Phillips 400 BPD methane to liquid fuels plant
Development of synthetic fuels technology is being driven primarily by three factors: declining reserves of liquid petroleum, increasing petroleum imports (projected to be 19.6 Mbbls/day by 2025), and high crude oil prices (recently exceeding $70/bbl). Basic research and technology development in fuel synthesis technology, non-hydrocarbon-based hydrogen production, and CO2 capture technologies are needed to allow replacement of conventional crude with synthetic liquid fuels.
The Fischer Tropsch (FT) synthesis process is the best known fuel synthesis process. FT synthesis is a group of chemical reactions that produce petrochemicals and fuels from hydrogen and carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. Typical yields in the desired gasoline or diesel fractions are low (i.e., 20-25%), prior to downstream processing. After downstream processing, the desired gasoline or diesel fraction can be increased to nominally 40% or better.
With production of hydrogen using nuclear energy, the required synthesis gas can be derived from nuclear-based hydrogen and recycled coal fired power plant or biomass derived CO2. Carbon that would otherwise be admitted to the atmosphere or sequestered would be put to productive use. New technology under development may also allow direct production of synthesis gas using combined high temperature water and CO2 electrolysis.
- Contacts:
- Robert Carrington, (208) 526-5041, Send E-mail