American Journal of Chemical Engineering

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Technical Analysis of the Natural Gas to Hydrocarbon Liquid Process

Received: 20 February 2015    Accepted: 24 March 2015    Published: 09 May 2015
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Abstract

The technical analysis carried out in this paper is aimed at dealing with element incorporation, structure generation and optimization of the gas-to-liquid (GTL) process. The GTL model developed did not include the desulphurization unit as well as the product upgrading unit. A detailed description of the sequential steps for analyzing the process is as follows: firstly, a base-case process is designed with parameters and operating conditions obtained from literature. Secondly, this flowsheet is simulated with computer-aided simulation package ASPEN Hysys V8.4 to evaluate the specific characteristics of the main equipment and streams entering and leaving units. Thirdly, the simulated base case was analyzed in terms of Thermal Efficiency (TE), Carbon Efficiency (CE) and product flow to upgrading. This process was carried out using the optimizer tool for steady-state modelling to account for multiple variables in the Hysys simulation with the aid of case studies to maximize a given objective function. This resulted in a CE of 82.41%, TE of 65.93% and a production of 19940 bbl/d of syncrude.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajche.s.2015030201.14
Published in American Journal of Chemical Engineering (Volume 3, Issue 2-1, March 2015)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemical Sector of the Oil and Gas Industry

Page(s) 25-40
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Gas-to-Liquid, Optimization, Steady State Modeling, Thermal Efficiency, Carbon Efficiency

References
[1] M. Nyarko, “Process Plant of Gas to Liquid (GTL): Theory and Simulation”; Lap Lambert Academic Publishing, Ghana, 2012, pp 81-83.
[2] H. K. Yong, K. Jun, J. Hyunku, H. Chonghun, Kyu Song “A simulation study on gas-to-liquid (natural gas to fischer.tropsch synthetic fuel) process optimization”; Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 155, pp 427 – 432, 2009.
[3] Mark E Dry, “The fischer tropsch process: 1950-2000,” Catalysis Today, vol 71, 2002, pp 227 – 241.
[4] M. Panahi, A. Rafiee, S. Stogestad, H. Magne, “A natural gas to liquid process model for optimal operation,” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 51, 2012, pp 425–433.
[5] B. Bao, M. E. Mahmoud, O. E. Nimir, “Simulation, integration, and economic analysis of gas-to-liquid processes,” Fuel Processing Technology, Vol. 91, 2010, pp703 – 713.
[6] X. Hao, M. Djatmiko, “Simulation analysis of a gtl process using aspen plus,” Chemical Engineering Technology, Vol. 31, 2008, pp188–196.
[7] Subhasish Mitra “Gas To Liquid Technology – A Simulation Case Study in Hysis with heat integration” unpublished
[8] A. W. David, N. Chikezie, F. T. Brian, “Gas-to-liquids (gtl): A review of an industry offering several routes for monetizing natural gas,” Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, Vol. 9, 2012, pp 196 – 208.
[9] J. G. Speight, “Handbook of Industrial Hydrocarbon Processes,” Gulf Professional Publishing, Boston, 2011, pp 281 – 323.
[10] R. Guettel, U. Kunz, T. Turek, “Reactors for fischer-tropsch synthesis,” Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol. 31, pp746–754, 2008.
[11] H. Alfadala, G. V. Rex Reklaitis, M. M. El-Halwagi, “Shell GTL, from Bench scale to World scale,” Proceedings of the 1st annual Gas Processing Symposium, 2009, pp378-386.
[12] H. Kevin, “Oryx gtl - a case study,” pp 34–36, 2006
[13] M. Nel, “Gtl - a window of opportunity,” http://www.sasol.com/sites/default/files/presentations/downloads/GTL_A_Window_Opportunity_XTLConference_London_7%2520June2011_1308044026713.pdf, 2011
[14] Ahmad Rafiee. Optimal design issues of a gas-to-liquid process. PhD thesis, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 2012.
[15] Haldor Tops Ãÿe, “Prereforming catalyst,” http://www.topsoe.com/business_areas/synthesis_gas/˜/media/PDF%20files/Prereforming/Topsoe_%20prereforming%20_cat_%20brochure.ashx.
[16] M. Panahi, S. Skogestad, R. Yelchuru, “Steady state simulation for optimal design and operation of a gtl process,” Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Gas Processing Symposium, 2010, pp 275 – 285.
[17] M. Hillestad, “Modelling the fischer-tropsch product distribution and model implementation,” Unpublished, 2011.
Author Information
  • Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  • Centre for Gas Refining and Petrochemicals, Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

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  • APA Style

    I. J. Otaraku, O. A. Vincent. (2015). Technical Analysis of the Natural Gas to Hydrocarbon Liquid Process. American Journal of Chemical Engineering, 3(2-1), 25-40. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.s.2015030201.14

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    I. J. Otaraku; O. A. Vincent. Technical Analysis of the Natural Gas to Hydrocarbon Liquid Process. Am. J. Chem. Eng. 2015, 3(2-1), 25-40. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.s.2015030201.14

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    AMA Style

    I. J. Otaraku, O. A. Vincent. Technical Analysis of the Natural Gas to Hydrocarbon Liquid Process. Am J Chem Eng. 2015;3(2-1):25-40. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.s.2015030201.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajche.s.2015030201.14,
      author = {I. J. Otaraku and O. A. Vincent},
      title = {Technical Analysis of the Natural Gas to Hydrocarbon Liquid Process},
      journal = {American Journal of Chemical Engineering},
      volume = {3},
      number = {2-1},
      pages = {25-40},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajche.s.2015030201.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.s.2015030201.14},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajche.s.2015030201.14},
      abstract = {The technical analysis carried out in this paper is aimed at dealing with element incorporation, structure generation and optimization of the gas-to-liquid (GTL) process. The GTL model developed did not include the desulphurization unit as well as the product upgrading unit. A detailed description of the sequential steps for analyzing the process is as follows: firstly, a base-case process is designed with parameters and operating conditions obtained from literature. Secondly, this flowsheet is simulated with computer-aided simulation package ASPEN Hysys V8.4 to evaluate the specific characteristics of the main equipment and streams entering and leaving units. Thirdly, the simulated base case was analyzed in terms of Thermal Efficiency (TE), Carbon Efficiency (CE) and product flow to upgrading. This process was carried out using the optimizer tool for steady-state modelling to account for multiple variables in the Hysys simulation with the aid of case studies to maximize a given objective function. This resulted in a CE of 82.41%, TE of 65.93% and a production of 19940 bbl/d of syncrude.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    AU  - O. A. Vincent
    Y1  - 2015/05/09
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajche.s.2015030201.14
    T2  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
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    AB  - The technical analysis carried out in this paper is aimed at dealing with element incorporation, structure generation and optimization of the gas-to-liquid (GTL) process. The GTL model developed did not include the desulphurization unit as well as the product upgrading unit. A detailed description of the sequential steps for analyzing the process is as follows: firstly, a base-case process is designed with parameters and operating conditions obtained from literature. Secondly, this flowsheet is simulated with computer-aided simulation package ASPEN Hysys V8.4 to evaluate the specific characteristics of the main equipment and streams entering and leaving units. Thirdly, the simulated base case was analyzed in terms of Thermal Efficiency (TE), Carbon Efficiency (CE) and product flow to upgrading. This process was carried out using the optimizer tool for steady-state modelling to account for multiple variables in the Hysys simulation with the aid of case studies to maximize a given objective function. This resulted in a CE of 82.41%, TE of 65.93% and a production of 19940 bbl/d of syncrude.
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