Experimental Investigation of Jordanian Oil Shale Retorting

摘要

An experimental batch setup of 200 kg capacity has been constructed to examine retorting of Jordanian oil shale. The oil shale in the retort is heated by burning the spent shale at the bottom of the retort. Fischer assay analysis indicated that 11.2 wt. % oil is extractable from the test shale and initial results showed that 70% of extractable oil content is recovered by the retort. The sulphur and nitrogen content of the extracted shale oil is found to be 11 and 1.4 wt. %, respectively. The heating value of the produced crude shale oil was estimated by bomb calorimetry and found to be 39,000 kJ/kg. The maximum operating temperature by virtue of the partial combustion reached 900°C. The shale oil analysis indicated that it was 31 wt.% Asphaltenes and 49.3 wt. % NOS-bearing compounds with equal amounts of aromatic and aliphatic fractions (9.8%). The produced shale oil was distilled and fractioned to normal crude oil fractions.