System and method for treatment of water and disposal of contaminants produced by converting lighter hydrocarbons into heavier hydrocarbon

A Fischer-Tropsch process for converting light hydrocarbons to heavier hydrocarbons wherein the Fischer-Tropsch process comprises:

• compressing air in a compressor section of a first turbine for use in the Fischer-Tropsch process;
• supplying a first portion of the compressed air from the compressor section to a combustion chamber associated with the first turbine;
• mixing a second portion the compressed air from the first turbine with steam and the light hydrocarbons in a first reactor to produce a synthesis gas which includes carbon monoxide, hydrogen and undesirable fluids;
• directing the synthesis gas, water and undesirable contaminants from the first reactor to a synthesis gas water wash column;
• directing synthesis gas from the synthesis gas water wash column to a compressor section of a syngas turbine;
• supplying boiler feed water to the first reactor to maintain a desired temperature range for production of the synthesis gas by converting the boiler feed water to steam;
• directing the steam produced from the boiler feed water by the first reactor to an expansion section of a syngas turbine;
• directing compressed synthesis gas from the compressor section of the syngas turbine to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to convert at least a portion of the synthesis gas to Fischer-Tropsch products including the heavier hydrocarbons, water and various contaminants;
• separating any unconverted portion of the synthesis gas and lighter hydrocarbons from the heavier hydrocarbons and water to provide a tail gas;
• mixing at least a portion of the tail gas with the first portion of the compressed air in the combustion chamber of the first turbine to produce combustion gases which are directed to an expansion section of the first turbine;
• and
• separating the water from the heavier hydrocarbons and directing at least a portion of the water to the synthesis gas water wash column to remove at least a portion of the undesirable contaminants from the synthesis gas prior to the synthesis gas entering the compressor section of the syngas turbine.

A system for converting lighter hydrocarbons to heavier hydrocarbons using a Fischer-Tropsch process comprising:

• a first turbine having a compressor section, a combustion chamber and an expansion section;
• a first fluid flow path to direct at least a portion of an oxygen containing gas from the compressor section to the combustion chamber;
• a second fluid flow path to direct at least a second portion of the oxygen containing gas from the compressor section to an autothermal reformer;
• respective fluid flow paths for supplying the lighter hydrocarbons, boiler feed water and steam to the autothermal reformer for use in producing synthesis gas along with undesirable contaminants;
• a fluid flow path for directing steam produced from the boiler feed water in the autothermal reformer to a steam expansion section of a second turbine;
• a fluid flow path for directing the synthesis gas, and undesirable contaminants to a synthesis gas water wash column;
• a fluid flow path for directing synthesis gas from the synthesis gas water wash column to a compressor section of the second turbine;
• a fluid flow path for supplying water to the synthesis gas water wash column;
• a fluid flow path for directing contaminated water and other undesirable contaminants from the synthesis gas water wash column to a water stripping column;
• a fluid flow path for directing steam to the water stripping column;
• a fluid flow path for directing contaminated steam and undesirable gases from the water stripping column to the combustion chamber of the first turbine;
• and
• a fluid flow path for directing stripped water from the water stripping column.