Apparatus and method for producing synthetic fuel

An apparatus for producing a synthetic fuel, the apparatus comprising:

• a reactor configured to contain an FT reaction catalyst exhibiting activity in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction (FT synthesis reaction) and produce an FT crude oil containing hydrocarbons from a raw material gas;
• a fractionator provided on a downstream side of the reactor, configured to fractionate the FT crude oil, and separate hydrocarbons having a predetermined range of carbon numbers;
• and
• a reformer provided on a downstream side of the fractionator and configured to produce a fuel product from the hydrocarbons separated by the fractionator,
• wherein the apparatus further includes an aromatic detection unit that is provided between the reactor and the fractionator and detects a concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons contained in the FT crude oil, and a heat exchange type gas-liquid separation device provided between the reactor and the aromatic detection unit, and
• wherein a control unit of the apparatus is configured to change a fractionation temperature of the fractionator according to the detected concentration of the aromatic hydrocarbons.

A method for producing a synthetic fuel, the method comprising:

• an FT crude oil production step of producing an FT crude oil containing hydrocarbons from a raw material gas using a reactor containing an FT reaction catalyst exhibiting activity in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction (FT synthesis reaction);
• a fractionation step of fractionating the FT crude oil, and separating hydrocarbons having a predetermined range of carbon numbers by a fractionator provided on a downstream side of the reactor;
• and
• a reforming step of producing a fuel product from the separated hydrocarbons by a reformer provided on a downstream side of the fractionator,
• wherein the method further includes an aromatic detection step of detecting a concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons contained in the FT crude oil by an aromatic detection unit provided between the reactor and the fractionator, and
• wherein a fractionation temperature in the fractionation step is changed by a control unit of the apparatus to a temperature suitable for the FT synthesis reaction of hydrocarbons with a predetermined number of carbon atoms that is mainly to be obtained according to the detected concentration of the aromatic hydrocarbons.