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Mathematical modeling of modified in situ and aboveground oil shale retorting: Revision 1

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6586124

A one-dimensional mathematical model has been developed for simulating the chemicophysical processes involved in the vertical retorting of a rubblized bed of oil shale. Included are those processes believed to have the most important effects in either the hot-gas retorting mode or the forward combustion mode. The physical processes are axial convective transport of heat and mass, axial thermal dispersion, gas-solid heat transfer, intraparticle shale thermal conductivity, water vaporization and condensation, wall heat loss, and movement of shale countercurrent to the flow of gas. The chemical reactions within the shale particles are release of bound water, pyrolysis of kerogen, coking of oil, pyrolysis of char, decomposition of carbonate minerals, and gasification of residual organic carbon with CO/sub 2/, H/sub 2/O, and O/sub 2/. The chemical reactions in the bulk-gas stream are combustion and cracking of oil vapor, combustion of H/sub 2/, CH/sub 4/, CH/sub x/, and CO, and the water-gas shift. The governing equations for mass and energy balance are solved numerically by a semi-implicit, finite-difference method. The bulk-gas flow rate, as well as the composition and temperature of both the gas stream and the shale particles, are calculated as a function of time and location in the retort. 60 refs.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
6586124
Report Number(s):
UCRL-53119-Rev.1; ON: DE89002819
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English