The Shell Spher process (Shell Pellet Heat Exchange Retorting) is an above ground
fluidization bed retorting technology for
shale oil extraction
Shale oil extraction is an industrial process for unconventional oil production. This process converts kerogen in oil shale into shale oil by pyrolysis, hydrogenation, or thermal dissolution. The resultant shale oil is used as fuel oil or ...
. It is classified as a hot recycled solids technology.
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Raw oil shale is crushed to a fine particles. Heat is transferred to oil shale by heat-carrying ceramic balls of size . Raw oil shale is preheated in fluidized bed at the temperature of in the case if oxygen is used as fluidizing medium, or at 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
Spent shale or spent oil shale (also known as retorted shale) is a solid residue from the shale oil extraction process of producing synthetic shale oil from oil shale. It consists of inorganic compounds (minerals) and remaining organic matter kno ...
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.
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See also
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Alberta Taciuk Process
The Alberta Taciuk process (ATP; known also as the AOSTRA Taciuk process) is an above-ground dry thermal retorting technology for extracting oil from oil sands, oil shale and other organics-bearing materials, including oil contaminated soils, slud ...
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Kiviter process
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Petrosix process
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Galoter process
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Fushun process
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Paraho process
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Lurgi-Ruhrgas process
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TOSCO II process
References
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Oil shale technology