Fischer-Tropsch products as fuel for fuel cells

Abstract

Fischer-Tropsch fuels having low levels of sulphur and other impurities are applied as fuels for use in fuel cell systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for preparing low-sulphur hydrocarbon feedstock products for use as fuel in a fuel cell, the process comprising: providing a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; and   converting said synthesis gas via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to hydrocarbon feedstock products, said hydrocarbon products selected from the group consisting of tail gas, condensate, wax, straight-run diesel and naphtha products, hydrocracked diesel and naphtha products, and mixtures of the foregoing.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1, wherein said Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2, wherein the Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is carried out at a temperature between about 210° C. and 275° C. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 3, wherein the Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is carried out at a temperature of about 230° C. and at a pressure of about 20 bars. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 1, wherein the hydrocracked diesel and naphtha products are produced by selectively hydrocracking said wax. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1, wherein said straight-run diesel and naphtha products a re produced by hydrotreating said condensate. 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 2, wherein said Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is performed using a catalyst selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni and Ru. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 7, wherein the catalyst is Co. 
     
     
       9. The process of claim 7, wherein the catalyst is precipitated iron. 
     
     
       10. A process for operating a fuel cell, comprising: providing a source of hydrocarbons, said source of hydrocarbons comprising at least one of coal, natural gas and liquid petroleum;   deriving a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from said source of hydrocarbons;   converting said synthesis gas via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to one or more low-sulphur hydrocarbon feedstock products, said hydrocarbon feedstock products selected from the group consisting of tail gas, condensate, wax, straight-run diesel and naphtha products, hydrocracked diesel and naphtha products, and mixtures of the foregoing; and   electrochemically combining hydrogen derived from said one or more low-sulphur hydrocarbon feedstock products with an oxidant without combustion to produce electrical energy.   
     
     
       11. The process of claim 10, wherein said Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. 
     
     
       12. The process of claim 11, wherein the Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is carried out at a temperature between about 210° C. and 275° C. 
     
     
       13. The process of claim 12, wherein the Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is carried out at a temperature of about 230° C. and at a pressure of about 20 bars. 
     
     
       14. The process of claim 10, wherein the hydrocracked diesel and naphtha products are produced by selectively hydrocracking said wax. 
     
     
       15. The process of claim 10, wherein said straight-run diesel and naphtha products are produced by hydrotreating said condensate. 
     
     
       16. The process of claim 11, wherein said Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is performed using a catalyst selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni and Ru. 
     
     
       17. The process of claim 16, wherein the catalyst is Co. 
     
     
       18. The process of claim 16, wherein the catalyst is precipitated iron. 
     
     
       19. The process of claim 10, wherein the synthesis gas is obtained by coal gasification. 
     
     
       20. The process of claim 10, wherein the synthesis gas is obtained by reforming natural gas.