Influence of Particle Size, Grade and Pyrolysis Temperature on the Oil Yield From Jordanian Oil Shales

Abstract

The effect of changes in some of the experimental parameters on the oil yield has been determined in a laboratory scale reactor heated by an external electrical heater. Five categories of particle sizes of oil shale samples from two deposits in Jordan were pyrolysed by employing a fixed bed retorting system. The reactor and the oil shale sample were heated at a constant rate, and nitrogen gas was used to purge the sample, continuously, in order to remove the pyrolysis products from the reactor as well as to reduce secondary reactions. The liquid products were condensed and collected in a series of cold glass-traps and the off-gases analysed for their hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon species.