology Proprietary Limited

Werner Siegfried Ernst

André Peter Steynberg

Herman Gerhardus Nel

Johannes J Liebenberg

Jacobus Francois Van Tonder

Jacob W De Boer

A process () to synthesise hydrocarbons includes gasifying () a carbonaceous feed material at a temperature sufficiently high to produce at least one hot synthesis gas stream () at a temperature of at least 900&#xb0; C. and comprising at least CO and H. In a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (), synthesis gas is converted to hydrocarbons, providing a tail gas stream () containing methane. The tail gas stream () is subjected to steam reforming () thereby converting the methane to CO and Hproducing a reformed gas stream which is recycled to the Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage (). The steam reforming () takes place at an elevated temperature of at least 700&#xb0; C. and heat for the steam reforming is provided by indirect heat exchange with the at least one hot synthesis gas stream ().

Hydrocarbon synthesis

A method () for the production of synthesis gas includes humidifying an oxygen-containing stream () by contacting the oxygen-containing stream () with a hot aqueous liquid () to produce a humidified oxygen-containing stream (), and feeding the humidified oxygen-containing stream () into a gasifier () in which a carbonaceous material () is being gasified, thereby to produce synthesis gas.

Method for the production of synthesis gas and of operating a fixed bed dry bottom gasifier

A process for producing hydrocarbons from natural gas includes, in a cryogenic separation stage, cryogenically separating the natural gas to produce at least a methane stream and natural gas liquids, in a reforming stage, reforming the methane stream to produce a synthesis gas which includes at least CO and H, and in a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis stage, converting at least some of the CO and Hinto a Fischer-Tropsch product which includes hydrocarbons. A Fischer-Tropsch tail gas which includes at least CO and H, methane and heavier than methane hydrocarbons, is separated from the Fischer-Tropsch product in a Fischer-Tropsch product separation stage. At least a portion of the Fischer-Tropsch tail gas is recycled to the cryogenic separation stage, where the Fischer-Tropsch tail gas is cryogenically separated into two or more streams.

Production of hydrocarbons from natural gas

A process () for synthesising hydrocarbons includes feeding a gaseous feedstock () comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, into a first Fischer-Tropsch reaction stage () which is a three-phase low temperature catalytic Fischer-Tropsch reaction stage, and allowing the hydrogen and carbon monoxide partially to react catalytically in the first reaction stage () to form hydrocarbons. At least a portion of a tail gas () which includes unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide obtained from the first reaction stage, is fed into a second Fischer-Tropsch reaction stage () which is a two-phase high temperature catalytic Fischer-Tropsch reaction stage. The hydrogen and carbon monoxide are allowed at least partially to react catalytically in the second reaction stage () to form gaseous hydrocarbons.

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Secunda, South Africa

Werner Siegfried Ernst