Dispersion in oil shale retorts: effect of particle size distribution and flow nonuniformities

Conference · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:5994666

Carbonell, R G

This paper considers the effects of particle size distribution and flow nonuniformities on the dispersion of an inert tracer in porous media using some simplified models, and compares the results to recent dispersion data taken on external retorts filled with oil shale particles. The effect of the particle size distribution is analyzed by studying the dispersion of a tracer in a series of infinite parallel pores of varying diameters. The Peclet number dependence is in agreement with experimental measurements, as is the qualitative dependence on particle size distribution. The effect of flow nonuniformities is studied by analyzing the dispersion of an inert tracer in a packed bed with two annular regions of different interstitial velocities. The dispersion coefficients measured in external retorts or packed beds filled with oil shale particles are much higher than those previously measured using uniform particles of the same average size. These differences can be accounted for if one allows for the possibility of having a significant contribution from flow nonuniformities.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5994666
• Report Number(s): UCRL-82482; CONF-790803-63
• 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 REACTORS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
PACKED BED
PARTICLE SIZE
POROUS MATERIALS
RETORTING
RETORTS
SIZE
TRACER TECHNIQUES