| 摘要 |
<p>A closed self-contained system (method and apparatus) for efficiently extracting oil and other hydrocarbons from oilbearing shale rock in which shale, which may be preheated to remove water and hydrocarbons which vaporize below about 600.degree.F., is advanced in the form of discrete individual pieces along a pathway in a substantially evacuated zone (e.g., less than 50 torr) while in the presence of heat energy sufficient to raise the temperature of the shale (e.g., to 600.degree. to no more than 900.degree.F.) to cause the oil and other hydrocarbons to be liberated as a vapor in the evacuated zone. The shale advances in proximity with at least one condenser surface so that oil and other hydrocarbons are condensed and recovered from the liberated vapor. The system operates at temperatures which are at all times below 990.degree.F., and generally below 700.degree.F., to extract the oil from the oil-bearing shale in a relatively short period of time (e.g., 30 to 360 minutes). Through use of multiple condensers cooled to differing condenser temperatures (e.g., from 300.degree.F. to -200.degree.F.), fractional condensing and selective recovery of hydrocarbons is obtained. The system employs a simplified apparatus including a housing, means to evacuate the housing, a pathway for advancing the shale through the housing, means to supply energy to the pieces of shale advancing within the housing, at least one condenser in proximity with the pathway, means to supply cooling medium to the condenser surface, means to remove oil condensing on the condenser surface, and means to introduce and remove shale material from the housing while maintaining the desired low pressure and temperature conditions. The system is characterized by its operation to extract oil from shale without release of environmental contaminants to the atmosphere, or return of contaminants to the soil. -1a-</p> |
