Progress report on computer model for in situ oil shale retorting
A one-dimensional mathematical model has been developed for simulating the chemico-physical processes involved in the concurrent, vertical retorting of a rubblized bed of oil shale. Included in the present model are those processes believed to have the greatest effects in either the hot-gas retorting mode or the combustion retorting mode. The physical processes are: axial convective transport of heat and mass caused by the bulk gas flow, axial conductive transport of heat, heat transfer between the gas stream and the shale particles, and water evaporation and condensation. The chemical reactions in the shale particles are: decomposition of kerogen and carbonate minerals, reaction of carbon with CO/sub 2/ and O/sub 2/, thermal degradation of oil, and release of fixed water. The chemical reactions in the gas stream are: combustion of CO produced from the reaction of carbon with CO/sub 2/, combustion of the fuel components in recycle gas, and oil combustion. The governing equations are solved numerically by a semi-implicit, finite-difference method. Gas stream 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. Recovery rates of oil and water from the retort are also computed.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 7318316
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-52292
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
EVAPORATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OIL SHALES
OIL YIELDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROCESSING
RETORTING
VAPOR CONDENSATION
WATER
YIELDS