System for utilizing oil shale fines

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:864272

Harak, Arnold E ^[1]

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1. Laramie, WY

A system is provided for utilizing fines of carbonaceous materials such as particles or pieces of oil shale of about one-half inch or less diameter which are rejected for use in some conventional or prior surface retorting process, which obtains maximum utilization of the energy content of the fines and which produces a waste which is relatively inert and of a size to facilitate disposal. The system includes a cyclone retort (20) which pyrolyzes the fines in the presence of heated gaseous combustion products, the cyclone retort having a first outlet (30) through which vapors can exit that can be cooled to provide oil, and having a second outlet (32) through which spent shale fines are removed. A burner (36) connected to the spent shale outlet of the cyclone retort, burns the spent shale with air, to provide hot combustion products (24) that are carried back to the cyclone retort to supply gaseous combustion products utilized therein. The burner heats the spent shale to a temperature which forms a molten slag, and the molten slag is removed from the burner into a quencher (48) that suddenly cools the molten slag to form granules that are relatively inert and of a size that is convenient to handle for disposal in the ground or in industrial processes.

• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4340463
• OSTI ID: 864272
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

utilizing
oil
shale
fines
provided
carbonaceous
materials
particles
pieces
one-half
inch
diameter
rejected
conventional
prior
surface
retorting
process
obtains
maximum
utilization
energy
content
produces
waste
relatively
inert
size
facilitate
disposal
cyclone
retort
20
pyrolyzes
presence
heated
gaseous
combustion
products
outlet
30
vapors
exit
cooled
provide
32
spent
removed
burner
36
connected
burns
air
hot
24
carried
supply
utilized
therein
heats
temperature
forms
molten
slag
quencher
48
suddenly
cools
form
granules
convenient
handle
ground
industrial
processes
retorting process
gaseous combustion
cyclone retort
relatively inert
industrial processes
molten slag
hot combustion
carbonaceous materials
combustion products
oil shale
carbonaceous material
industrial process
combustion product
spent shale
energy content
heated gas
heated gaseous
facilitate disposal
maximum utilization
/208/201/202/