Traveling grate method for the recovery of oil from shale

Patent · Tue Feb 02 04:00:00 EST 1971

OSTI ID:5769055

Rowland, C A; Frans, R D

A method is described for recovering oil from oil- bearing shale rock, in which the rock is screened to provide 3 size fractions--large size, intermediate size, and small size. The large size need have no upper size limit but may, for example, be screened to +1 in. -1-1/2 in. The intermediate size may be +5/8 in -1 in.; and the small size +1/4 in. -5/8 in. Such size fractions are deposited on a traveling grate in a segregated bed with the large size on top, the intermediate size on the bottom, and the small size between. The traveling grate carries this bed through a preheating zone where moderately heated gases pass upward through the bed and then the bed passes through a retorting zone where oil is educted from the shale by highly heated gases passing downward through the bed. In the retorting zone, the bottom layer of intermediate size particles prevents the smallest particles falling through or plugging gas passages in the grate while the largest and most difficult to process particles make first contact with gases that are the hottest and contain the least amount of educted oil, for maximum temperature and mass, transfer, and these largest particles shield the smallest particles from the highest temperature of the gases in the retorting zone, to prevent the smallest particles adhering together in a manner that would destroy the gas permeability of the bed on the grate. (3 claims)

• Assignee: Allis Chalmers Mfg Co
• Patent Number(s): US 3560368
• OSTI ID: 5769055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEATING
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
PARTICLE SIZE
PYROLYSIS
RETORTING
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SIZE
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES