Experimental investigation to elucidate why tetrahydrofuran rapidly promotes methane hydrate formation kinetics: applicable to energy storage
Title | Experimental investigation to elucidate why tetrahydrofuran rapidly promotes methane hydrate formation kinetics: applicable to energy storage |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2016 |
Authors | Kumar, A, Daraboina, N, Kumar, R, Linga, P |
Journal | Journal of Physical Chemistry C |
Volume | 120 |
Issue | 51 |
Pagination | 29062-29068 |
Date Published | DEC |
Abstract | Methane storage as SNG (solidified natural gas) in the form of clathrate hydrates is an emerging, economically feasible and environmentally benign technology for large scale storage. Mixed tetrahydrofuran (THF)-methane (CH4) hydrates offer a paradigm shift to milder storage conditions and faster hydrate formation kinetics, providing a promising scenario to scale up the SNG technology. In this work, we synthesize mixed THF-CH4 hydrates in a high pressure microdifferential scanning calorimeter (HP mu-DSC) to elucidate the two-step hydrate formation mechanism of mixed THF-CH4 hydrate identifying the synergism between THF and CH4. Heat flow change during hydrate formation and dissociation of mixed THF-CH4 hydrates formed in the presence of 5.56 mol % THF (stoichiometric composition) were monitored. The two step-mechanism of mixed THF-CH4 hydrate formation was further confirmed by the pressure-temperature profile and visual observations with a sample volume scale -up of about 350 times that of mu-DSC experiments. |
DOI | 10.1021/acs.jpcc.6b11995 |
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign) | Foreign |
Impact Factor (IF) | 4.509 |
Divison category:
Chemical Engineering & Process Development