Velocys adds 50% to pilot plant capacity without changing catalyst formulation, reactor design

In Ohio, Velocys completed of pilot plant tests that demonstrate that continuous improvements over the last 18 months have resulted in a greater than 50% increase in capacity, without changing the commercial catalyst formulation or the reactor design. Results from the pilot also proves, the company said, that “carbon monoxide conversions of 70% per pass, or 91-92% overall, are achieved concurrently with a C5+ selectivity (the percentage of the products that are liquid rather than low-value gaseous hydrocarbons) of about 90% and a methane selectivity as low as about 5%.”

The company also relayed that it is employing a new start-up protocol enabling the pilot plant to reach target operating conditions in eight hours; a very significant improvement. As a result, this will improve further the economics of commercial plants and increase their availability. Advances made at the pilot plant have already been incorporated into the design of the 4,800 barrel per day Ashtabula GTL plant that the Company is developing in Ohio.

“Velocys technology has now been tested for over 24,000 hours at the pilot and demonstration scale, said COO Paul Schubert, “and for over 1.3 million hours in the laboratory. We enter our commercial phase with a technology that has been developed with rigour and thoroughness and in which we, our clients and partners can have every confidence.”

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