Patent ID: 7138434
Filing Date: 2006-11-21
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. A process for the conversion of natural gas into higher hydrocarbons, at an elevated temperature and pressure, which comprises the steps of: (a) reacting natural gas with steam and optionally oxygen in at least one reforming zone to a produce synthesis gas stream comprising 0.1 to 50% by volume of carbon dioxide; (b) feeding the synthesis gas stream, without separating the carbon dioxide, to a continuous stirred reactor system comprising a reactor vessel containing a suspension of a solid particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst suspended in a liquid medium wherein the solid particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is stable in the presence of carbon dioxide and wherein the catalyst comprises cobalt on an inorganic oxide support selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, silica-alumina and zinc oxide, wherein the synthesis gas is converted to higher hydrocarbons in a continuous stirred reactor system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel, wherein the synthesis gas feed stream and a suspension feed stream comprising the particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst suspended in a liquid medium are continuously fed to the high shear mixing zone(s), the shearing forces exerted on the suspension in the high shear mixing zone(s) are sufficiently high that the synthesis gas feed stream is broken down into gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids and suspension having gas bubbles and/or irregularly shaped gas voids dispersed therein is discharged from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the reactor vessel.