Abstract: An apparatus for removing oil, gas and by-products from pyrobituminous shale impregnated with hydrocarbons utilizes a vertically disposed reactor having a top portion, a middle portion and a bottom portion. As shale is introduced into the top portion of the reactor through a rotary seal mechanism, hot gasses are introduced into the middle portion of the reactor through hollow, parallel tubes having a hexagonal configuration with gas introducing holes disposed in the side walls which are protected by overhanging portions of the top walls. Relatively cool gasses are introduced into the bottom portion of the reactor through horizontally disposed circumferentially spaced pipes having downwardly and outwardly chamfered inner ends to prevent clogging of the pipes. The hot effluent gasses from the top portion of the reactor are passed through the cyclone, a heat regenerator for reducing the temperature of the gaseous stream and an electrostatic precipitator prior to being compressed.

Abstract: The process for obtaining oil, gas and other products from pyrobituminous shales and the like includes introducing crushed shale into a retort and contacting the crushed shale in the top portion of the retort with a stream of retort gases. Hot gases are injected at an intermediate point of the retort and a stream of cold gases are injected at the bottom of the retort. The gaseous retorted matter above the zone where the shale undergoes pyrolysis is removed and directed to a cyclone from separation of heavy liquid components from a gaseous stream. The gaseous stream is then purified and compressed with a portion of the compressed stream being heated and reinjected as the steam of hot gases into the retort. The other portion of the compressed stream of gases is cooled and a liquid component consisting primarily of water and heavy oil is separate therefrom in a spray tower.