Fischer-Tropsch synthesis as key for decentralized sustainable kerosene production

Synthetic fuels play an important role in the defossilization of future aviation transport. To reduce the ecological impact of remote airports due to long range transportation of kerosene, a decentralized on-site-production of synthetic paraffinic kerosene is applicable, preferably as near-drop-in fuel or alternatively as blend. One possible solution to produce synthetic kerosene is the Power-to-Liquid process. The considered process consists of the production of a synthesis gas via electrolysis to produce hydrogen and a reverse water-gas shift reaction for the production of carbon monoxide out of carbon dioxide, adsorbed via direct air capture from the ambient air. The synthesis gas then is synthesized to hydrocarbons of different chain lengths in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The following product separation and an upgrading section using hydrocracking lead to the final product. The development of the simplified plant layout addressing the specific challenges of a decentralized kerosene production which differ from most current approaches for infrastructural well-connected regions is described. The decisive influence of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on the PtL process is shown by means of a steady-state reactor model which was developed in Python. The reactor model is based on reaction kinetics according current literature. The effects of adjustments of the main reactor process parameters on product selectivity and reactor activity are evaluated and the impacts on up- and downstream processes are described. The results prove the governing influence of the Fischer-Tropsch reactor on the PtL process and show its flexibility regarding the desired product fraction output, which makes it an appropriate solution for a decentralized kerosene production