Oil shale retorting process with desulfurization of flue gas

Patent · Tue Jan 17 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:5202752

Deering, R F

A method is provided for retorting oil shale whereby full utilization of the heat energy available in the retorted shale and maximum desulfurization of the flue gas released to the atmosphere are simultaneously effected. Basically, the process comprises passing a crushed shale feed upwardly through preheating and retorting zones in a retort vessel wherein eduction of shale oil and product gases is achieved by direct heat exchange with a preheated, recycled portion of said product gases passed countercurrently to the shale feed, and then passing the retorted shale downwardly through combustion and cooling zones. Complete combustion of coke on the retorted shale in the combustion zone not only results in full utilization of the potential heat energy stored within the retorted shale but also in the production of gaseous sulfur components (mostly SO/sub 2/) that chemically react with the alkaline components of the shale. Concurrent flow of gas and retorted shale in the combustion zone at temperatures between 900 and 1670/sup 0/F permits the reaction between said SO/sub 2/ and the alkaline components of the shale to proceed essentially to completion, thus desulfurizing the flue gas produced in said combustion zone.

• Assignee: Union Oil Co. of California
• Patent Number(s): US 4069132
• OSTI ID: 5202752
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040402* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Surface Methods
040900 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Waste management
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DESULFURIZATION
ENERGY RECOVERY
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUE GAS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEAT RECOVERY
HEAT SOURCES
HIGH BTU GAS
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALES
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRODUCTION
RECOVERY
REMOVAL
RETORTING
ROCKS
SHALE OIL
SHALES
SPENT SHALES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SYNTHETIC FUELS
SYNTHETIC PETROLEUM
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WASTES