Intensification of Gas Hydrate Formation Processes by Renewal of Interfacial Area between Phases

Abstract

This paper presents the analysis of the main reasons for a significant decrease in the intensity of diffusion processes during the formation of gas hydrates; solutions to this problem are proposed in a new process flow diagram for the continuous synthesis of gas hydrates. The physical processes, occurring at the corresponding stages of the process flow, have been described in detail. In the proposed device, gas hydrate is formed at the boundary of gas bubbles immersed in cooled water. The dynamic effects arising at the bubble boundary contribute to the destruction of a forming gas hydrate structure, making it possible to renew the contact surface and ensure efficient heat removal from the reaction zone. The article proposes an assessment technique for the main process parameters in the synthesis of hydrates based on the criterion of thermodynamic parameters optimization. The optimization criterion determines the relationship of intensity of heat and mass transfer processes at the phase contact interface of reacting phases, correlating with the maximum GH synthesis rate, and makes it possible to determine optimum thermodynamic parameters in the reactor zone.

Keywords

• gas hydrates
• heat and mass transfer at the interface
• continuous cycle of hydrate formation