SINTEF offers contract research for the industry related to processes for conversion of natural gas or syngas. The objective is to identify the best catalyst technology through a broad approach where different properties are addressed including:
- Obtaining kinetic data for reactor sizing
- Mechanistic investigations
- Optimization of pre-treatment and start-up
- Catalyst stability at different operating conditions
- The effect of feed contaminants
- Catalyst characterization: fresh, in-situ and spent
Processes studied
- Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) from syngas
- Olefin synthesis (FTO) from syngas
- Hydrocarbon reforming
- Steam reforming, oxy-reforming, partial oxidation, dry reforming
- Water gas shift
- Catalytic combustion processes
- Hydrocarbons, CO, H2, VOCs
- Methanation
- Methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis
- Dehydrogenation, oxidative dehydrogenation
Equipment:
The laboratories consist of customizable units tailored in-house to the specific needs of the activity, where reactors are customized through a glass or steel workshop depending on application. The following are typical conditions we can operate at now, but the units can easily be tailored to higher flows and larger volumes:
- 0.1-100 g catalyst as powder or pellets
- Fixed-bed reactors: 5-20 mm diameter SS 316 and 5-50 mm diameter quartz
- Temperature: 25-1100 °C
- Pressure: 0-100 bar
- Flow: 0-10 L/min (easy to increase to higher flows)
- Flexible feedings systems
- Easy Swagelok installation of alternative reactor systems including microstructured reactors or CSTRs
- Datalogging systems
We have 3 units dedicated to gas conversion activities and several other that can be accessed depending on availability and need. Of the 3 dedicated units they are currently installed with:
- Unit 1: 4 fixed-bed 10 mm diameter SS reactors in parallel, 250 mm hot zone, interchangeable 1 micro-structured reactor, 0-250/500 ml/min gas, 25-1000 °C, aluminum jackets for isothermal conditions, evaporator 0-10/20 g/h water, 0-60 bar, online Agilent HP 5890 GC with TCD and FID
- Unit 2: 2 fixed-bed 10 mm diameter SS reactors in parallel, 250 mm hot zone, 0-250/1000 ml/min gas, 25-1000 °C, aluminum jackets, 0-40 bar, online Agilent HP 6890 GC with TCD and FID
- Unit 3: 2 fixed-bed SS or quartz reactors in parallel or series, 3-zone furnace with 3x300 mm hot zones, 0-100/250/1000/3000/4000 ml/min gas, 25-1100 °C and 25-1000 °C, aluminum jackets, evaporator 0-20/200 g/h water, 0-60 bar, online Agilent 3000A micro-GC with 4 TCD detectors
- Offline analysis of liquids (Agilent 7890B GC equipped with autosampler, TCD and FID detectors)
- Modifications are made to suit each project.