Reactors for Smaller Scale GTL Facilities

Velocys is commercializing an advanced Fischer-Tropsch process based on a high activity cobalt catalyst in a microchannel reactor. The modular nature of the technology enables its deployment at smaller scales than is possible using conventional technology which provides a platform for cost-effective positioning of gas-to-liquids (GTL) plants in any location to monetize shale, stranded or associated gas. Construction has begun on a commercial GTL facility near Oklahoma City that will serve as a reference site for the Velocys technology and will deploy a number of our full scale Fischer-Tropsch reactors. The project is the first to be developed by a joint venture between Velocys, Waste Management, NRG Energy and Ventech to develop GTL plants using a combination of renewable biogas and natural gas and is scheduled for startup early in 2016.

Rigorous laboratory testing, as well as stable operations for more than 1500 hours in the Velocys pilot plant was used to demonstrate performance as well as to assess catalyst regenerability and life and to determine the design basis for the commercial facility. Commercialization, however, is not only limited to catalyst and reactor development and manufacturing scale-up but needs to address sustainable operability and the full product life cycle to truly be commercially viable. To this end, the Velocys pilot plant has been used to rigorously test and develop realistic operating protocols, improve and demonstrate transient operating cases and to successfully develop and use commercially relevant catalyst loading and unloading procedures. In conjunction with our pilot studies, predictive performance models, simulations for engineering studies and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations are used to fully describe and assess all possible operating scenarios. These programs not only minimize risk and validate commercial operations but also open up the opportunity for continuous improvement and innovation and as such are essential to the success of any new technology.