Laboratory and modeling investigation of a Colorado oil-shale block heated to 900°C

A cylinder of oil-shale, 17.2 by 17.0 cm diameter, was heated in a retort from 23 to 900°C at a rate of 18°C h-1. Total mass loss, oil yield and evolution of individual products are monitored. A one-dimensional model is developed to simulate the heating of the cylinder of oil-shale and the chemistry occurring as the oil-shale is pyrolysed. This model, containing the heat-transport equation and laboratory kinetic data, of ten occurring chemical reactions provides a good estimation of the experimental results. Only the extent of evolution of CO differed significantly from the experiment. The model is used to investigate thermal gradients in large cylinders heated at 1 and 3°C min-1 and to determine extents of heat transfer into the walls of an in-situ retort.