Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory oil shale project review: METC third annual oil shale contractors meeting

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory combines laboratory and pilot-scale experimental measurements with mathematical modeling of fundamental chemistry and physics to provide a technical base for evaluating oil shale retorting alternatives. Presented herein are results of four research areas of interest in oil shale process development: (1) recent progress in solid-recycle retorting and related laboratory and modeling studies; (2) water generation during pyrolysis of oil shale; (3) improved analytical methods and measurements of rapid pyrolysis kinetics for Western and Eastern oil shale; and (4) rate of cracking or degradation of oil vapor in contact with oxidized shale. We describe operating results of a 1 tonne-per-day continuous-loop solid-recycle retort processing both Western and Eastern oil shale. Sulfur chemistry, solid mixing limits, shale cooling tests and catalyst addition are all discussed. Using a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer we measure individual species evolution with greater sensitivity and selectivity. Herein we discuss our measurements of water evolution during ramped heating of Western and Eastern oil shale. Using improved analytical techniques, we determine isothermal pyrolysis kinetics for Western and Eastern oil shale, during rapid heating, which are faster than previously thought. Finally, we discuss the rate of cracking of oil vapor in contact with oxidized shale, qualitatively using a sand fluidized bed and quantitatively using a vapor cracking apparatus.