Modelling and Simulation of a Gas-to-Liquid Technology Using Fischer-Tropsch Process

Abstract

Gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology is a process that involves the conversion of natural gas into liquid hydrocarbons, which can be further processed into fuels and other hydrocarbon-based products. This process is very useful where gases are available in abundant quantities. It has been discovered that the process has not been well established, and, therefore, it is one of the areas being looked into seriously by process engineers. In order to contribute to the success of the development of this technology, this research work was studied with the aim of modelling, assessing and optimizing a gas-to-liquid plant based on Fischer Tropsch process towards ensuring a safe and economically viable system. This was achieved through the use of Aspen HYSYS process simulator. The natural gas used as the feed was taken to contain the following components: methane, ethane, propane, n-butane and nitrogen. The model of the gas-to-liquid was developed by picking the pieces of equipment involved in the process from the object palette of the process simulator, placing them on the modelling sheet and joining them together. Thereafter, the operating parameters of the process were inputted into the appropriate places in the model. The developed model was simulated with Peng-Robinson as the fluid package that was employed to estimate the thermodynamic properties. The results obtained from the simulations showed that the natural gas was converted to liquid hydrocarbons that can be processed further for the production of other desired products like gasoline, kerosene, diesel and wax. Therefore, the production of liquid from natural gas has been achieved successfully with the aid of Aspen HYSYS.