An entrained reactor system (LFER) has been used to study the rapid pyrolysis kinetics for both eastern (New Albany) and western (Colorado) oil shales. Under the condition of high heating rate, a fundamental understanding of the processes influencing oil production and product quality/composition was obtained. Flow visualization and temperature characterization in the LFER were conducted to provide a critical laminar flow and isothermal reaction zone. Calibration curves depicting the flow regimes confirmed that the existing inlet and reactor design can be operated without particle dispersion caused by turbulence. A thermocouple tree was successfully utilized to identify the conditions necessary to match wall and gas temperatures. The rapid pyrolysis of these oil shales was carried out in nitrogen at four different temperatures, 700... |