Hydrocarbon producing apparatus and hydrocarbon producing method

Abstract

There is provided a hydrocarbon producing apparatus according to the present invention for obtaining a product containing hydrocarbons from a raw material gas by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction using a reactor containing an FT reaction catalyst exhibiting activity in the FT synthesis reaction, the hydrocarbon producing apparatus including: a purge unit that executes an inert gas purge process that supplies a high-temperature inert gas to the reactor, maintains a temperature in the reactor in a temperature range during the FT synthesis reaction, and reduces a pressure in the reactor, when the FT synthesis reaction is terminated, so that the hydrocarbons adhering to the FT reaction catalyst are vaporized; and a recovery unit that is provided on a downstream side of the reactor, condenses the vaporized hydrocarbons, and recovers the condensed hydrocarbons in a liquid state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydrocarbon producing apparatus for obtaining a product containing hydrocarbons from a raw material gas by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction (FT synthesis reaction) using a reactor containing an FT reaction catalyst exhibiting activity in the FT synthesis reaction, the hydrocarbon producing apparatus comprising:
 a purge unit configured to execute an inert gas purge process that supplies a high-temperature inert gas to the reactor, maintains a temperature in the reactor in a temperature range during the FT synthesis reaction, and reduces a pressure in the reactor, when the FT synthesis reaction is terminated, so that the hydrocarbons adhering to the FT reaction catalyst are vaporized; and   a recovery unit provided on a downstream side of the reactor, configured to condense the vaporized hydrocarbons, and recover the condensed hydrocarbons in a liquid state.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrocarbon producing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the recovery unit includes a first gas-liquid separator that is provided on the downstream side of the reactor, and condenses gaseous hydrocarbons mixed with the inert gas and separates the condensed hydrocarbons in a liquid state, when the FT synthesis reaction is terminated. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrocarbon producing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the recovery unit includes a second gas-liquid separator that is provided on a downstream side of the first gas-liquid separator, condenses the gaseous hydrocarbons at a lower temperature than the first gas-liquid separator, and separates the condensed hydrocarbons in a liquid state. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrocarbon producing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the recovery unit includes a third gas-liquid separator that is provided on a downstream side of the first gas-liquid separator, condenses the gaseous hydrocarbons at a lower temperature than the first gas-liquid separator and separates the condensed hydrocarbons in a liquid state, and separates the gaseous hydrocarbons according to a carbon number by changing an internal temperature. 
     
     
         5 . A hydrocarbon producing method for obtaining a product containing hydrocarbons from a raw material gas by a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction (FT synthesis reaction) using a reactor containing an FT reaction catalyst exhibiting activity in the FT synthesis reaction, the hydrocarbon producing method comprising:
 vaporizing hydrocarbons adhering to the FT reaction catalyst by executing an inert gas purge process that supplies an inert gas to the reactor, maintains a temperature in the reactor in a temperature range during the FT synthesis reaction, and reduces a pressure in the reactor, when the FT synthesis reaction is terminated; and   condensing the vaporized hydrocarbons and recovering the condensed hydrocarbons in a liquid state.