Abstract Summary (Max 250 words)
Higher hydrocarbons are considered highly promising for storing surplus electrical energy produced from renewable sources. Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is a well known process for the catalytic conversion of synthesis gas into higher hydrocarbons, which can subsequently be upgraded into sulfur free, aromatics free fuels and chemicals. For low temperature FT synthesis, slurry bubble column reactors and multitubular fixed bed reactors are typically used. Owing to their many advantages (phase mixing, small temperature gradients, excellent heat management, and equipment without moving parts), slurry bubble column reactors are employed in industrial plants (e.g., by Sasol and Exxon). For industrial use of bubble column reactors, challenges arise in scaling up these reactors and in separating solid catalysts from liquid products. For these reasons, this type of reactor continues to be investigated. The aim of this contribution is to present a comparison of predictions from various computational correlations for gas–liquid–solid three phase systems published in the literature for slurry bubble column reactors, using a model system corresponding to an industrial FTS process.
