Systems and methods related to the separation wax products from products

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system comprising: a) a separator tank comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, b) a heat exchanger, and c) a holding tank comprising a third inlet and a third outlet, wherein the separator tank is in fluid communication with the holding tank via a first connector and via a second connector, wherein the first connector is connected to the first outlet of the separator tank and to the third inlet of the holding tank, wherein the second connector is connected to the first inlet of the separator tank and to the third outlet of the holding tank, and wherein the first connector and the second connector are in communication with the heat exchanger.

1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a first product gas stream comprising a first wax product and a first lower hydrocarbon product, wherein the first gas product has a first temperature and the first wax product and first lower hydrocarbon product are in gas form; and   b) separating at least a portion of the first wax product from the first product gas stream by lowering the first temperature of the first product gas stream by contacting the first product gas stream with a first separation liquid having a second temperature, thereby liquefying or solidifying at least a portion of the first wax product into the first separation liquid, thereby producing a second product gas stream comprising at least a portion of the first lower hydrocarbon product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 c) lowering the second temperature of the first separation liquid to a third temperature by use of a heat exchanger;   d) transporting the first separation liquid to a holding tank and allowing the first wax product to float to the surface of the first separation liquid; and   e) removing the first wax product from the first separation liquid, thereby producing a second separation liquid.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second separation liquid is recycled back into step b) and is the first separation liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is from about 230° C. to about 250° C. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature is from about 160° C. to about 190° C. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the third temperature is from about 140° C. to about 145° C. 
     
     
         7 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least 90% of the first wax product is separated from the first product gas stream. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first separation liquid comprises silicone oil, an ionic liquid, or a glycol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second separation liquid comprises less than 0.5% of the first wax product. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the separating at least a portion of the first wax product from the first product gas stream is performed in a separator tank at a pressure from about 3 bar to about 12 bar. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a first separation liquid comprising a first wax product, wherein the first separation liquid has a second temperature and wherein the first wax product is in liquid or solid form;   b) lowering the second temperature of the first separation liquid to a third temperature by use of a heat exchanger;   c) transporting the first separation liquid to a holding tank and allowing the first wax product to float to the surface of the first separation liquid; and   d) removing the first wax product from the first separation liquid, thereby producing a second separation liquid.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second temperature is from about 160° C. to about 190° C. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the third temperature is from about 140° C. to about 145° C. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein step a) is performed in a holding tank, wherein the method further comprises the step of transporting the first separation liquid comprising the first wax product from the holding tank to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises the step of transporting the second separation liquid to a heat exchanger and increasing the temperature of the second separation liquid to a fourth temperature. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the method further comprises transporting the second separation liquid having the fourth temperature to a separator tank. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 e) providing a first product gas stream comprising a first wax product and a first lower hydrocarbon product, wherein the first gas product has a first temperature and the first wax product and first lower hydrocarbon product are in gas form; and   f) separating at least a portion of the first wax product from the first product gas stream by lowering the first temperature of the first product gas stream by contacting the first product gas stream with the second separation liquid having the fourth temperature, thereby liquefying or solidifying at least a portion of the first wax product into the second separation, thereby producing a second product gas stream comprising at least a portion of the first lower hydrocarbon product.   
     
     
         32 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A system comprising:
 a) a separator tank comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;   b) a heat exchanger;   c) a holding tank comprising a third inlet and a third outlet,   wherein the separator tank is in fluid communication with the holding tank via a first connector and via a second connector,   wherein the first connector is connected to the first outlet of the separator tank and to the third inlet of the holding tank,   wherein the second connector is connected to the first inlet of the separator tank and to the third outlet of the holding tank, and   wherein the first connector and the second connector are in communication with the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the system further comprises a Fisher-Tropsch reactor comprising a fourth inlet and a fourth outlet, wherein the separator tank is in fluid communication with the Fisher-Tropsch via a third connector, wherein the third connector is connected to the to the fourth outlet of the Fisher-Tropsch reactor and the second inlet of the separator tank. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the system further comprises a Fisher-Tropsch reactor comprising a fourth inlet and a fourth outlet, wherein the separator tank is in fluid communication with the Fisher-Tropsch via a third connector, wherein the third connector is connected to the to the fourth outlet of the Fisher-Tropsch reactor and the second inlet of the separator tank. 
     
     
         42 .- 47 . (canceled)