Velocys expands FT reactor roadmap with AlphaCore 800 for larger-scale SAF, eFuels projects
Velocys, a Fischer-Tropsch technology licensor for sustainable fuels, announced Sept. 21 the release of the new AlphaCore™ 800 reactor, its highest-capacity microchannel FT reactor to date.
It is designed to produce up to 800 barrels per day, or 30,000 metric tons per year (30 kt/a) of FT fluids from a single reactor.
AlphaCore 800 doubles the capacity of AlphaCore 400 and extends Velocys’ throughput-based AlphaCore reactor family from approximately 50 barrels to 800 barrels per day per reactor (from 2 kt/a to 30 kt/a per reactor).
AlphaCore 800 is designed particularly for larger sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and eFuels projects, including SAF plants targeting approximately 100,000 tons per year and above.
“The benefits from expanding reactor size while preserving the underlying chemistry and design are clear,” Velocys stated. “More FT capacity per reactor, enabling fewer reactors as project scale increases without sacrificing performance or reliability. Reducing reactor count can simplify the FT island, reduce associated equipment requirements and lower FT-unit cost.”
For example, an FT plant requiring approximately 1,600 barrels per day (60 kt/a) of FT liquids could be configured with two AlphaCore 800 reactors, according to Velocys.
This reduces total reactor count by 75 percent compared to an FT unit utilizing eight AlphaCore 200 reactors while maintaining the same FT-liquids capacity.
“Customers are asking us to bring our microchannel FT technology into larger projects with simpler configurations,” said Velocys CEO Matthew Viergutz. “AlphaCore 800 is a direct response. As SAF projects move toward 100,000 tons per year and beyond, we are increasing capacity per reactor so developers can configure larger FT plants with fewer units while building on the technology platform and operating experience of Velocys.”
AlphaCore 800 joins AlphaCore 50, 200 and 400 in the Velocys reactor portfolio, giving project developers a throughput-based product range built with the same core technology that can be applied across multiple project scales and syngas pathways.
Velocys said its roadmap reflects growing market demand for scalable SAF and eFuels production, where developers look to reduce plant complexity, improve repeatability and strengthen the commercial case for larger FT-based projects.
