Rentech Reactor

The Rentech Process uses a slurry bubble column reactor, known as the Rentech Reactor, to turn the synthesis gas feed into useful products. Synthesis gas is fed into the bottom of the reactor where it is mixed with liquid wax and the solid catalyst. The catalyst and wax are collectively referred to as "slurry". This chemical reaction is exothermic (giving off heat) and steam is generated in the internals of the reactor to produce steam and to remove heat and control the reaction temperature.

Other Fischer-Tropsch technologies use a fixed bed reactor. A fixed bed reactor is the original reactor design used in the 1920s and still used by some companies today. The Rentech Process however uses a slurry bubble reactor as it is simpler in design, less expensive to build and operate, and also provides for an easier scale up than the alternative fixed-bed reactor. Additionally, we believe a slurry-bed reactor provides better product yield than the alternative.