Study on Mass Transfer Characteristics of Hydrate-based Gas Absorber

Abstract

Hydrated-based gas separation is a method capable of selectively separating and recovering greenhouse gases. Although a conventional hydrate-based gas separation apparatus is a batch or a semi-batch system, continuous operation is preferable to increase the throughput of gas without changing the apparatus volume. Recently, we proposed a flow type apparatus to allow continuous operation of hydrate formation (absorption) and subsequent decomposition (desorption). The aim of this study is to investigate the mass transfer characteristics of the continuous apparatus using the HFC134a-N2 mixed gas system. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient was calculated especially during a steady state of gas absorption. Besides, we compared mass transfer performance between the hydrate-based gas absorber and a conventional bubble column. Sodium dodecyl sulfate was used as a hydrate dispersant. In the flow type apparatus, the gas-liquid contact was good and the hydrate slurry state was observed during hydrate formation. In the surfactant solution, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient increased in comparison with that in water. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient with hydrate was higher than that of the bubble column. These results suggest that hydrate formation improves gas absorption performance.