Integration of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsPaul J. Berlowitz, Timothy Andrew Barckholtz, Frank H. Hershkowitz
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Abstract
In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. The molten carbonate fuel cells can be integrated with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process in various manners, including providing synthesis gas for use in producing hydrocarbonaceous carbons. Additionally, integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process can facilitate further processing of vent streams or secondary product streams generated during the synthesis process.
Claims21
A method for synthesizing hydrocarbonaceous compounds, the method comprising:
- introducing a fuel stream comprising a reformable fuel into an anode of a molten carbonate fuel cell, an internal reforming element associated with the anode, or a combination thereof;
- introducing a cathode inlet stream comprising CO2 and O2 into a cathode inlet of the molten carbonate fuel cell;
- generating electricity within the molten carbonate fuel cell;
- generating an anode exhaust comprising H2, CO, H2O, and at least about 20 vol % CO2;
- reacting at least a portion of the anode exhaust under effective Fischer-Tropsch conditions in the presence of a shifting Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to produce at least one gaseous product and at least one non-gaseous product, wherein a CO2 concentration in the at least a portion of the anode exhaust is at least 80% of a CO2 concentration in the anode exhaust;
- and
- recycling at least a portion of the at least one gaseous product to the cathode inlet.
The method of embodiment 13, wherein performing the endothermic reaction consumes at least about 40% of the waste heat.
A method for synthesizing hydrocarbonaceous compounds, the method comprising:
- introducing a fuel stream comprising a reformable fuel into the anode of a molten carbonate fuel cell, an internal reforming element associated with a anode, or a combination thereof;
- introducing a cathode inlet stream comprising CO2 and O2 into a cathode inlet of the molten carbonate fuel cell;
- generating electricity within the molten carbonate fuel cell;
- generating an anode exhaust comprising H2, CO, H2O, and at least about 20 vol % CO2;
- and
- reacting at least a portion of the anode exhaust under effective Fischer-Tropsch conditions in the presence of a shifting Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to produce at least one gaseous product and at least one non-gaseous product, wherein a CO2 concentration in the at least a portion of the anode exhaust is at least 80% of a CO2 concentration in the anode exhaust,
- wherein an amount of the reformable fuel introduced into the anode, the internal reforming element associated with the anode, or the combination thereof, provides a reformable fuel surplus ratio of at least about 1.5.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.