Petroleum Science and Engineering

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Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Plant Optimization Using Enhanced Synthesis Gas Reforming Technology

Received: Oct. 21, 2019    Accepted: Nov. 23, 2019    Published: Dec. 13, 2019
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Abstract

This paper evaluates method for optimisation of GTL plant using Steam/CO2 reforming for syngas generation. Extensive modelling of GTL plant has been done. Two cases were considered during the simulation of the GTL plant. The first case was the use of oxygen gas as the feed reactant gas using an auto-thermal reformer for the production of synthesis gas. The alternative case which is the proposed method uses CO2 in lieu of oxygen for the production of synthesis gas. CO2 method was chosen because of its cheap availability and the ability to be recycled from purge gas and reused reducing pollution. Honeywell’s Unisim software was used for the simulation and the Peng Robinson equation of state was chosen as the fluid property package. The simulation was done unit by unit and integration of all units was made. The synthesis gas unit was simulated in Unisim as a conversion type reactor using two separate reactors while three equilibrium reactors were used to control the water gas shift reaction to maintain favourable H2/CO ratio. The FT reactor was modelled as a multi-tubular bed reactor and simulated as a plug flow reactor (PFR) in Unisim using heterogeneous catalytic reaction type. Technical and economic performances were analyzed for both methods. The technical analyses revealed that the proposed steam/CO2 method gave a H2/CO ratio of 2.17 as against the 2.21 gotten for the ATR. Furthermore, the carbon efficiency of the two methods revealed 77.68% and 92.17% for base case and the proposed methods respectively showing that the proposed case has higher efficiency. The liquid yields show that the proposed method has a liquid yield of 5730b/d over the 5430b/d gotten from the base case representing an increase in product yield of 5.5%.

DOI 10.11648/j.pse.20190302.18
Published in Petroleum Science and Engineering ( Volume 3, Issue 2, December 2019 )
Page(s) 94-102
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, Synthetic Gas, Heterogeneous, Performances, Natural Gas, Catalytic Reaction

References
[1] Izuwa, N. C. (2017). Improving Natural Gas Distribution and Management in Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, IJSER, Volume 8, Issue 7, pp 330-344.
[2] Eluagu, C., Anyadiegwu, C. I. C, Obah, B. O (2018). Evaluation of Performance Optimisation of Modular Gas Technology (MGT) System for Monetisation of Associated Stranded Gas in the Niger Delta. International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology.
[3] Ekejiuba, A. I. B., (2017). Real-Time Monetization of the Flare Associated Stranded Natural Gas in Nigeria: Quantitative Analysis and Qualitative Values. The International Journal of Science & Technology, Vol. 5 Issue 8, pp. 154.
[4] Onwukwe S. (2009). Gas-to-Liquid technology: Prospect for natural gas utilization in Nigeria: Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering.
[5] Balogu, O. M. Onyekonwu, M. O. (2009). Economic Viability of Gas-to-Liquids in Nigeria. Paper Presented at the Annual SPE international Technical Conference and Exhibition, Abuja, Nigeria.
[6] Knutsen K. T. (2013). Modelling and optimization of a Gas-to-Liquid plant. Master’s degree thesis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of science and technology.
[7] Christiansen Lars J Rostrup-Nielsen Jens. (2011). Concepts in Syngas Manufacture. Imperial College Press.
[8] Spath, P. L. & Dayton, D. C. (2003). Preliminary screening - technical and economic assessment of synthesis gas to fuels and chemicals with emphasis on the potential for biomass-derived syngas. Technical report, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
[9] Wilhelm, D. J Simbeck, D. R et al. (2001). Syngas production for gas-to-liquids applications: technologies, issues and outlook. Fuel Processing Technology, 71:139–148. Fuel science in the year 2000: Where do we stand and where do we go from here.
[10] Bello H., Joel, O., Ikiensikimema S. S (2012). Improving the efficiency of Fisher Tropsch Synthesis using the CO2 reduction Alternative. SPE paper prepared for presentation at the SPE international technical conference and Exhibition held in Abuja, Nigeria.
[11] Hillestad, M. &Rafiee A. (2010). Optimal design and operation of a gas-to-liquid process. Chemical Engineering Transactions, 21:1393–1398.
[12] Suehiro Y. et al (2005). A new GTL technology – steam/CO2 Reforming and the FT synthesis with Novel Catalysts. Paper prepared for presentation at the international petroleum technology conference held in Doha Qatar.
[13] Bybee Karen (2006). Feed-Gas Treatment Design for the Pearl GTL Project., paper prepared for the 2005 International Petroleum Technology Conference, Doha, Qatar.
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    Izuwa Nkemakolam Chinedu, Obah Boniface, Ekwueme Stanley Toochukwu, Obibuike Ubanozie Julian, Kerunwa Anthony, et al. (2019). Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Plant Optimization Using Enhanced Synthesis Gas Reforming Technology. Petroleum Science and Engineering, 3(2), 94-102. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190302.18

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    Izuwa Nkemakolam Chinedu; Obah Boniface; Ekwueme Stanley Toochukwu; Obibuike Ubanozie Julian; Kerunwa Anthony, et al. Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Plant Optimization Using Enhanced Synthesis Gas Reforming Technology. Pet. Sci. Eng. 2019, 3(2), 94-102. doi: 10.11648/j.pse.20190302.18

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    AMA Style

    Izuwa Nkemakolam Chinedu, Obah Boniface, Ekwueme Stanley Toochukwu, Obibuike Ubanozie Julian, Kerunwa Anthony, et al. Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Plant Optimization Using Enhanced Synthesis Gas Reforming Technology. Pet Sci Eng. 2019;3(2):94-102. doi: 10.11648/j.pse.20190302.18

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  • @article{10.11648/j.pse.20190302.18,
      author = {Izuwa Nkemakolam Chinedu and Obah Boniface and Ekwueme Stanley Toochukwu and Obibuike Ubanozie Julian and Kerunwa Anthony and Ohia Nnaemeka Princewill and Odo Jude Emeka},
      title = {Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Plant Optimization Using Enhanced Synthesis Gas Reforming Technology},
      journal = {Petroleum Science and Engineering},
      volume = {3},
      number = {2},
      pages = {94-102},
      doi = {10.11648/j.pse.20190302.18},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190302.18},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pse.20190302.18},
      abstract = {This paper evaluates method for optimisation of GTL plant using Steam/CO2 reforming for syngas generation. Extensive modelling of GTL plant has been done. Two cases were considered during the simulation of the GTL plant. The first case was the use of oxygen gas as the feed reactant gas using an auto-thermal reformer for the production of synthesis gas. The alternative case which is the proposed method uses CO2 in lieu of oxygen for the production of synthesis gas. CO2 method was chosen because of its cheap availability and the ability to be recycled from purge gas and reused reducing pollution. Honeywell’s Unisim software was used for the simulation and the Peng Robinson equation of state was chosen as the fluid property package. The simulation was done unit by unit and integration of all units was made. The synthesis gas unit was simulated in Unisim as a conversion type reactor using two separate reactors while three equilibrium reactors were used to control the water gas shift reaction to maintain favourable H2/CO ratio. The FT reactor was modelled as a multi-tubular bed reactor and simulated as a plug flow reactor (PFR) in Unisim using heterogeneous catalytic reaction type. Technical and economic performances were analyzed for both methods. The technical analyses revealed that the proposed steam/CO2 method gave a H2/CO ratio of 2.17 as against the 2.21 gotten for the ATR. Furthermore, the carbon efficiency of the two methods revealed 77.68% and 92.17% for base case and the proposed methods respectively showing that the proposed case has higher efficiency. The liquid yields show that the proposed method has a liquid yield of 5730b/d over the 5430b/d gotten from the base case representing an increase in product yield of 5.5%.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Plant Optimization Using Enhanced Synthesis Gas Reforming Technology
    AU  - Izuwa Nkemakolam Chinedu
    AU  - Obah Boniface
    AU  - Ekwueme Stanley Toochukwu
    AU  - Obibuike Ubanozie Julian
    AU  - Kerunwa Anthony
    AU  - Ohia Nnaemeka Princewill
    AU  - Odo Jude Emeka
    Y1  - 2019/12/13
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190302.18
    DO  - 10.11648/j.pse.20190302.18
    T2  - Petroleum Science and Engineering
    JF  - Petroleum Science and Engineering
    JO  - Petroleum Science and Engineering
    SP  - 94
    EP  - 102
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-4516
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pse.20190302.18
    AB  - This paper evaluates method for optimisation of GTL plant using Steam/CO2 reforming for syngas generation. Extensive modelling of GTL plant has been done. Two cases were considered during the simulation of the GTL plant. The first case was the use of oxygen gas as the feed reactant gas using an auto-thermal reformer for the production of synthesis gas. The alternative case which is the proposed method uses CO2 in lieu of oxygen for the production of synthesis gas. CO2 method was chosen because of its cheap availability and the ability to be recycled from purge gas and reused reducing pollution. Honeywell’s Unisim software was used for the simulation and the Peng Robinson equation of state was chosen as the fluid property package. The simulation was done unit by unit and integration of all units was made. The synthesis gas unit was simulated in Unisim as a conversion type reactor using two separate reactors while three equilibrium reactors were used to control the water gas shift reaction to maintain favourable H2/CO ratio. The FT reactor was modelled as a multi-tubular bed reactor and simulated as a plug flow reactor (PFR) in Unisim using heterogeneous catalytic reaction type. Technical and economic performances were analyzed for both methods. The technical analyses revealed that the proposed steam/CO2 method gave a H2/CO ratio of 2.17 as against the 2.21 gotten for the ATR. Furthermore, the carbon efficiency of the two methods revealed 77.68% and 92.17% for base case and the proposed methods respectively showing that the proposed case has higher efficiency. The liquid yields show that the proposed method has a liquid yield of 5730b/d over the 5430b/d gotten from the base case representing an increase in product yield of 5.5%.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Petroleum Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

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