FLUIDIZED BED RETORTING OF OIL SHALE.

The fluidized bed is an effective method for investigating retorting phenomena and possibly a commercial means of retorting oil shale. Both were examined by Sinclair Oil (now part of Atlantic Richfield Co. ) in the period 1965-1968. The results of the work show that the presence of an oxidizing environment during retorting results in loss of oil yield which indicates that vapor phase oil burns in preference to combustion of coke on spent shale. Consideration of hardware indicates that there are several possibilities for commercial embodiment. As a companion to shaft-type retorts the fluidized bed could have good potential. Realistic assessment of costs suggests that further development may have to wait commercialization of another process.