A residual petroleum fraction or similar hydrocarbon oil boiling in excess of about 700.degree. F. is contacted in liquid phase with a finely divided, noncaking coal in a contacting zone at a temperature in the range between about 700.degree. F. and about 900.degree. F., cracked products derived from the oil and hydrocarbons from the coal are recovered overhead from the contacting zone and fractionated to produce a heavy recycle stream and lighter products, and a solid char is recovered as a bottoms product from the contacting zone. The contacting of the oil with coal in a fluidized bed at relatively low oil-to-coal ratios results in the production of a low sulfur solid fuel having a Btu content in the range of from about 12,000 to about 18,000 Btu/lb.
A shale oil retort apparatus is provided for retorting oil shale under airtight conditions. The retort apparatus employs a split hub wheel device which allows for the axial feeding of crushed oil shale and the axial dispensing of spent oil shale. The retort apparatus utilizes a rotatable shaft on a stationary axle, said shaft containing three spokes that are set approximately equidistant apart. The spokes serve to feed raw oil shale, dip it into a hot oil bath and dispense spent oil shale out of the apparatus.
Coking of residual oil and devolatization/partial gasification and desulfurization of solid particulate fuel are carried out in a single reactor. The particulate fuel is burned in a combustion zone in the bottom of the reactor. A bed of particulate fuel is fluidized above the combustion zone with gases rising from the combustion zone. The fluidized bed is maintained at a temperature which cokes the residual oil and volatizes the particulate fuel. A high temperature, low velocity zone is maintained between the combustion zone and the fluidized bed for calcination and desulfurization of the solid fuel.
This invention provides a process which involves solubilizing coal in a thermally stable refinery petroleum solvent to form a homogeneous solution, and blending the homogeneous solution with petroleum cutter-stock to produce No. 5 fuel oil.
The present application relates to a method for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids from oil shale containing organic carbon material which comprises heating the oil shale in a retort vessel to a temperature at which thermal decomposition of the organic carbons is initiated. After the initial thermal decomposition temperature is reached, a pre-determined quantity of oil is introduced into the retort wherein the amount of added oil is sufficient to enhance the organic carbon conversion to hydrocarbonaceous fluids and wherein the majority of the added oil does not distill at the initial thermal decomposition temperature of the organic carbons in the shale. Subsequently, the retort temperature is increased to that temperature where the highest amount of organic carbon conversion is obtained. This second higher temperature is maintained for a period of time sufficient to allow substantial conversion of organic carbon material. Subsequently, retorting is continued by increasing the temperature to about 525.degree. C. The present invention results in the recovery of increased amounts of oil as compared to Fischer Assay methods.
Coal and metals-containing residual oil are coprocessed under conditions whereby the coal is volatilized and solubilized, the residual oil is demetallized and substantially no coking of the residual oil occurs. The products obtained include metals-free distillates and metals-containing solid fuel.
