INTEGRATED OIL-SHALE PROCESSING INTO ENERGY AND CHEMICALS USING COMBINED-CYCLE TECHNOLOGY

Oil shale integrated processing and an exhaustive utilization of ifs e nergy and chemical potential are described herein. The principal featu res of this method are two-stage oil shale processing and power cogene ration by means of the combined-cycle turbine unit As a result of the two-stage processing, two principal products - gas and liquids - are o btained. The gas is used for power production in a combined-cycle unit . The liquid products have ct simpler composition us compared to the u sual shale oil, and can be an excellent source fbr the production of c hemicals. This scheme is more effective from the technical and economi cal point of view and less harmful to the environment than usual retor ting or direct oil shale combustion. Preservation of the environment i s achieved through the use of high-quality, ashless, moistureless, and sulfurless gas fuel in place of oil shale (or sulfur-rich shale oil), and elimination of other wastes.