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A process for producing a liquid hydrocarbon product from hydrogen and carbon 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

A process for producing a liquid hydrocarbon product from hydrogen and carbon 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 catalyst 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 the 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 slurry 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 the slurry, (e) recovering from the reaction vessel a liquid stream comprising the liquid hydrocarbon product; and (f) recovering from the reaction vessel an offgas stream comprising methane as well as unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

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1. A process for producing a liquid hydrocarbon product from hydrogen and carbon monoxide which comprises:(a) providing a reaction vessel containing a slurry of particles of a particulate Fischer Tropsch catalyst in a liquid medium comprising a hydrocarbon, the particles of catalyst having a particl

1. A process for producing a liquid hydrocarbon product from hydrogen and carbon monoxide which comprises:(a) providing a reaction vessel containing a slurry of particles of a particulate 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 catalyst 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 the 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 slurry 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 stagnant liquid medium, the reaction vessel being substantially devoid of stagnant zones wherein the catalyst particles can settle out of the slurry, (e) recovering from the reaction vessel a liquid stream comprising the liquid hydrocarbon product; and (f) recovering from the reaction vessel an off gas stream comprising methane as well as unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide. 2. A process for production of a liquid hydrocarbon product from carbon monoxide and hydrogen which comprises:(a) providing a reaction vessel containing a slurry of a particulate Fischer Tropsch catalyst in a liquid medium comprising hydrocarbon; (b) providing a first gas stream selected from hydrogen and a synthesis gas mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a molar ratio greater than about 2:1; (c) providing a second gas stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a molar ratio less than about 2:1; (d) continuously supplying material of the first gas stream and material of the second gas stream to the reaction vessel; (e) maintaining back mixed circulation of the slurry in the reaction vessel whereby a circulation pattern is maintained throughout the reaction vessel without zones of stagnation wherein particles of the particulate Fischer Tropsch catalyst settle out; (f) maintaining conditions of temperature and pressure within the reaction vessel effective for conversion of hydrogen and carbon monoxide by the Fischer Tropsch reaction to a liquid hydrocarbon product; (g) recovering from the reaction vessel an offgas stream comprising methane as well as unreacted hydrogen and carbon monoxide; (h) monitoring the composition of the offgas stream; and (i) adjusting the hydrogen:carbon monoxide molar ratio in the reaction vessel in dependence upon the composition of the offgas stream by varying the flow rate to the reaction vessel of at least one gas stream selected from the first gas stream and the second gas stream so as to maintain in the reaction vessel conditions conducive to synthesis of the liquid hydrocarbon product. 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel is operated at a temperature of from about 180° C. to about 250° C.4. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel is operated at a pressure of from about 1000 kPa to about 5000 kPa absolute total pressure.5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel is operated at a pressure of from about 2000 kPa to about 4000 kPa absolute total pressure.6. A process according to claim 1, wherein energy dissipation in the reaction vessel is between about 0.2 kW/m3 and about 20 kW/m3.7. A process according to claim 1, wherein energy dissipation in the reaction vessel is between about 1.5 kW/m3 and about 7 kW/m3.8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the particulate Fischer Tropsch catalyst comprises a Group VIII metal.9. A process according to claim 8, wherein the particulate Fischer Tropsch catalyst comprises cobalt.10. A process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst particles fall within the size range of from about 2 μm to about 100 μm.11. A process according to claim 10, wherein the catalyst particles fall within the size range of 5 μm to 50 μm.12. A process according to claim 1, wherein the upward velocity of the slurry in the upflowing slurry path is greater than the downward velocity of the largest particle of catalyst when measured in stagnant liquid medium.13. A process according to claim 1, wherein the circulation pattern is a single toroidal circulation pattern.14. A process according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the offgas stream is recirculated to the reaction vessel.15. A process according to claim 1, wherein the gas streams are provided to the reaction vessel in a plurality of locations.16. A process according to claim 15, wherein the locations are zones of high turbulence.17. A process according to claim 1, wherein a main gas stream is provided to a top head space of the reaction vessel.18. A process according to claim 1, wherein a main gas stream is provided to a bottom head portion of the reaction vessel.19. A process according to claim 1, wherein fresh catalyst is added to the reaction vessel during operation.20. A process according to claim 2, wherein the reaction vessel is operated at a temperature of from about 180° C. to about 250° C.21. A process according to claim 2, wherein the reaction vessel is operated at a pressure of from about 1000 kPa to about 5000 kPa absolute total pressure.22. A process according to claim 2, wherein the reaction vessel is operated at a pressure of from about 2000 kPa to about 4000 kPa absolute total pressure.23. A process according to claim 2, wherein energy dissipated in the reaction vessel is between about 0.2 kW/m3 and about 20 kW/m3.24. A process according to claim 2, wherein energy dissipation in the reaction vessel is between about 1.5 kW/m+and about 7 kW/m3.25. A process according to claim 2, wherein the particulate Fischer Tropsch catalyst comprises a Group VIII metal.26. A process according to claim 25, wherein the particulate Fischer Tropsch catalyst comprises cobalt.27. A process according to claim 2, wherein the catalyst particles fall within the size range of from about 2 μm to about 100 μm.28. A process according to claim 27, wherein the catalyst particles fall within the size range of from about 5 μm to about 50 μm.29. A process according to claim 2, wherein the upward velocity of the slurry in the upflowing slurry path is greater than the downward velocity of the largest particle of catalyst when measured in stagnant liquid medium.30. A process according to claim 2, wherein the circulation pattern is a single toroidal circulation pattern.31. A process according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the offgas stream is recirculated to the reaction vessel.32. A process according to claim 2, wherein the gas streams are provided to the reaction vessel in a plurality of locations.33. A process according to claim 32, wherein the locations are zones of high turbulence.34. A process according to claim 2, wherein a main gas stream is provided to a top head space of the reaction vessel.35. A process according to claim 2, wherein a main gas stream is provided to a bottom head portion of the reaction vessel.36. A process according to claim 2, wherein fresh catalyst is added to the reaction vessel during operation.