Fluidized bed retorting of oil shale
The fluidized bed is an effective method for investigating retorting phenomena and possibly a commercial means of retorting oil shale. Both were examined by Sinclair Oil Corp. (now part of Atlantic Richfield Co.) in the period 1965 to 1968. The results of the work show that presence of an oxidizing environment during retorting results in loss of oil yield which indicates that vapor-phase oil burns in preference to combustion of coke on spent shale. This has implications for several types of retorts. Correlation of the results of this work with that of other investigators shows that the partial pressure of retorting products in contact with oil shale during retorting has an effect on yield. Consideration of hardware indicates that there are several possibilities for commercial embodiment. As a companion to shaft-type retorts, the fluidized bed could have good potential. Preliminary development work with the apparatus was conducted using a fluidized bed of sand, with the entire system brought up to temperature and flows stabilized. The shale was injected rapidly in a slug which had small mass compared to that of the high temperature system to make the reaction approach isothermality with reasonable approximation of instantaneous preheating.
- Research Organization:
- Atlantic Richfield Co
- OSTI ID:
- 6205886
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-720204-
- Journal Information:
- Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Vol. 72-AIME-41; ISSN SEAPA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
040402* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Surface Methods
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTORS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDIZED BED
FLUIDIZED-BED COMBUSTORS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
OIL YIELDS
PETROLEUM
RETORTING
YIELDS