US 12,391,882 B2
Apparatus, system, and method for shale pyrolysis
Gary G. Otterstrom, Lindon, UT (US)
Assigned to PYRO DYNAMICS LLC, Pleasant Grove, UT (US)
Filed by PYRO DYNAMICS LLC, Pleasant Grove, UT (US)
Filed on Jan. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/408,382.
Application 18/408,382 is a continuation of application No. 17/900,776, filed on Aug. 31, 2022, granted, now 11,866,649.
Application 17/900,776 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/466,628, filed on Sep. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,834,612, issued on Dec. 5, 2023.
Application 17/466,628 is a continuation of application No. 17/188,836, filed on Mar. 1, 2021, granted, now 11,111,440, issued on Sep. 7, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/982,636, filed on Feb. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0309274 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. C10B 1/06 (2006.01); C10B 1/04 (2006.01); C10B 1/08 (2006.01); C10B 49/04 (2006.01); C10B 49/06 (2006.01); C10B 53/06 (2006.01); C10G 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC C10B 49/06 (2013.01) [C10B 1/04 (2013.01); C10B 1/06 (2013.01); C10B 1/08 (2013.01); C10B 49/04 (2013.01); C10B 53/06 (2013.01); C10G 1/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
14. A gas separating system comprising:
a plurality of separation vessels, each receiving gases and liquids exiting from a different level of a vertical retort configured for hydrocarbon extraction from shale and configured in a zig-zag pattern, wherein gases and liquids of different levels of the vertical retort exit the vertical retort at different temperatures so that each of the separation vessels receives gases and/or liquids at a different temperature than other of the plurality of separation vessels;
a last separation vessel configured to condense water;
connecting piping fluidly connecting each of the plurality of separation vessels and the last separation vessel in series from a highest temperature separation vessel to a lowest temperature separation vessel and then to the last separating vessel, such that a gas outlet of a higher temperature separation vessel is connected via the connecting piping to an inlet of a lower temperature separation vessel of the plurality of separation vessels and an outlet of the lowest temperature separating vessel is connected via the connecting piping to an inlet of the last separation vessel; and
one or more heat exchangers in each of the plurality of separation vessels and the last separation vessel, wherein a circulating fluid of a separation vessel of the plurality of separations vessel and the last separation vessel circulates at a temperature to condense liquid and gas in the separation vessel, wherein the one or more heat exchangers of each of the plurality of separation vessels and the last separation vessel operates at a different temperature.