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US3617468A
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Process for removing the hydrocarbon content of carbonaceous materials
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1968-12-06
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Granted: 1971-11-02
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Expires: 1988-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A process for the recovery of volatile material from solid carbonaceous material, such as oil shale, tar sands, coal, lignite and the like, which comprises introducing the solid carbonaceous material into a retorting zone and fluidizing the solid carbonaceous material within the retorting zone. The fluidized solid carbonaceous material in the retorting zone is heated and volatile material is retorted therefrom and withdrawn from the retorting zone. The spent solid carbonaceous material is withdrawn from the retorting zone and transferred to a burnoff zone. The spent solid carbonaceous material is fluidized in the burnoff zone and carbon is burned off the fluidized spent solid carbonaceous material therein. The burned-off spent solid carbonaceous material and combustion products are then withdrawn from the burnoff zone.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan K Reyburn
- 👤 Rex T Ellington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:07
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/02; C10G1/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S208/00; Y10S208/951
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the solid carbonaceous material is oil shale and the volatile material contains oil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the oil shale is fluidized within the retorting zone by a noncombustion-supporting gaseous fluidizing material taken from the group consisting of natural gas or a gas of similar composition to natural gas and natural gas containing up to 20-volume-percent carbon dioxide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the volatile material is treated to remove any dust, oil and water contained therein and part of the remaining volatile material is reintroduced into the retort zone as a portion of the noncombustion-supporting gaseous material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 3 wherein a portion of the noncombustion-supporting gaseous material introduced into the retorting zone is a portion of the volatile material withdrawn from the retorting zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the fluidized solid carbonaceous material in the retorting zone is heated by indirect heat exchange with the fluidized spent solid carbonaceous material in the burnoff zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the noncombustion-supporting gaseous material is preheated prior to introduction to the retorting zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the said gaseous material is preheated by indirect heat exchange with the gaseous combustion products withdrawn from the burnoff zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the burning in the burnoff zone is at a temperature of about 1,000* to about 1,500* F. to develop maximum cementing properties in the burned-off spent solid carbonaceous material to facilitate disposal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the fluidized solid carbonaceous material in the retorting zone is heated by means of a single heat transfer barrier separating the fluidized spent solid carbonaceous material in the burnoff zone and the fluidized solid carbonaceous material in the retorting zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the fluidizing solid carbonaceous material in the retorting zone is heated by circulating a heat transfer medium in indirect heat exchange therewith and with the fluidized spent solid carbonaceous material in the burnoff zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 11 wherein heat transfer medium is liquid sodium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the solid carbonaceous material is introduced adjacent the bottom of the retorting zone and the volatile material is withdrawn adjacent the top of the retorting zone to provide minimum contact between the two materials thereby reducing loss of volatile material product.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the burned-off spent carbonaceous material is withdrawn to a cooling zone and the solid carbonaceous material is preheated by direct contact with a closed-loop gaseous heat exchange medium which is in direct contact with said spent carbonaceous material in its cooling zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the noncombustion-supporting gaseous material contains 0.5 to 20-volume-percent carbon dioxide and the bulk of the remainder consists essentially of light hydrocarbons and hydrogen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 15 wherein the carbon dioxide content of the noncombustion-supporting gaseous material is 10 to 15 volume percent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the solid carbonaceous material in the retorting zone is maintained at a temperAture level within the range of about 850* to about 1,000* F. and is retained in the retorting zone for an average residence time within the range of about 3 to about 20 minutes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the temperature level is within the range of about 900* to about 950* F. and the average residence time is within the range of about 5 to about 10 minutes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the noncombustion-supporting gaseous fluidizing material is natural gas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 15 wherein the light hydrocarbons and hydrogen are produced by the retorting of the oil shale.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-01 | 1975-05-03 | 1975-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-01 | 1979-05-03 | 1979-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-01 | 1983-05-03 | 1983-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |