KINETIC SIMULATION-MODEL FOR STEAM PYROLYSIS OF SHALE OIL FEEDSTOCK

Steam pyrolysis of shale oil feedstocks for the production of chemical intermediates was studied in a bench-scale tubular reactor. The results have been correlated as a function of temperature, residence time, and pyrolysis severity. The experimental results obtained upon pyrolysis of shale oil indicate that shale oil should make an excellent feedstock for steam pyrolysis. A kinetic simulation model was developed for steam pyrolysis of shale oil. The basic assumption in the development of this model was that the rate of cracking of shale oil to form different gaseous products is a function of the amount of hydrogen available for cracking. With other models, rate constants must be fit for each feedstock; the present model is unique in that it successfully predicts the experimental results of pyrolysis for a wide range of feedstocks. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.