Thermodynamic Modeling of Low-Temperature Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis: A Gibbs Free Energy Minimization Study for Hydrocarbon Production

Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) facilitates the conversion of syngas, derived from feedstocks such as biomass, coal, and natural gas, into valuable hydrocarbons (HCs). This investigation employed optimization methods, specifically Gibbs energy minimization, to perform a thermodynamic characterization of the low-temperature Fischer–Tropsch (LTFT) reaction for HC generation. The CONOPT3 solver within GAMS 23.2.1 software was utilized for solving the developed model. To represent the complex FTS product spectrum, twenty-three compounds, encompassing C2–C20 aliphatic hydrocarbons, were considered using a stoichiometric framework. The study explored the impact of operational parameters, including temperature (350–550 K), pressure (5–30 bar), and H2/CO molar feed ratio (1.0–2.0/0.5–1.0), on hydrocarbon synthesis. Evaluation of the outcomes focused on HC yield and product characteristics. A significant sensitivity of the reaction to operating parameters was observed. Notably, lower temperatures, elevated pressures, and a H2/CO ratio of 2.0/1.0 were identified as optimal for fostering the formation of longer-chain HCs. The developed model demonstrated robustness and efficiency, with rapid computation times across all simulations.