Apparatus for solar retorting of oil shale

Patent · Tue May 13 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5596563

Warzel, F M

An apparatus is described for solar retorting of oil shale, which comprises, in operable conjunction, means for bringing ground oil shale particles within the focal zone of at least one beam of solar radiation derived from a focusing mirror array means, a shell, the shell defining therewithin a generally closed retort having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a side portion therebetween and having upper and lower side portions; transparent window means positioned in the lower side portion, inlet means positioned in the side portion and arranged for receiving oil shale particles, inlet means in the side portion and arranged for receiving fluidized gases and positioned below the oil shale particle inlet means, and means for admixing the oil shale particles and the fluidizing gases; focusing array means arranged for receiving solar radiation positioned outside of the shell and arranged to collect and transmit solar radiation to the transparent window means to a focal zone just within the retort, the transparent window means positioned in the lower side portion of the shell and arranged to receive the solar radiation; the retort defining a volume wherein contacting of the oil shale particles and the solar radiation occurs within the focal zone resulting in heating the particles, and a retorting volume wherein the heated particles are retorted to fines, shale oil and product gases; the apparatus defining a fluidized particle bed reactor means, the inlet means for oil shale particles and the inlet means for the fluidizing gases positioned in the lower side portion of the shell in operable conjunction with and below the inlet means for shale particles to provide fluidization of the particles by the fluidizing gases, whereby the oil shale particles are presented into the focal zone of the solar radiation in the lower side portion of the shell; and means to remove the fines, gases, and shale oil from the retort.

• Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, OK
• Patent Number(s): US 4588478
• OSTI ID: 5596563
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040402* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Surface Methods
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140905
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
DECOMPOSITION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDIZATION
FLUIDIZED BEDS
FLUIDS
FOCUSING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASES
HEAT
MATERIALS
MIRRORS
MIXING
OIL SHALES
OPACITY
OPENINGS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PARTICLES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POSITIONING
PROCESS HEAT
RADIATIONS
RETORTING
RETORTS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR PROCESS HEAT
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
WINDOWS