Patent ID: 11866649
Assignee: PYRO DYNAMICS, LLC
Field: Basic materials chemistry (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C | IPC C

Claim 13:
14. An apparatus for shale pyrolysis, comprising:
a retort comprising a first side and a second side, the second side opposite the first side, the first side and the second side comprising descending angled surfaces at alternating angles to produce zig-zag U motion of shale descending through the retort, wherein corners of the retort that change direction of the shale are rounded; and
hot gas distributors coupled to the first side and collectors coupled to the second side to produce crossflow of a hot gas across the descending shale from the first side to the second side;
wherein each of the rounded corners of the retort comprises a radius sized such that a portion of shale descending through the retort maintains a same position relative to surrounding shale as the portion of shale passes through the retort and around a rounded corner.