Pumpherston retort

The Pumpherston retort (also known as the Bryson retort) was a type of oil-shale retort used in Scotland at the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century. It marked separation of the oil-shale industry from the coal industry as it was designed specifically for oil-shale retorting.[1] The retort is named after Pumpherston town in Scotland, which was one of the major Scottish oil shale areas. The retort was commercialized by Pumpherston Oil Company.

Pumpherston retort
Process typechemical
Industrial sector(s)oil shale industry
Feedstockoil shale
Product(s)shale oil, oil shale gas, ammonia
Leading companiesPumpherston Oil Company
InventorWilliam Fraser, James Bryson, James Jones
Year of invention1894

History

The Pumpherston retort was invented and patented in 1894 by William Fraser, James Bryson, and James Jones of Pumpherston Oil Company.[2] By 1910, 1,528 Pumpherston retorts were used in Scotland.[1] In addition, the retort was used in Spain and Australia.[3]

Design

The Pumpherston retort was a 35 feet (11 m) high cylindrical vessel containing two main sections.[4] The upper section was made of iron and the lower section was made of fire bricks. The raw oil shale was fed on the top of retort. Shale oil and oil shale gas were distilled at the upper section at the temperature of 750 to 900 °F (399 to 482 °C). At the lower section, the heat rose to 1,300 °F (704 °C) and steam was added to produce ammonia. The process required approximately 1,000 imperial barrels (160,000 l; 36,000 imp gal; 43,000 US gal) of water equivalent of steam per one ton of oil shale.[1][4][5]

The retort had a 15 ton capacity, and the residence time was 24 hours. It was started up by combustion of coal, but after the process started it was switched to the produced oil shale gas.[1]

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References
  1. Louw, S.J.; Addison, J. (1985). Seaton, A. (ed.). "Studies of the Scottish oil shale industry. Vol.1 History of the industry, working conditions, and mineralogy of Scottish and Green River formation shales. Final report on US Department of Energy" (PDF). Institute of Occupational Medicine: 38, 53–56. DE-ACO2 – 82ER60036. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 28 November 2009. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  2. Talbot, Frederick Arthur (2007). The Oil Conquest of the World. READ BOOKS. p. 182–193. ISBN 978-1-4086-1045-9. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  3. United States Office of Technology Assessment (June 1980). An Assessment of Oil Shale Technologies (PDF). DIANE Publishing. p. 138. ISBN 978-1-4289-2463-5. NTIS order #PB80-210115. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  4. Alderson, Victor Clifton (2009). The Oil Shale Industry. BiblioBazaar. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-103-27580-9. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  5. Hull, Thomas (2009). Oils, Fats and Fuels. READ BOOKS. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-4067-4163-6. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
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