Eastern oil shale conversion using the ROPE (Recycle Oil Pyrolysis and Extraction) process

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6239982

Cha, C Y; Fahy, L J; Guffey, F D

The Western Research Institute has developed the Recycle Oil Pyrolysis and Extraction (ROPE/copyright/) process. Preliminary testing of this process has been conducted with oil shale and tar sand. Preliminary tests were conducted with the objective of obtaining a product that contained a high percentage of aromatic compounds which would be desirable as a feedstock for benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX) or for high-density fuels. The main objectives of this research were to conduct a 10-day shakedown tests of the 6-inch bench-scale unit (BSU) using eastern oil shale and to conduct a series of similar experiments in the 2-inch process development unit (PDU) to confirm oil yield and quality at steady-state conditions. One 10-day shakedown tests was conducted in the BSU. Shale oil produced by the Dravo process was used as the starting heavy recycle oil. Difficulties occurred, however, in maintaining heavy recycle oil, and product oil had to be injected into the pyrolysis zone to compensate for the losses. Oil shale fines also plugged the heavy-oil recycle pump. Three eastern oil shale tests were conducted in the PDU. Heavy-oil pumping problems and reactor plugging occurred during the first two tests. The third test, however, was conducted for 50 hours with no mechanical problems. 2 refs., 10 figs., 15 tabs.

• Research Organization: Western Research Inst., Laramie, WY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FC21-86MC11076
• OSTI ID: 6239982
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/11076-2690; ON: DE89000962
• 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 COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMBUSTION
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
EVALUATION
EXTRACTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
OIL SHALES
OXIDATION
PYROLYSIS
RECYCLING
RETORTING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
YIELDS