Method of retorting oil shale by velocity flow of super-heated air

Claim 1

A process for retorting oil shale and recovering pyrolysis products therefrom, comprising forming a series of vertically spaced, conduit-like, bore passages and an insulated, substantially vertical, inflow header in successive communication with corresponding ends of said passages in a mass of oil shale for the supply of and for the flow of super-hot air as velocity streams against, along, and past said oil shale in direct contact with exposed surfaces of said oil shale, and forming a second, substantially vertical, outflow header in successive communication with the corresponding opposite ends of said passages; flowing streams of unconfined, super-hot air through said passages from a source in common by way of said inflow header, said streams having volume and velocity sufficient to entrain and carry oil shale pyrolysis products through said passages to a common location of recovery, the temperature of said air being sufficiently high to delaminate and deeply fissure the oil shale contacted by said streams between said passages and to establish intercommunication between said passages for fluid flow therebetween in contact with said oil shale; continuing the flow of said streams and entrained pyrolysis products from said passages by way of said outflow header to condensing means for vapor components of said pyrolysis products; separating from the resulting liquid condensate any solid particles entrained by said streams and entrapped by said condensate; flowing gaseous components of said streams from said condensing means to gas collecting means; separating valuable and normally waste gases from said gaseous components of the streams; and recovering both the liquid condensate, substantially free of solid particles, and said valuable gas an end products of the process.