FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS

A process for producing a liquid hydrocarbon product from hydrogen and carbo n monoxide comprises: (a) providing a reaction vessel containing a slurry of particles of a particulates Fischer Tropsch catalyst in a liquid medium comprising a hydrocarbon, the particles of catalyst having a particle size range such that no more than about 10% by weight of the particles of catalys t have a particle size which lies in an upper particle size range extending up to a maximum particle size, (b) supplying hydrogen and carbon monoxide to th e reaction vessel, (c) maintaining in the reaction vessel reaction conditions effective for conversion of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a liquid hydrocarbon product by the Fischer Tropsch reaction, (d) maintaining mixing conditions in the reaction vessel sufficient to establish a circulation pattern throughout the reaction vessel including an upflowing path for slurr y and a downflowing path for slurry, the upward velocity of the slurry in the upflowing slurry path being greater than about 75% of the mean downward velocity of the particles of catalyst of the upper particle size range when measured in stagant liquid medium, the reaction vessel being substantially devoid of stagnant zones wherein the catalyst particles can settle out of th e slurry, (e) recovering from the reaction vessel a liquid stream comprising t he liquid hydrocarbon product; and (f) recovering from the reaction vessel an offgas stream comprising methane as well as unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide.