High speed catalyst testing/evaluation for alternative energy applications
In May of 2010, Unitel delivered the first of its latest computer-controlled catalyst testing and evaluation systems – CTS Version 8, the Octave – to the University of Louisville’s Conn Center for Renewable Research and Environmental Stewardship (CCRRES). According to Dr. Paul Ratnasamy, Professor at CCRRES, initial experiments with the Octave will focus on catalytic conversion of waste oils into fuels. Following that, Paul intends to test custom catalysts for making fuel alcohols from synthesis gas.
The University of Louisville CTS/Octave includes a packed bed reactor for 200 bar operation, with an up-flow or down-flow option, a 5-zone furnace, one high pressure gas delivery module, one low pressure gas delivery/purge module, two high pressure liquid delivery modules, one high pressure gas-liquid separation module, one pressure control module, one low pressure liquid collection module, one low pressure tail gas flow module, and complete process automation with a DeltaV system by Emerson.
The CTS/Octave is an exceptional platform for the rapid testing & evaluation of catalysts for applications such as:
- Hydroprocessing reactions – hydrocracking and hydrodesulfurization
- Synthesis of Fischer-Tropsch products
- Catalytic reforming, steam and CO2 reforming
- Synthesis of dimethylether (DME)
- Olefins and gasoline from methanol and DME
- Bio jet fuels algal oils and fatty acids
- Cellulosic methanol, ethanol and butanol
- Hydrogen from LPG, gasoline and JP8
It’s of historical interest that during Dr. Ratnasamy’s previous tenure as Director of the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) in Pune, India, several models of the CTS were deployed at NCL. Earlier CTS variants have also been used by customers such as Akzo, BASF, BP, Exxon Mobil, Indian Oil, Northwestern University, Petro-Peru, Shell, Sun Oil, Tenneco, Texaco, Union Carbide, Union Oil, US Air Force, US Army, US Navy, University of California, University of Texas, and WR Grace, to name a few.
The CTS/Octave is named in honor of Dr. Octave Levenspiel, Emeritus Professor of Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University at Corvallis, Oregon. On a personal note, Dr. Ravi Randhava, President and Chief Operating Officer of Unitel, was Professor Levenspiel’s student at IIT Chicago in 1964.
Engagement: C, B, D, O. Status – completed.