Oil shale project small retort run summary, run S-15
Technical Report
·
OSTI ID:5807145
Run S-15, the third in a series of steam/air combustion runs, in the 125-kg retort, was identical to Runs S-13 and S-14 in input gas parameters. The principal difference among these runs was the size distribution of the raw shale charge: S-13, -2.5 + 1.3 cm; S-14, -7.6 + 0.001 cm; and S-15, -2.5 + 0.001 cm. Objective was to determine if lower oil yields and the flow nonuniformities evidenced by rough irregular axial temperature profiles in S-14 and L-1 were attributable primarily to the larger particles (+ 2.5 cm). Temperature profiles from previous runs on small uniform shale particles (e.g., S-13) were smooth and regular and oil yields were high (> 90% of Fischer assay). The run was straightforward and ran as predicted. Centerline bed temperatures averaged 1025/sup 0/C, the highest yet observed in a 125-kg retort run. This produced some wrinkling of the 304 stainless steel retort vessel. Oil yield from S-15 was comparable to that of S-14 (86% vs 88% Fischer assay). The S-15 temperature profiles were as rough as those from S-14. Run S-15 to the conclusion that fines (< 1.3 cm) also contribute to flow nonuniformities, temperature excursions, and yield loss. One hypothesis is that packed fines with their low permeability (especially if they retain process liquids) divert flows as effectively as blocks. Hydrogen production in S-15, 0.38 wt % of raw shale, was the highest yet observed from LLL retorts. This is attributed mainly to the smaller particle size of the shale charge. Pockets of dark shale (unconsumed char) were observed in the lower portion of the bed when the spent shale was unloaded. Consistent with this was the delay, or even absence, of oxygen appearance in intra-retort gas sampled near these pockets. Thus, nonuniformities in gas flow were particularly evident in these regions.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5807145
- Report Number(s):
- UCID-18282
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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