Patent ID: 7855235

Claim:
A method to start a steady state process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, which process comprises the steps of: (i) providing a synthesis gas; (ii) catalytically converting the synthesis gas in one or more conversion reactors at an elevated temperature and a pressure to obtain the normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons; and (iii) using at least a portion of the gaseous hydrocarbons produced by step (ii) as a recycle stream to be reintroduced into conversion reactor(s) of step (ii); the method comprising admixing a hydrogen stream with the recycle stream of step (iii) prior to its reintroduction into conversion reactor(s) of step (ii), wherein as the activity of the catalyst converting the synthesis gas proceeds from start-up towards a steady state, the amount of recycle stream is reduced over a period of up to eight weeks.