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Gas to Liquid Technologies

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Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology

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Definition of the Subject

Like oil and coal, natural gas is not what first comes to mind when considering sustainable fuel sources. Yet as for other fossil sources, conversion of natural gas to transportation fuel is currently more affordable than conversion of renewable resources such as wind and solar, which are technically far away from availability at even a fraction of the scale required to have significant impact on meeting global demand over the coming decades. Given that global proved natural gas reserves are currently estimated as capable of producing more than 1,100 billion equivalent barrels of oil (the energy equivalent of 42 cubic miles of oil) [1], natural gas is a key contributor when considering a sustainable global fuel supply.

The term “gas to liquids” (GTL) is frequently used in reference to the chemical transformation of natural gas to liquid fuels via the Fischer–Tropsch (F-T) technology. In broader usage, the term “GTL” refers to...

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Abbreviations

Autothermal reforming (ATR):

The reaction of oxygen and carbon dioxide or steam with methane to form synthesis gas, wherein the exothermic partial oxidation of methane provides energy for the endothermic steam reforming of methane. ATR is also used in reference to the autothermal reformer itself.

bbl:

Barrels (of oil).

BOE:

Barrel of oil equivalent.

Btu:

Also btu, British thermal unit, a measure of energy content.

Catalytic membrane reactor (CMR):

A flow-through reactor used to influence an equilibrium-limited reaction to proceed further in the forward direction via selective transport of reactant(s) or product(s) across the membrane.

CPOx:

Catalytic partial oxidation.

CTL:

Coal-to-liquids.

DME:

Dimethylether.

DOE:

US Department of Energy.

Fischer–Tropsch reaction:

The catalytic conversion of synthesis gas to primarily hydrocarbons, the discovery being credited to Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch.

Gas-Heated reforming (GHR):

Use of heat available by recycling process gas (tail gas) downstream of an ATR for steam methane reforming, in a heat exchanger type reactor.

Gas to liquids (GTL):

The conversion of gas to liquid fuels and/or chemicals.

Heat exchange reforming (HER):

See GHR.

kWh:

Kilowatt hours, a measure of energy.

Light distillate:

A distillation cut of low molecular weight and low boiling range, obtained from refining of hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks, used to produce liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoline, and naphtha.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG):

Natural gas that has been converted to liquid form for transport or storage.

Middle distillate:

A distillation cut of mid-range boiling point, obtained from refining hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks, containing hydrocarbons ranging from C5 through about C20 or C22. When further distilled, the portion of middle distillates containing C5 through about C15 is often referred to as naphtha, and the portion containing C16 through up to C22 is referred to as diesel. The naphtha is often distilled further to produce gasoline and kerosene/jet fuel, or can be used as feed for a naphtha cracker unit to make light olefins. (Less commonly, the gasoline cut is initially collected along with the light distillates.)

Natural gas liquids (NGL):

The purified and condensed portion of natural gas consisting of gaseous hydrocarbons heavier than methane specifically ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), n-butane (n-C4H10), and isobutane (i-C4H10).

Partial oxidation (POx):

The controlled oxidation of natural gas (primarily CH4) with oxygen (O2) such that syngas is formed, rather than forming carbon dioxide (CO2) via complete combustion.

Pre-reforming:

The use of an adiabatic, preheating zone upstream of an ATR reactor for the purpose of catalytically converting C2+ hydrocarbons to a mixture of methane (CH4), hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2), thereby allowing oxygen (O2) to be used more efficiently in the reformer.

scf:

Standard cubic feet, a measure of gas volume.

Steam methane reforming (SMR):

The high-temperature catalytic reaction of steam with methane to give synthesis gas.

Synthesis gas (syngas):

A mixture of primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced by gasification or reforming of hydrocarbonaceous materials, used to synthesize fuels or chemicals.

Water gas shift reaction (WGSR):

The gas phase reaction of carbon monoxide (CO) with water to form carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA

    Marianna Asaro (Senior Chemist)

  2. SRI Consulting, 4300 Bohannon Drive, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA

    Ronald M. Smith (Senior Consultant)

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  1. Marianna Asaro
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Correspondence to Marianna Asaro .

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  1. RAMTECH LIMITED, Larkspur, CA, USA

    Robert A. Meyers

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Asaro, M., Smith, R.M. (2012). Gas to Liquid Technologies . In: Meyers, R.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_72

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