Shell Spher process
Process type chemical
Industrial sector(s) Chemical industry, oil industry
Feedstock oil shale
Product(s) shale oil
Developer(s) Shell Oil

The Shell Spher process (Shell Pellet Heat Exchange Retorting) is an above ground fluidization bed retorting technology for shale oil extraction. It is classified as a hot recycled solids technology.[1][2]

Raw oil shale is crushed to a fine particles. Heat is transferred to oil shale by heat-carrying ceramic balls of size 6 to 8 millimetres (0.24 to 0.31 in). Raw oil shale is preheated in fluidized bed at the temperature of 600 °F (320 °C) in the case if oxygen is used as fluidizing medium, or at 650 °F (340 °C) if non-oxidizing gases are used. Heated ceramic balls fall then through the bed in counter-current direction. The preheated oil shale is further heated in the retorting vessel. The retorted spent shale is cooled in a fast-fluidized bed by the recirculated cool pellets from the preheater; while cooling the spent shale ceramic balls are heated by the spent shale.[3]

See also

References

  1. Burnham, Alan K.; McConaghy, James R. (2006-10-16). "Comparison of the acceptability of various oil shale processes" (PDF). 26th Oil shale symposium. Golden, Colorado: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. UCRL-CONF-226717. https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/341283.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
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  3. Gwyn, J.E.; Roberts, S.C.; Hardesty, D.E.; Johnson, G.L.; Hinds, G.P., Jr. (August 1980). "Shell Pellet Heat Exchange Retorting: The SPHER Energy-Efficient Process for Retorting Oil Shale" (PDF). Symposium on oil shale, tar sands and related materials. San Francisco: American Chemical Society. pp. 59–69. http://www.anl.gov/PCS/acsfuel/preprint%20archive/Files/25_3_SAN%20FRANCISCO_08-80_0059.pdf. Retrieved 2010-02-13.