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US 11,834,612 B2Granted
Apparatus, system, and method for shale pyrolysis
AssigneePyro Dynamics, LLC
InventorGary G. Otterstrom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for shale pyrolysis. A retort may include a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the first side and the second side include descending angled surfaces at alternating angles to produce zig-zag motion of shale descending through the retort. Steam distributors may be coupled to the first side, with collectors coupled to the second side, to produce crossflow of steam and heat across the descending shale. A steam temperature control subsystem may be coupled to the steam distributors and may deliver higher-temperature steam to an upper portion of the retort and lower-temperature steam to a lower portion of the retort.
Claims18
A shale pyrolysis system comprising:
- a retort comprising a first side and a second side, the second side opposite the first side, the retort divided into two or more sections and oriented vertically, wherein a top section of the two or more sections comprises a preheat section, wherein the shale descends continuously through the retort;
- steam distributors coupled to the first side and collectors coupled to the second side to produce crossflow of steam and heat across the descending shale from the first side to the second side, wherein each of the two or more sections comprise a steam distributor on the first side and a steam collector on the second side;
- and
- a steam temperature control subsystem coupled to the steam distributors and configured to deliver steam above 600° F. to the preheat section, to deliver steam to one or more upper sections of the retort at a temperature higher than steam delivered to the preheat section and to deliver steam to one or more lower sections of the retort at a temperature lower than the steam delivered to the preheat section.
1 more element
An apparatus for shale pyrolysis, comprising:
- a retort comprising a first side and a second side, the second side opposite the first side, the retort divided into two or more sections and oriented vertically, wherein the shale descends continuously through the retort;
- steam distributors coupled to the first side and collectors coupled to the second side to produce crossflow of steam across the descending shale from the first side to the second side;
- a preheat section configured for receiving and preheating shale entering a top of the retort, the preheat section comprises a plurality of preheat steam distributors disposed within a volume of the preheat section between a first side and a second side and between a top and a bottom of the preheat section;
- and
- a steam temperature control subsystem coupled to the steam distributors and preheat steam distributors and configured to deliver steam to the preheat steam distributors at a temperature above 600° F. and is configured to deliver steam to an upper section of the two or more sections at a temperature higher than steam delivered to the preheat section and to deliver steam to a lower section of the two or more sections at a temperature lower than steam delivered to the preheat section.
2 more elements
A method of shale pyrolysis, comprising:
- providing a retort comprising a first side and a second side, the second side opposite the first side, the retort divided into two or more sections and oriented vertically, wherein a top section of the two or more sections comprises a preheat section, wherein the shale descends continuously through the retort;
- providing steam distributors coupled to the first side and collectors coupled to the second side to produce crossflow of steam and heat across the descending shale from the first side to the second side, wherein each of the two or more sections comprise a steam distributor on the first side and a steam collector on the second side;
- providing a steam temperature control subsystem coupled to the steam distributors and configured to deliver steam to the preheat section, to deliver steam to one or more upper sections of the retort and to deliver steam to one or more lower sections of the retort;
- filling the retort with shale;
- moving shale through the retort by continuously removing shale at the bottom of the retort and adding shale at the top;
- pyrolyzing the shale by using the steam temperature control subsystem and the steam distributors to deliver steam above 600° F. to the preheat section, to deliver steam to one or more upper sections of the retort at a temperature higher than steam delivered to the preheat section and to deliver steam to one or more lower sections of the retort at a temperature lower than the steam delivered to the preheat section;
- and
- removing shale pyrolysis gases and the steam via the collectors.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.