Validation results for core-scale oil shale pyrolysis

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Publication Type report
School or College University of Utah
Research Institute Institute for Clean and Secure Energy (ICSE)
Author Staten, Josh; Tiwari, Pankaj; Deo, Milind
Title Validation results for core-scale oil shale pyrolysis
Date 2015-02
Description This report summarizes a study of oil shale pyrolysis at various scales and the subsequent development a model for in situ production of oil from oil shale. Oil shale from the Mahogany zone of the Green River formation was used in all experiments. Pyrolysis experiments were conducted at four scales, powdered samples (100 mesh) and core samples of 0.75", 1" and 2.5" diameters. The batch, semibatch and continuous flow pyrolysis experiments were designed to study the effect of temperature (300°C to 500°C), heating rate (1°C/min to 10°C/min), pressure (ambient and 500 psig) and size of the sample on product formation. Comprehensive analyses were performed on reactants and products - liquid, gas and spent shale. These experimental studies were designed to understand the relevant coupled phenomena (reaction kinetics, heat transfer, mass transfer, thermodynamics) at multiple scales. A model for oil shale pyrolysis was developed in the COMSOL multiphysics platform. A general kinetic model was integrated with important physical and chemical phenomena that occur during pyrolysis. The secondary reactions of coking and cracking in the product phase were addressed. The multiscale experimental data generated and the models developed provide an understanding of the simultaneous effects of chemical kinetics, and heat and mass transfer on oil quality and yield. The comprehensive data collected in this study will help advance the move to large-scale in situ oil production from the pyrolysis of oil shale.
Publisher University of Utah, Institute for Clean and Secure Energy; Office of Fossil Energy
Subject oil and natural gas technology; validation results; core-scale oil shale pyrolysis; in situ production of oil from oil shale; oil shale; pyrolysis of oil shale
Bibliographic Citation Staten, J., Tiwari, P., Deo, M. (2015). Validation results for core-scale oil shale pyrolysis. Topical Report: October 1, 2010- September 30, 2014. DOE Award No.: DE-FE0001243. University of Utah, Institute for Clean and Secure Energy.
Relation Has Part DOE Award No.: DE-FE0001243.
ARK ark:/87278/s6j41rnv
Setname ir_eua
ID 214572
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6j41rnv
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