GB208586A - Improvements in and relating to process and apparatus for extracting hydrocarbon oil material from oil bearing earthy material - Google Patents

Abstract

208,586. Day, D. T. Sept. 18, 1922. Hydrocarbons, cracking.-Oils and gas are obtained from shale or oil-bearing sand by immersing the shale in and passing it through a bath of liquid oil, cracking the oil-soaked shale, and condensing the vapours and using the condensate to replenish the bath, preferably by passing the gases and vapours into the oil bath container. In the apparatus shown, shale is fed continuously from a hopper 13 to a bath of oil in an inclined chamber 11, is carried to the outlet 15 by a conveyer 11<a>, and through cracking tubes 5, 6, 7, to an outlet pipe 10 by conveyers 5<a>, 6a, 7<a>. The gases and vapours escape by the pipe 15, a part condensing in the chamber 11 and a run-back pipe 16 and replenishing the bath, and the remainder passing through a condensing tower 18 and condenser 20 connected to reservoirs 23, 24; the gas is further passed through a scrubber 25 and a pipe 3 to the burner 3<a> of the retort. The oil condensed in the chamber 11 overflows to the reservoir 23 through a pipe 17 provided with an open pipe 17<a> to prevent siphoning. The conveyers and a valve 10<a> on the pipe 10 are operated by gearing. The operations may be conducted at reduced, normal or increased pressure, e.g. 701bs. The temperature of the retort should be about 900-1400‹ F., that of the inside of the tubes 5, 6, 7 about 550-700‹ F., and that of the chamber 11 about 300 F. The chamber 11 and pipe 16 may be insulated or artificially cooled.