An insulated pressure vessel, such as a coke drum, having an insulation system installed thereon. The insulation system includes an insulation support system comprising either a floating ring type support system, or a cage type support system including a plurality of vertically spaced insulation support rings each having a diameter greater than the external diameter of the coke drum. A plurality of insulation panels are secured to the support rings, each panel including insulation material and an exterior metal jacket. The panels are secured to horizontally adjacent insulation panels with standing seams. Weather shields may be provided over the top of the seams. Tensioned insulation securing cables, corresponding in number to the insulation support rings, are routed through horizontally aligned eyelets in each standing seam.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for shale pyrolysis. A retort may include a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the first side and the second side include descending angled surfaces at alternating angles to produce zig-zag motion of shale descending through the retort. Steam distributors may be coupled to the first side, with collectors coupled to the second side, to produce crossflow of steam and heat across the descending shale. A steam temperature control subsystem may be coupled to the steam distributors and may deliver higher-temperature steam to an upper portion of the retort and lower-temperature steam to a lower portion of the retort.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for shale pyrolysis. A retort may include a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the first side and the second side include descending angled surfaces at alternating angles to produce zig-zag motion of shale descending through the retort. Steam distributors may be coupled to the first side, with collectors coupled to the second side, to produce crossflow of steam and heat across the descending shale. A steam temperature control subsystem may be coupled to the steam distributors and may deliver higher-temperature steam to an upper portion of the retort and lower-temperature steam to a lower portion of the retort.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for shale pyrolysis. A retort may include a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the first side and the second side include descending angled surfaces at alternating angles to produce zig-zag motion of shale descending through the retort. Steam distributors may be coupled to the first side, with collectors coupled to the second side, to produce crossflow of steam and heat across the descending shale. A steam temperature control subsystem may be coupled to the steam distributors and may deliver higher-temperature steam to an upper portion of the retort and lower-temperature steam to a lower portion of the retort.

The present invention provides a microwave pyrolysis reactor (1) comprising an inner pipe element (2), a microwave distribution element (3) and a housing (4), wherein the inner pipe element (2) is made of a microwave transparent material and comprises a first open end (5) and a second open end (6); the microwave distribution element (3) is made of a material not transparent to microwaves and is arranged around the inner pipe element (2), and comprises at least one opening (8) for allowing passage of microwaves into the inner pipe element (2); the housing (4) comprises a first inner surface enclosing a first annular space (9) around the microwave distribution element (3) and a port (13) for a microwave waveguide (14) in communication with the first annular space; and wherein the microwave distribution element is in thermal conductive contact with a heat exchange system for removal of heat from the microwave pyrolysis reactor during use.

A continuous multi-stage vertically sequenced gasification process for conversion of solid carbonaceous fuel material into clean (low tar) syngas. The process involves forming a pyrolysis residue bed having a uniform depth and width to pass raw syngas there through for an endothermic reaction, while controlling the reduction zone pressure drop, resident time and syngas flow space velocity during the endothermic reaction to form substantially tar free syngas, to reduce carbon content in the pyrolysis residue, and to reduce the temperature of raw syngas as compared to the temperature of the partial oxidation zone.

A continuous multi-stage vertically sequenced gasification process for conversion of solid carbonaceous fuel material into clean (low tar) syngas. The process involves forming a pyrolysis residue bed having a uniform depth and width to pass raw syngas there through for an endothermic reaction, while controlling the reduction zone pressure drop, resident time and syngas flow space velocity during the endothermic reaction to form substantially tar free syngas, to reduce carbon content in the pyrolysis residue, and to reduce the temperature of raw syngas as compared to the temperature of the partial oxidation zone.

A method of retorting oil shale is provided, comprising: continuously feeding oil shale into a retorting unit; heating the retorting unit using renewable electrical energy; converting the oil-shale kerogen into kerogen oil; conveying a cross-flow sweep gas across a moving bed of the oil shale, to carry the kerogen oil out of the retorting unit; recovering the kerogen oil; and recovering spent oil shale. The combination of electrical heating and cross-flow retorting achieves uniform heating to optimize the production of hydrocarbons. A system for retorting oil shale is also provided, comprising: a retorting unit; an inlet for continuously feeding oil shale; electrical-energy elements within the retorting unit; an inlet for conveying a cross-flow sweep gas through the retorting unit; and an outlet for the cross-flow sweep gas carrying the kerogen oil. The principles of the invention may be applied to ex situ systems, in situ systems, or hybrid systems.

A method of retorting oil shale is provided, comprising: continuously feeding oil shale into a retorting unit; heating the retorting unit using renewable electrical energy; converting the oil-shale kerogen into kerogen oil; conveying a cross-flow sweep gas across a moving bed of the oil shale, to carry the kerogen oil out of the retorting unit; recovering the kerogen oil; and recovering spent oil shale. The combination of electrical heating and cross-flow retorting achieves uniform heating to optimize the production of hydrocarbons. A system for retorting oil shale is also provided, comprising: a retorting unit; an inlet for continuously feeding oil shale; electrical-energy elements within the retorting unit; an inlet for conveying a cross-flow sweep gas through the retorting unit; and an outlet for the cross-flow sweep gas carrying the kerogen oil. The principles of the invention may be applied to ex situ systems, in situ systems, or hybrid systems.

Described is a reaction chamber (100) configured to house coking reactions comprising a main body (90) with a base portion (B) and a head portion (S), wherein the base portion (B) and the head portion (S) are joined together at their respective joint edges, characterised in that the walls of the main body (90) are made of stainless steel in such a way as to allow a joint between the base portion (B) and the head portion (S), of the main body (90), by welding only the base sheet since no plating is present on the sheet itself and in such a way as to allow the construction of the base portion (B) and the head portion (S), when constructed by coupling and welding a plurality of sheets, by welding only the base sheet since no plating is present on the sheet itself.

Advantageously, the method of assembly of the reaction chamber (100) according to the invention limits the operations necessary to weld only the base sheet since there is no plating on the sheet itself.