Temperature gradient in retort for pyrolysis of carbon containing solids

Patent · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5864688

Spars, B G; Sieg, R P

This patent describes a temperature gradient in retort for pyrolysis of carbon containing solids within a process for retorting oil shale wherein particulate raw oil shale is retorted by passing the raw oil shale into the upper portion of a vertically-elongated retorting vessel having a retorting zone equipped with dispersing elements so constructed and arranged as to substantially limit backmixing and slugging of solids passing downward therethrough. The raw oil shale is heated to retorting temperature principally by means of hot solid heat carrier particles to drive off volatile hydrocarbons, passing a non-oxidizing stripping gas upward through the retorting vessel, removing the volatile hydrocarbons and stripping gas from the upper portion of the retorting vessel, and withdrawing the resulting retorted oil shale from the lower portion of the retort. The improvement consists of establishing a temperature profile in the retorting zone by introducing the hot solid heat carrier particles into the retorting zone at two or more different levels along the veritcal length of the retorting zone, whereby a temperature gradient is created along the vertical axis of the retorting zone with the lowest temperature being near the top of the zone.

• Assignee: Chevron Res. Co., San Francisco, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4579644
• OSTI ID: 5864688
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040402* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Surface Methods
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
DECOMPOSITION
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEATING
HYDROCARBONS
MATERIALS
MATTER
MIXING
OIL SHALES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PYROLYSIS
RETORTING
RETORTS
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VOLATILE MATTER