Description
The Fischer–Tropsch pilot plant is a turnkey, modular skid solution that reproduces Fischer–Tropsch synthesis and downstream fuel upgrading under true industrial conditions to produce e-gasoline, e-diesel, and e-kerosene, enabling clients to make confident, data-driven scale-up decisions before full-scale deployment.
The Fischer-Tropsch Pilot Plant is a fully automated laboratory-scale system designed to convert synthesis gas into liquid hydrocarbons and fuels. With a nominal production capacity of 1 kg/h, it is suitable for catalyst evaluation, process development and optimization of key parameters such as syngas composition, temperature, pressure, GHSV and gas recycle.
The standard configuration is dedicated to HTFT synthesis, typically using an iron-based catalyst to favor gasoline- and diesel-range hydrocarbons. The unit includes controlled H₂, CO, CO₂ and N₂ feeds, gas recycle, a 2-liter fixed-bed reactor, six-zone furnace, and complete downstream separation. Waxes, liquid hydrocarbons, water and off-gas are separately recovered and quantified for accurate mass balance and yield determination.
For SAF and synthetic diesel production, the FT unit can be combined with an optional mild hydrocracking stage. The FT reactor is then operated with a cobalt-based catalyst, typically at 230–250°C and 30 bar, to favor the production of heavy paraffinic waxes. These waxes are subsequently hydrocracked in the presence of hydrogen to produce lighter transportation fuels, mainly SAF and synthetic diesel.
The hydrocracking module incorporates heated wax feeding and transfer lines, H₂/N₂ and DMDS injection, a fixed-bed trickle-flow reactor, and dedicated separation and product recovery. This configuration provides an integrated syngas-to-fuels pilot platform, covering both Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and downstream upgrading for the development of gasoline, SAF and synthetic diesel production routes.
Features
Nominal FT hydrocarbon production: 1 kg/h
FT reactor: 2 L tubular fixed-bed reactor, isothermal down-flow operation
FT operating conditions: Up to 350°C and 45 barg
Syngas feeds: H₂, CO, CO₂ and N₂ with independent mass flow control
Fresh syngas capacity: H₂ up to 2.0 Nm³/h and CO up to 1.0 Nm³/h
Gas recycle: Up to 3.0 Nm³/h with dedicated compressor and flow control
FT GHSV: 2,000–3,000 h⁻¹ including fresh feed and recycle
Temperature control: 6-zone isothermal furnace with axial catalyst-bed temperature profiling
Catalyst flexibility: Suitable for Fe-based HTFT operation and Co-based FT wax production
Optional hydrocracking unit: Conversion of FT waxes into SAF and synthetic diesel
Hydrocracking liquid feed: 10–600 mL/h
Hydrocracking reactor: Fixed-bed, down-flow trickle-bed configuration
Hydrocracking operating range: Up to 500°C and 200 barg
Hydrocracking gas feeds: H₂ 10–80 SLPH and N₂ 10–50 SLPH
Heated wax circuit: Feed vessel, precision HP pump and heat-traced lines to prevent wax solidification
Hydrocracking separation: HP/LP separation with dedicated water and hydrocarbon recovery
Automation: PLC-based control, PC supervision, data acquisition, trends, alarms and safety interlocks
Benefits
* Complete syngas-to-fuels platform – Integrates FT synthesis, separation and optional wax hydrocracking in one pilot system.
* Multiple fuel products – Enables development of gasoline, synthetic diesel and SAF production routes.
* Flexible catalyst evaluation – Supports both Fe- and Co-based FT catalysts and hydrocracking catalysts.
* Accurate performance assessment – Separate product recovery, weighing and off-gas measurement provide reliable mass balances and yield determination.
* Fully automated operation – PLC control, data acquisition and safety interlocks ensure reproducible and safe testing.
