US4133739A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retorting process
Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
•
Filing: 1977-06-30
•
Granted: 1979-01-09
•
Expires: 1997-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A continuous process and apparatus are disclosed for the retorting or gasification of hydrocarbon-containing solids such as oil shale, coal, tar sands, etc., wherein the solids are retorted or gasified in a combined entrained and fluidized bed. A solid fluidized heat-transfer material flows downwardly through a conversion zone. Subdivided hydrocarbon-containing solids are introduced into a central portion of the conversion zone, with smaller particles of the solids being entrained and moving upwardly through the conversion zone countercurrent to the flow of the fluidized heat-transfer material, and larger particles of the solids being fluidized and moving downwardly through the conversion zone concurrent with the flow of the heat-transfer material. A fluidizing gas is injected into a lower portion of the conversion zone and a portion of the solids is combusted, providing the necessary heat for the conversion reactions. Substantially plug flow of the heat-transfer solid and the hydrocarbon-containing solids is maintained by including in the conversion zone means for impeding back mixing, such as a packing material filling the conversion zone.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Mitchell
- 👤 David R. Sageman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:17
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G1/00; C10G1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
349 words
A continuous process for retorting hydrocarbon-containing solids in a vertically elongated retorting zone, said retorting zone including means for substantially impeding vertical back mixing of vertically moving solids substantially throughout said retorting zone, which comprises; (a) introducing particulate solid heat-transfer material at an elevated temperature into an upper portion of said retorting zone; (b) maintaining an upward flow of a fluidization gas through said retorting zone at a rate sufficient to maintain said heat-transfer material in a fluidized state; (c) introducing into an intermediate level of said retorting zone a first portion of hydrocarbon-containing solids which is entrained by said fluidization gas and flows upwardly through said retorting zone whereby said first portion of said solids is heated to an elevated retorting temperature by contact with said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas thereby forming a first portion of retorted solids and a first portion of vaporized hydrocarbons; (d) introducing into an intermediate level of said retorting zone a second portion of hydrocarbon-containing solids which is fluidized by said fluidization gas and which flows downwardly through said retorting zone, whereby said second portion of said solids is heated to an elevated retorting temperature by contact with said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas thereby forming a second portion of retorted solids and a second portion of vaporized hydrocarbons; (e) reacting said second portion of said retorted solids in a lower level of said retorting zone with an oxygen-containing gas thereby forming combusted solids and a noncombustion-supporting fluidization gas, whereby said down-flowing heat-transfer material is heated to an elevated temperature; (f) maintaining a substantially net downward flow of said heat-transfer material and said second portion of said hydrocarbon-containing solids through said retorting zone by withdrawing from a bottom portion of said retorting zone a first effluent stream comprising said heat-transfer material and said combusted solids, said effluent stream being withdrawn at an elevated temperature; (g) withdrawing from an upper portion of said retorting zone a second effluent stream comprising said fluidization gas containing said first and second portions of said vaporized hydrocarbons and said first portion of said retorted solids.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
349 words
A continuous process for retorting hydrocarbon-containing solids in a vertically elongated retorting zone, said retorting zone including means for substantially impeding vertical back mixing of vertically moving solids substantially throughout said retorting zone, which comprises; (a) introducing particulate solid heat-transfer material at an elevated temperature into an upper portion of said retorting zone; (b) maintaining an upward flow of a fluidization gas through said retorting zone at a rate sufficient to maintain said heat-transfer material in a fluidized state; (c) introducing into an intermediate level of said retorting zone a first portion of hydrocarbon-containing solids which is entrained by said fluidization gas and flows upwardly through said retorting zone whereby said first portion of said solids is heated to an elevated retorting temperature by contact with said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas thereby forming a first portion of retorted solids and a first portion of vaporized hydrocarbons; (d) introducing into an intermediate level of said retorting zone a second portion of hydrocarbon-containing solids which is fluidized by said fluidization gas and which flows downwardly through said retorting zone, whereby said second portion of said solids is heated to an elevated retorting temperature by contact with said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas thereby forming a second portion of retorted solids and a second portion of vaporized hydrocarbons; (e) reacting said second portion of said retorted solids in a lower level of said retorting zone with an oxygen-containing gas thereby forming combusted solids and a noncombustion-supporting fluidization gas, whereby said down-flowing heat-transfer material is heated to an elevated temperature; (f) maintaining a substantially net downward flow of said heat-transfer material and said second portion of said hydrocarbon-containing solids through said retorting zone by withdrawing from a bottom portion of said retorting zone a first effluent stream comprising said heat-transfer material and said combusted solids, said effluent stream being withdrawn at an elevated temperature; (g) withdrawing from an upper portion of said retorting zone a second effluent stream comprising said fluidization gas containing said first and second portions of said vaporized hydrocarbons and said first portion of said retorted solids.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon-containing solids comprise oil shale and said heat-transfer material comprises spent oil shale.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said heat-transfer material is introduced and withdrawn from said retorting zone at an elevated temperature in the range 825° to 1400° F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said second portion of said solids comprises 5 to 60 weight percent of said hydrocarbon-containing solids.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said second portion of said solids comprises 20 to 50 weight percent of said hydrocarbon-containing solids.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process of claim 1 comprising the additional step of introducing said first portion of said retorted solids into a lower portion of said retorting zone, whereby said first portion of said retorted solid is combusted and entrained through said retorting zone by said fluidization gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
324 words
A continuous process for retorting hydrocarbon-containing solids in a vertically elongated vessel substantially filled with a packing material, which comprises: (a) introducing particulate solid heat-transfer material at an elevated temperature into an upper portion of said vessel; (b) maintaining an upward flow of a fluidization gas through said vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain said heat-transfer material in a fluidized state; (c) introducing into an intermediate level of said vessel a first portion of hydrocarbon-containing solids which is entrained by said fluidization gas and flows upwardly through said vessel whereby said first portion of said solids is heated to an elevated retorting temperature by contact with said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas thereby forming a first portion of retorted solids and a first portion of vaporized hydrocarbons; (d) introducing into an intermediate level of said vessel a second portion of hydrocarbon-containing solids which is fluidized by said fluidization gas and which flows downwardly through said vessel whereby said second portion of said solids is heated to an elevated retorting temperature by contact with said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas thereby forming a second portion of retorted solids and a second portion of vaporized hydrocarbons; (e) reacting said second portion of said retorted solids in a lower level of said vessel with an oxygen-containing gas thereby forming combusted solids, a noncombustion-supporting fluidization gas, and whereby said down-flowing heat-transfer material is heated to an elevated temperature; (f) maintaining a substantially net downward flow of said heat-transfer material and said second portion of said hydrocarbon-containing solids through said vessel by withdrawing from a bottom portion of said vessel a first effluent stream comprising said heat-transfer material and said combusted solids, said effluent stream being withdrawn at an elevated temperature; (g) withdrawing from an upper portion of said vessel a second effluent stream comprising said fluidization gas containing said first and second portions of said vaporized hydrocarbons and said first portion of said retorted solids.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
324 words
A continuous process for retorting hydrocarbon-containing solids in a vertically elongated vessel substantially filled with a packing material, which comprises: (a) introducing particulate solid heat-transfer material at an elevated temperature into an upper portion of said vessel; (b) maintaining an upward flow of a fluidization gas through said vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain said heat-transfer material in a fluidized state; (c) introducing into an intermediate level of said vessel a first portion of hydrocarbon-containing solids which is entrained by said fluidization gas and flows upwardly through said vessel whereby said first portion of said solids is heated to an elevated retorting temperature by contact with said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas thereby forming a first portion of retorted solids and a first portion of vaporized hydrocarbons; (d) introducing into an intermediate level of said vessel a second portion of hydrocarbon-containing solids which is fluidized by said fluidization gas and which flows downwardly through said vessel whereby said second portion of said solids is heated to an elevated retorting temperature by contact with said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas thereby forming a second portion of retorted solids and a second portion of vaporized hydrocarbons; (e) reacting said second portion of said retorted solids in a lower level of said vessel with an oxygen-containing gas thereby forming combusted solids, a noncombustion-supporting fluidization gas, and whereby said down-flowing heat-transfer material is heated to an elevated temperature; (f) maintaining a substantially net downward flow of said heat-transfer material and said second portion of said hydrocarbon-containing solids through said vessel by withdrawing from a bottom portion of said vessel a first effluent stream comprising said heat-transfer material and said combusted solids, said effluent stream being withdrawn at an elevated temperature; (g) withdrawing from an upper portion of said vessel a second effluent stream comprising said fluidization gas containing said first and second portions of said vaporized hydrocarbons and said first portion of said retorted solids.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said hydrocarbon-containing solids comprise oil shale and said heat-transfer material comprises spent oil shale.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said heat-transfer material is introduced and withdrawn from said vessel at an elevated temperature in the range 825° to 1400° F.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said second portion of said solids comprises 20 to 60 weight percent of said hydrocarbon-containing solids.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said second portion of said solids comprises 35 to 50 weight percent of said hydrocarbon-containing solids.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process of claim 7 comprising the additional step of introducing said first portion of said retorted solids into a lower portion of said vessel, whereby said first portion of said retorted solid is combusted and entrained through said vessel by said fluidization gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
242 words
A process for retorting hydrocarbon-containing solids in a vertically elongated retorting zone, said retorting zone containing means for impeding vertical back mixing of vertically moving solids substantially throughout said retorting zone, which comprises the steps of: (a) introducing particulate solid heat-transfer material into an upper end of said retorting zone at a elevated temperature and withdrawing heat-transfer material from a lower end of said retorting zone; (b) passing a fluidization gas stream upwardly through said retorting zone at a rate sufficient to substantially fluidize said heat-transfer material, whereby said heat-transfer material substantially flows downwardly through said retorting zone in plug flow; (c) introducing said hydrocarbon-containing solids into an intermediate vertical level of said retorting zone, said fluidization gas stream having a superficial velocity such that a first portion of said hydrocarbon-containing solids is entrained in said fluidization gas stream and flows upwardly through said retorting zone and a second portion of said hydrocarbon-containing solids is fluidized by said fluidization gas stream and flows downwardly through said retorting zone with said heat-transfer material; (d) heating said hydrocarbon-containing solids and forming vaporized hydrocarbons and retorted solids by contacting said hydrocarbon-containing solids with said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas stream; (e) heating said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas stream by combusting downwardly flowing retorted solids formed from said second portion of said hydrocarbon-containing solids; and (f) removing said vaporized hydrocarbons from said upper end of said retorting zone in said fluidization gas stream.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
242 words
A process for retorting hydrocarbon-containing solids in a vertically elongated retorting zone, said retorting zone containing means for impeding vertical back mixing of vertically moving solids substantially throughout said retorting zone, which comprises the steps of: (a) introducing particulate solid heat-transfer material into an upper end of said retorting zone at a elevated temperature and withdrawing heat-transfer material from a lower end of said retorting zone; (b) passing a fluidization gas stream upwardly through said retorting zone at a rate sufficient to substantially fluidize said heat-transfer material, whereby said heat-transfer material substantially flows downwardly through said retorting zone in plug flow; (c) introducing said hydrocarbon-containing solids into an intermediate vertical level of said retorting zone, said fluidization gas stream having a superficial velocity such that a first portion of said hydrocarbon-containing solids is entrained in said fluidization gas stream and flows upwardly through said retorting zone and a second portion of said hydrocarbon-containing solids is fluidized by said fluidization gas stream and flows downwardly through said retorting zone with said heat-transfer material; (d) heating said hydrocarbon-containing solids and forming vaporized hydrocarbons and retorted solids by contacting said hydrocarbon-containing solids with said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas stream; (e) heating said heat-transfer material and said fluidization gas stream by combusting downwardly flowing retorted solids formed from said second portion of said hydrocarbon-containing solids; and (f) removing said vaporized hydrocarbons from said upper end of said retorting zone in said fluidization gas stream.
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) | 1982-01-08 | 1982-07-10 | 1983-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-01-08 | 1986-07-10 | 1987-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-01-08 | 1990-07-10 | 1991-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |