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Effect of reduced pressure on oil shale retorting. 1. Kinetics of oil generation

Journal Article · · Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/i200029a008· OSTI ID:5423669

The rate of oil generation in oil shale retorting under reduced pressure was determined by a nonisothermal technique. First-order kinetics adequately approximated the overall retorting rate of Colorado oil shale regardless of the type and pressure of the sweep gas. The activation energy remained relatively constant with pressure fo each sweep gas, while the preexponential factor increased as pressure decreased. The rate expressions for retorting with nitrogen and carbon dioxide were substantially the same, while retorting with water vapor produced a higher rate constant than that with nitrogen or carbon dioxide. The kinetics expression for oil generation remained relatively unchanged for different grades of oil shale containing organic matter of similar compositions.

Research Organization:
Departments of Fuels Engineering and of Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
OSTI ID:
5423669
Journal Information:
Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev.; (United States), Journal Name: Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev.; (United States) Vol. 24:2; ISSN IEPDA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English