The present technology is a compact, high-throughput, modular FT reactor that shows promise in economically producing fuels and chemicals from syngas at small scales.  The reactor may be scaled up by increasing the number of planar reaction/heat exchanger modules.  Each module comprises numerous ~1mm reaction channels within a monolithic catalyst (Re/Co)  and support structure.

Economical syngas conversion is needed for the production of liquid fuels and chemicals from renewable or remote hydrocarbon sources at capacities much smaller than conventional Fischer-Tropsch (FT) plants.  A conventional FT plant that utilizes natural gas as the feedstock is typically integrated into a petrochemical and/or refinery complex operating at high processing capacity to achieve large scale economy.  By contrast, most renewable energy or remote hydrocarbon sources (e.g., biomass, industrial wastes, and municipal solid wastes) are of small capacity and unstable supply and are often distributed at various geographic locations.  The conventional FT process becomes cost-prohibitive at such a capacity that is orders of magnitude smaller than the typical petrochemical plant or oil refinery.