Gas-to-Liquids (GTL)
[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
Oxford Catalysts Acquires Velocys; Focus on Accelerating Commercialization of Small-Scale Synthetic Fuel Systems
November 03, 2008
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| The Oxford Catalysts-Velosys combination will target cost-effective small-scale synthetic fuels production. Click to enlarge. |
UK-based Oxford Catalysts Group PLC has acquired Velocys, Inc. from Battelle Memorial Institute for $35 million, $5 million of which is in cash. Velocys is a leader in the design and development of microchannel process technology for the production of synthetic fuels and commodity chemicals, with more than $160 million invested in its technology to date, primarily by industrial partners including Dow Chemical, Toyo Engineering and MODEC. (Earlier post.)
Oxford Catalysts (OC) has a platform catalyst technology that provides the increased activity required to unlock the benefits of such microchannel reactors. The companies have been collaborating since May 2007; in more than 3,500 hours of pilot testing, Velocys found that the OC Fischer-Tropsch catalysts were 15 times more productive than conventional fixed bed catalysts. Together, the catalyst and microchannel reactor technologies are capable of producing next-generation synthetic fuels more economically at smaller scales than possible with conventional systems, using feedstock sources including captured flare gas, gas that is currently reinjected, stranded gas reserves and biomass.
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New Life-Cycle Analysis Concludes Neither GTL or CTL a “Reasonable Path” for Energy Security With Reduced GHG Emissions
September 20, 2008
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| High- and low-GHG emissions scenario for FT fuels. Click to enlarge. |
A new life-cycle study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) concludes that the use of either coal- (CTL) or natural gas-based (GTL) Fischer-Tropsch (FT) liquids will likely lead to significant increases in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to petroleum-based fuels. In a best-case scenario, coal- or natural gas-based FT liquids have emissions only comparable to petroleum-based fuels.
In addition, the economic picture for either FT fuel is uncertain. There is a narrow range of petroleum and natural gas prices at which GTL fuels would be competitive with petroleum-based fuels, according to the study. Although CTL fuels are generally cheaper than petroleum-based fuels, recent reports cited by the study suggest there is uncertainty about the availability of economically viable coal resources in the United States. The CMU study was published 19 September in the online edition of the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
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Franklin Mining and Synfuels International Sign Agreement for Non-FT Gas-to-Liquids Plant in Argentina
July 11, 2008
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| The four main steps of the Synfuels GTL process. This flow assumes a methane cracking method that also yields a commercially worthwhile syngas stream. Click to enlarge. Source: Synfuels International. |
Franklin Mining, Inc. and Synfuels International, Inc. signed a letter of agreement addressing the environment and steps to be taken prior to finalizing the design of a Phase I gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant to be constructed in the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
Synfuels International, Inc. holds exclusive licensing rights for a non-Fischer-Tropsch gas-to-liquids technology developed at Texas A&M University: ECLAIRS (Ethylene from Concentrated Liquid-phase Acetylene - Integrated, Rapid and Safe). The key differentiating aspect of the process is the liquid-phase conversion of acetylene to ethylene. A demonstration plant built by Synfuels International has proven to operate efficiently and economically in the production of 95-octane gasoline fuel, according to the company.
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Oxford Catalysts in Agreement for Small-Scale Fischer-Tropsch Applications
July 08, 2008
Oxford Catalysts Group PLC, a developer of novel catalyst technology (earlier post), has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a specialist technology developer for the deployment of Oxford’s proprietary catalysts in small scale Fischer-Tropsch (FT) applications, such as the conversion of bio-waste or flare gas into synthetic liquid fuels—a potential global market of more than 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.
FT catalysts are used in the process of converting natural gas, coal or biomass into clean-burning liquid fuels, such as sulfur-free diesel (GTL, CTL and BTL processes respectively). However, conventional FT technologies have been unable to scale down cost-effectively to date.
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Optimized Engines for Neat GTL Can Simultaneously Reduce Exhaust Emissions and Fuel Consumption
May 12, 2008
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| The concept for optimizing an engine for neat GTL. Optimization techniques are in blue, positive outcomes in green and negative outcomes in red. Some of the optimization techniques counter the negative outcomes of other optimization steps. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers from Toyota Motor Corporation, Hino Motors and Showa Shell have evaluated the emissions reduction potential of three different Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) research fuels in three different latest-generation diesel engines of different displacements (2L, 4L and 8L). They also assessed differences in combustion phenomena between the GTL fuels and a baseline petroleum diesel in a single cylinder engine with optical access.
Based on their findings, they optimized one of the engines to improve both exhaust emissions and fuel consumption simultaneously, assuming the use of a neat GTL fuel rather than a blend. They also improved the conversion efficiency of the NOx catalyst.
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Velocys, Toyo Engineering and MODEC Form Alliance for Offshore Gas-To-Liquids
November 20, 2007
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| The partners are targeting installation of the GTL process on an FPSO (above). |
Battelle subsidiary Velocys Inc., Toyo Engineering Corporation and MODEC, Inc. have formed a joint development agreement (JDA) to develop and commercialize gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities for offshore applications.
Under the agreement, Velocys will advance its microchannel reactor and catalyst technologies (earlier post) to improve the economics of producing synthetic fuels. Then, working with Toyo and MODEC, the process will be made suitable for installation offshore on an FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel). The agreement is expected to result in a commercial offshore GTL facility by 2012.
