METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR RETORTING OIL SHALE AND UPGRADING THE HYDROCARBONS OBTAINED THEREFROM

摘要

Optimized, heat-integrated methods and systems are provided to produce multiple, high-value products from oil shale, while minimizing overall energy and water usage. A method for producing multiple products from oil shale comprises: feeding raw oil shale into a heated retorting unit, to convert kerogen into a retorted stream; introducing the retorted stream to a distillation column to generate a high-cetane diesel stream, an α-olefin-containing chemical stream, an asphalt/asphalt additive stream, and an overhead gas stream, wherein heat contained in the retorted stream is harnessed as distillation energy; separating the overhead gas stream into a fuel gas stream and a purge gas stream; combusting the fuel gas stream to generate hot flue gas; heating the purge gas with hot flue gas; feeding the heated purge gas directly to the heated retorting unit; and recovering the high-cetane diesel stream, the α-olefin-containing chemical stream, and the asphalt/asphalt additive stream as products.