Reducing CO2 levels in CO2-rich natural gases converted into liquid fuels

摘要

Provided is a process for converting CO2-rich natural gas into liquid fuel. The process includes introducing a CO2-rich natural gas feed stream into a synthesis gas formation reactor and then forming a synthesis gas. At least a portion of the synthesis gas is then introduced into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. A Fischer-Tropsch process is conducted generating a Fischer-Tropsch product. A naphtha is separated from the Fischer-Tropsch product and introduced into a naphtha reformer. Hydrogen by-product is generated by reforming the naphtha to obtain a C6-C10 product having a hydrogen to carbon ratio less than about 2.0. At least a portion of the hydrogen by-product is recirculated and mixed with the CO2-rich natural gas feed stream. The hydrogen by-product mixes with the CO2-rich natural gas feed stream such that at least a portion of the CO2 present in the natural gas feed stream is converted into additional CO by a reverse water gas shift reaction so that the synthesis gas derived from the feed stream contains a volume amount of CO2 that is less than a volume amount of CO2 present in the feed stream prior to mixing with the hydrogen by-product. Finally, the additional CO is converted into hydrocarbons in the Fischer-Tropsch reactor.