Oil Shale Pilot Retorting Experiment Summary: Block Permeability Contrast Run 41

摘要

Three previous 100-kg oil shale pilot retorting experiments have been conducted to determine the importance of permeability contrast effects on oil yield loss mechanisms. These experiments showed that flow non-uniformities within a retort could cause yield losses of the same magnitude (or greater) than those caused by particle size, grade, or operating conditions. In Run 41, an extreme permeability contrast case was created by using a 19.4 cm diameter by 94 cm high solid shale core as the center zone of the retort. Temperature contours during retorting were similar to those observed in other permeability contrast experiments. However, the amounts of remaining char and unreacted carbonate materials were higher than for previous experiments. Oil yield was 80% of Fischer Assay, compared to 86 to 89% for other permeability contrast runs (with 3:1 contrasts) and 95% for a uniform base case. The additional yield loss was apparently caused by a combination of enhanced non-uniformity and increased particle size. Modeling of the process (using a previously-developed block retorting model) showed excellent agreement between the predicted temperature and char profiles and those observed in the test. These comparisons help to validate the physical and chemical descriptions of the process used in the model. 14 refs., 24 figs., 9 tabs. (ERA citation 10:025264)