Natural gas to liquid fuels
AssigneeGreenway Innovative Energy, Inc.
InventorF. Conrad Greer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for converting natural gas from a source, such as a wellhead, pipeline, or a storage facility, into hydrocarbon liquid stable at room temperature, comprising a skid or trailer mounted portable gas to liquids reactor. The reactor includes a preprocessor which desulfurizes and dehydrates the natural gas, a first stage reactor which transforms the preprocessed natural gas into synthesis gas, and a liquid production unit using a Fischer-Tropsch or similar polymerization process. The hydrocarbon liquid may be stored in a portable tank for later transportation or further processed on site.
Claims21
A mobile or portable apparatus, comprising:
- a hydrogenation unit having an input configured to receive natural gas;
- a Fischer-Tropsch reactor having an input coupled to an output of the hydrogenation unit, the Fischer-Tropsch reactor comprising a plurality of catalyst-filled pipes wrapped around a center cooling pipe;
- and
- a fractionation tower having an input coupled to an output of the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, the fractionation tower having one or more outputs for liquid hydrocarbons.
A mobile or portable apparatus, comprising:
- a hydrogenation unit having an input configured to receive natural gas, the hydrogenation unit comprising a plurality of catalyst-filled pipes wrapped around a center cooling pipe;
- a Fischer-Tropsch reactor having an input coupled to an output of the hydrogenation unit;
- and
- a fractionation tower having an input coupled to an output of the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, the fractionation tower having one or more outputs for liquid hydrocarbons.
A apparatus, comprising:
- a desulfurization unit having an input adapted to receive natural gas, the desulfurization unit configured to remove sulfur from the natural gas;
- a hydrogenation unit having an input configured to receive natural gas from the desulfurization unit, the hydrogenation unit comprising a plurality of catalyst-filled pipes wrapped around a center cooling pipe;
- a Fischer-Tropsch reactor having an input coupled to an output of the hydrogenation unit, the Fischer-Tropsch reactor comprising a plurality of catalyst-filled pipes wrapped around a center cooling pipe;
- an air source configured to blow air through the center cooling pipes of the hydrogenation unit and the Fischer-Tropsch reactor;
- and
- a fractionation tower having an input coupled to an output of the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, the fractionation tower having one or more located at different heights, each of the outlets adapted to output a liquid hydrocarbon corresponding to a different liquid fuel type.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.