Solar retorting of oil shale
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorDavid W. Gregg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for retorting oil shale using solar radiation. Oil shale is introduced into a first retorting chamber having a solar focus zone. There the oil shale is exposed to solar radiation and rapidly brought to a predetermined retorting temperature. Once the shale has reached this temperature, it is removed from the solar focus zone and transferred to a second retorting chamber where it is heated. In a second chamber, the oil shale is maintained at the retorting temperature, without direct exposure to solar radiation, until the retorting is complete.
Claims13
An oil shale retorting apparatus comprising:
- a first retorting chamber having a solar focus zone wherein oil shale disposed therein is rapidly brought to a predetermined retorting temperature without forming hot spots on said oil shale;
- means for introducing oil shale into said first chamber;
- a transparent window set in said first chamber adjacent said solar focus zone, said window being transparent to substantially all solar radiation;
- a mirror adapted to reflect, concentrate, and direct solar radiation through said window into said solar focus zone;
- a second retorting chamber, said second chamber receiving oil shale already at said retorting temperature from said solar focus zone, and further maintaining said oil shale at said retorting temperature for a pedetermined length of time, wherein oil, by-product gases, and spent oil shale are formed;
- means for introducing said oil shale from said first chamber into said second chamber;
- heating means for providing energy to said second chamber to maintain said oil shale disposed therein at said retorting temperature;
- and
- means for removing said oil, by-product gases, and spent oil shale from said second chamber.
A method for retorting oil shale comprising:
- introducing oil shale into a first retorting chamber having a solar focus zone;
- moving said oil shale into said solar focus zone;
- directing solar radiation into said solar focus zone and onto said oil shale;
- rapidly raising the temperature of said oil shale in said solar focus zone to a predetermined retorting temperature;
- removing said oil shale at said retorting temperature from said solar focus zone before hot spots form on said oil shale, and moving it to a second retorting chamber;
- maintaining said oil shale within said second chamber at said retorting temperature for a predetermined length of time by applying additional heat;
- forming oil, by-product gases, and spent oil shale in said second chamber;
- separating oil, by-product gases, and spent oil shale;
- and
- removing said oil, by-product gases, and spent oil shale from said second chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.