Rapid pyrolysis of Green River and New Albany oil shales in solid-recycle systems

Conference · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6915243

Cena, R J

We are studying second generation oil shale retorting by a combined laboratory and modeling program coupled with operation of a 1 tonne-per-day solid-recycle pilot retorting facility. In the retort, we have measured oil yields equal to Fischer assay for Western, Green River shale and Eastern, New Albany shale. Laboratory experiments have measured yields of 125% of Fischer assay under ideal conditions in sand fluidized beds. However, when oxidized (or spent) shale is present in the bed, a decline in yield is observed along with increased coke formation. Recycling clay catalysts may improve oil yield by olefin absorption on active sites, preventing coke formation on these sites and allowing olefin incorporation into the oil. We studied the solid mixing limits in solid-recycle systems and conclude that nearly intimate mixing is required for adequate heat transfer and to minimize oil coke formation. Recycling oxidized shale has shown to self-scrub H/sub 2/S and SO/sub 2/ when processing Western shale. Cooling of spent shale with water from 500/degree/C releases H/sub 2/S. We describe an apparatus which uses solid-recycle to reduce the temperature before water spray to cool the shale without H/sub 2/S release. 6 refs., 5 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6915243
• Report Number(s): UCRL-99286; CONF-880850-6; ON: DE88015444
• 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
CATALYSTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLAYS
COKE
COOLING
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS
MIXING
OIL SHALES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PYROLYSIS
RECYCLING
RETORTING
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
YIELDS