Apparatus for aboveground separation, vaporization and recovery of oil from oil shale
US4600476A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 28, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/129
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A retort apparatus for recovering oil from crushed oil shale moved through an elongated housing, includes a plurality of heat exchangers located in the housing for transferring heat to or from the shale. The heat exchangers are spaced to define in sequence a drying zone, a preheating zone, a cracking and distillation zone, and a waste heat recovery zone. An auxiliary heating assembly connected to the heat exchangers delivers sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the shale in the cracking and distillation zone to the critical temperature for separating hydrocarbons in vapor form therefrom. The tubes of the heat exchangers are elongated ovals in cross-section and are offset from each other in alternate rows to increase the area of heat exchange and to reduce the temperature drop between the entering heated air and exiting heated air flowing through each heat exchange tube. The heat exchange tubes include common fins which encase banks of the tubes, with the fins on the banks of tubes being aligned with each other to provide passage for flow of crushed oil shale therethrough. A separating device is connected to the cracking and distillation zone to withdraw hydrocarbon vapors re…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.