An open system pyrolysis of a first hydrocarbon source rock sample obtained from a natural system is performed within a pyrolysis chamber by maintaining the pyrolysis chamber at a substantially constant temperature. Hydrocarbons are recovered from the pyrolysis chamber released by the first hydrocarbon source rock sample. A thermo-vaporization is performed within the pyrolysis chamber on the pyrolyzed sample at a substantially constant temperature. A first hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency of hydrocarbon source rock is determined. A second hydrocarbon rock sample is ground to a grain size less than or equal to or less than 250 micrometers. A second pyrolysis is performed on the ground hydrocarbon source rock sample by maintaining the chamber at a substantially constant temperature. A second hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency of the hydrocarbon source rock in the natural system is determined. The first hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency is verified using the second hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency.

A retort including a drum, an electric induction coil, a motor, and first and second jacks. The drum includes an inlet port at an inlet end, an outlet port at an outlet end, and a cylindrical tube extending between the inlet end and the outlet end. The electric induction coil is proximate the cylindrical tube for heating the cylindrical tube. The motor is operably and rotatably coupled to the cylindrical tube of the drum. The first jack is coupled to the drum proximate the inlet end, and is configured to raise and lower the inlet end of the drum. And the second jack is coupled to the drum proximate the outlet end, and is configured to raise and lower the outlet end of the drum.

A system for purifying petroleum or oil shale is provided. The system includes a pressurized cracking tank configured to receive petroleum or crushed oil shale; and a rotary kiln configured to receive product from the pressurized cracking tank. A method of processing petroleum or oil shale is also provided. The method includes feeding the petroleum or the oil shale into a pressurized cracking tank; heating the petroleum or the oil shale to withdraw oil vapors containing hydrocarbons; and feeding the petroleum or the oil shale from the pressurized cracking tank into a rotating kiln.

A system for purifying petroleum or oil shale is provided. The system includes a pressurized cracking tank configured to receive petroleum or crushed oil shale; and a rotary kiln configured to receive product from the pressurized cracking tank. A method of processing petroleum or oil shale is also provided. The method includes feeding the petroleum or the oil shale into a pressurized cracking tank; heating the petroleum or the oil shale to withdraw oil vapors containing hydrocarbons; and feeding the petroleum or the oil shale from the pressurized cracking tank into a rotating kiln.

Electrolysis devices and systems include a first plate having first and second outlets; a first screen extending below the first plate proximate to the first outlet wherein a inner diameter of the first screen?an inner diameter of the first outlet; a tube extending below the first plate wherein the tube is disposed around the first screen with a first gap between the first screen and the tube; a second screen extending below the first plate such that the second screen is disposed around the tube with a second gap between the tube and the second screen; the second outlet is either disposed between the tube and the second screen or outside of the second screen; and wherein a length of the first screen is less that a length of the second screen, and a length of the tube is greater than the length of the second screen.

Electrolysis devices and systems include a first plate having first and second outlets; a first screen extending below the first plate proximate to the first outlet wherein a inner diameter of the first screen?an inner diameter of the first outlet; a tube extending below the first plate wherein the tube is disposed around the first screen with a first gap between the first screen and the tube; a second screen extending below the first plate such that the second screen is disposed around the tube with a second gap between the tube and the second screen; the second outlet is either disposed between the tube and the second screen or outside of the second screen; and wherein a length of the first screen is less that a length of the second screen, and a length of the tube is greater than the length of the second screen.

A method for analyzing the petroleum content of a rock sample includes at least three repetitions of heating a rock sample to a holding temperature, holding the rock sample at the holding temperature for a holding period, and collecting data about the rock sample during each holding period. The holding temperature for each subsequent holding period may be greater than or equal to a previous holding temperature. The data collected may be analyzed to determine the S1 parameter and calculated to determine the API gravity of the rock sample.

A method for analyzing the petroleum content of a rock sample includes at least three repetitions of heating a rock sample to a holding temperature, holding the rock sample at the holding temperature for a holding period, and collecting data about the rock sample during each holding period. The holding temperature for each subsequent holding period may be greater than or equal to a previous holding temperature. The data collected may be analyzed to determine the S1 parameter and calculated to determine the API gravity of the rock sample.

A distillation system including a retort and a distillation column. The retort includes an inlet end, an outlet end opposite the inlet end and including an outlet opening, a rotatable drum configured to heat a product therein and move the product between the inlet end and the outlet end. The distillation column is coupled to the outlet end of the retort and configured to receive the product therein upon exiting the outlet opening of the retort. The distillation column includes a solid particle trap section positioned above the outlet opening, a packing section positioned above the solid particle trap section and including screen at a bottom end thereof, a dust filter therein, and a first bubble tray section positioned above the packing section and including a first outlet feed for outflow of a first fluid product.

A process control method for the on-line operation in real time of a low-rank-coal pyrolysis process producing a coal-char product, a pyrolysis gas, and a complex multi-component coal-tar-oil. The control method is based on measuring the concentration of selected compounds in the three products, a solid phase, a gas phase and a liquid phase condensed from the gas-phase, using a combination of spectrometric technology including scanning in the infrared, visible, ultraviolet and microwave spectral regions, and analyzing the data based on application of a modified Chi-Square data manipulation fitting technique developed for the specific products and process. This process control method provides a basis for accurate on-line control of the process operating parameters and allows optimization of the coal-char quality as well as the quality and yield of the extracted coal-tar-oil with unique chemical composition derived from low-rank coal in a pyrolysis process. The subject invention is based on the selection of 2-6 key compounds contained in each product to be measured and used as control point, calibration of the process operating conditions to the key compound composition and monitoring the changes in concentration on-line in real time.