Apparatus for aboveground separation, vaporization and recovery of oil from oil shale
US4502920A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 14, 1983 |
| Grant date | Mar 5, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 14, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/129
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An improved retort apparatus for recovering oil from crushed oil shale moved by gravity through a passageway of an elongated housing includes a control assembly connected adjacent the outlet end of the housing to control the rate of movement of the crushed oil shale through the passageway. A plurality of heat exchangers are located in the housing for transferring heat in sequence to or from the crushed oil shale. The heat exchangers are spaced to define a drying zone, a preheating zone, a hydrocarbon recovery zone, and a waste heat recovery zone. A pump recirculating circuit is provided for passing waste heat recovered from the waste heat recovery zone to the preheating zone. An auxiliary heating assembly connected to the heat exchangers in the hydrocarbon recovery zone delivers sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the crushed oil shale moving through the hydrocarbon recovery zone to the critical temperature for separating hydrocarbons in vapor form therefrom. A separating device, including a condenser, is operatively connected to the hydrocarbon recovery zone to withdraw the mixture of hydrocarbon vapors and gases released from the moving and heated crushed oil shale and to…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.