New and Innovative Conceptual Designs of Gas-to-Liquid Processes

Abstract

The research is about a chemical process, which turns natural gas into liquid fuel through chemical reactions, and it is called Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) process. The produced liquid fuel is a replacement for liquid fuel derived from oil. This process can be one of the players in the reduction of our dependency on oil. The aim of the research is to increase the profitability of the process by increasing the efficiency through better process design and operation. There is also a great incentive to reduce the investment cost in order to make such process profitable at higher natural gas prices. Mathematical tools were used in our search to find a better process design. Detailed kinetic studies were performed and new relation for product formation is suggested. In this research, a new process configuration is proposed which is suitable for placement in remote locations such as offshore sites. In addition, the proposed process configuration helps in reducing flaring of natural gas in offshore oil platforms. The society benefits from cleaner and cheaper energy source which can have the potential to replace oil at least partly.