US 7,070,758 B2 · Process and apparatus for generating hydrogen from oil shale

Abstract

A process and apparatus for generating hydrogen from oil shale. Crushed oil shale may be placed in a chamber and combusted with carbon monoxide, oxygen and steam to form a gas stream of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The hydrogen and carbon monoxide stream may be passed through a mechanism to produce hydrogen. In one embodiment, the hydrogen and carbon monoxide stream may be passed through a catalytic converter to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen and carbon dioxide may be cooled further and passed through a scrubber to remove the carbon dioxide such that hydrogen is produced. In another embodiment, the hydrogen and carbon monoxide may be passed through fluidized beds of magnetite to produce metallic iron, carbon dioxide and water. The metallic iron may then be conveyed to another chamber, where it may be treated with steam, producing magnetite and hydrogen.

Claims93

Dependent claims

A method of producing hydrogen from oil shale, said method comprising:

(a) transporting oxygen, and a first source of carbon monoxide, into a combustion chamber;
(b) transporting oil shale into the combustion chamber;
(c) combusting the oxygen and the carbon monoxide as part of a combustion cycle to form carbon dioxide therefrom and to heat the oil shale sufficiently to release petroleum hydrocarbons from said oil shale;
(d) placing the combustion chamber into communication with an enclosed gas movement path along which the first source of carbon monoxide is conveyed, such that said enclosed gas movement path, coupled with the use of oxygen, collectively operates to minimize or eliminate aggregation of gases that are nonessential to the combustion cycle;
and
(e) transporting carbon monoxide produced in said combustion chamber to a hydrogen producing combustion chamber and combusting said carbon monoxide with oil shale to produce hydrogen.

3 more elements

A method of producing hydrogen from oil shale, said method comprising:

(a) producing hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide from said oil shale;
(b) combusting the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in a reaction chamber with steam and oxygen to thereby form an effluent containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
and
(c) separating the hydrogen from the effluent;
wherein the method further comprises providing a first zone, a second zone and a third zone in said reaction chamber;
wherein the method further comprises directing a flow of gas in said reaction chamber from said first zone to said second zone to said third zone;
wherein the method further comprises directing movement of the oil shale from the third zone to the second zone to the first zone;
wherein the method further comprises circulating said gas from said third zone to said second zone through a first gas re-circulation line;
wherein the method further comprises diverting hydrocarbon vapors from said first gas re-circulation line for producing hydrocarbon products;
wherein the method further comprises returning unusable hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide to said reaction chamber through a gas return means;
wherein the method further comprises circulating said gas from said second zone to said first zone through a second gas re-circulation line;
wherein the method further comprises directing said effluent of hydrogen and carbon monoxide out of said reaction chamber at a location between said second zone and said third zone;
wherein the method further comprises preheating said oxygen in an oxygen pre-heater before combustion;
wherein the method further comprises preheating said steam in a steam pre-heater before combustion;
wherein the method further comprises passing the oil shale countercurrent to a flow of gas in the reaction chamber;
wherein the method further comprises passing said effluent through a particle separator to remove particles from the effluent;
wherein the method further comprises forcing the flow of said effluent gas with at least one blower;
wherein the method further comprises controlling the temperature in the first zone to range between approximately 1100 degrees F. to approximately 1800 degrees F.;
wherein the method further comprises controlling the temperature in the second zone to range between approximately 800 degrees F. to approximately 1100 degrees F.;
wherein the method further comprises controlling the temperature in the third zone to range between approximately 300 degrees F. to approximately 800 degrees F.;
wherein the method further comprises directing said effluent of hydrogen and carbon monoxide out of said reaction chamber at a temperature range of between approximately 900 degrees F. and 950 degrees F.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process and apparatus for generating hydrogen from oil shale

Life of this patent

Process and apparatus for generating hydrogen from oil shale

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims93