Experimental and modeling study of the kinetics of methane hydrate formation and dissociation

In this work, several experiments were conducted at isobaric and isothermal condition in a CSTR reactor to study the kinetics of methane hydrate formation and dissociation. Experiments were performed at five temperatures and three pressure levels (corresponding to equilibrium pressure). Methane hydrate formation and dissociation rates were modeled using mass transfer limited kinetic models and mass transfer coefficients for both formation and dissociation were calculated. Comparison of results, shows that mass transfer coefficients for methane hydrate dissociation are one order greater than formation conditions. Mass transfer coefficients were correlated by polynomials as relations of pressure and temperature. The results and the method can be applied for prediction of methane production from naturally occurring methane hydrate deposits.     

Effect of surfactant on the formation and dissociation kinetic behavior of methane hydrate

The effects of anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the formation/dissociation kinetic behaviors of methane hydrate have been studied experimentally, with an emphasis put on dissociation kinetic behavior below ice point. The experimental results on hydrate formation show that the formation rates of methane hydrate could be speeded up by adding SDS to water and a critical SDS concentration of 650 ppm corresponding to a maximum storage capacity of 170V/V is determined. The SDS concentrations are fixed at this value in preparing hydrate samples for all dissociation tests. The dissociation experiments have been performed in two ways, at atmospheric pressure where the dissociation rates are determined by measuring the accumulative evolved gas volume, and in a closed system where the dissociation rates are determined by measuring the increasing system pressure profiles. For comparison, the dissociation tests with respect to two different cases, with and without the presence of SDS, are done in parallel. The results from tests in the first way show that the presence of SDS increases the dissociation rate of methane hydrate in whole temperature region below ice point. The results for the second way are somewhat different. The presence of SDS increases the dissociation rate and meta-stable system pressure in temperature region lower than . But when temperature is equal to or higher than , SDS speeds up the dissociation process only in beginning period, it turns to suppress the dissociation of methane hydrate several hours later and leads to a lower meta-stable system pressure compared with the case of without SDS. The experiments in closed system also demonstrate that the dissociating system approaches a meta-stable state with a pressure much lower than equilibrium dissociation pressure.     

Reaction pathways of methane conversion in dielectric-barrier discharge

Conversion of methane to C₂, C₃, C₄ or higher hydrocarbons in a dielectric-barrier discharge was studied at atmospheric pressure. Non-equilibrium plasma was generated in the dielectric-barrier reactor. The effects of applied voltage on methane conversion, as well as selectivities and yields of products were studied. Methane conversion was increased with increasing the applied voltage. Ethane and propane were the main products in a dielectric-barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure. The reaction pathway of the methane conversion in the dielectric-barrier discharge was proposed. The proposed reaction pathways are important because they will give more insight into the application of methane coupling in a DBD at atmospheric pressure.     

Induction time,storage capacity,and rate of methane hydrate formation in the presence of SDS and silver nanoparticles

In this communication, the kinetic parameters of methane hydrate formation (induction time, quantity and rate of gas uptake, storage capacity (SC), and apparent rate constant) in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), synthetized silver nanoparticles (SNPs), and mixture of SDS?+?SNPs have been studied. Experimental measurements were performed at temperature of 273.65?K and initial pressure of 7?MPa in a 460?cm³ stirred batch reactor. Our results show that adding SDS, SNPs and their mixture increases the quantity of gas uptake, water to hydrate conversion, and SC of methane hydrate formation, noticeably. Using 300?ppm SDS increases the SC and the quantity of methane uptake 615, and 770%, respectively, compared with pure water. Investigating the hydrate growth rate at the start of hydrate formation process shows that, using SNPs, SDS, and their mixture increases the initial apparent rate constant of hydrate rate, considerably. Our results show that the system of methane?+?water?+?SDS 500?ppm?+?SNPs 45?µM represents the maximum value of initial apparent rate constant, compared with other tested systems.     

Influence factors of methane hydrate formation from ice: Temperature,pressure and SDS surfactant

A series of experiments of forming hydrate from ice powders in different conditions have been carried out with constant volume method to evaluate the influence factors such as pressure, temperature, and SDS surfactant. The change of temperature and pressure were collected as a function of elapsed time, which were used to calculate the gas consumption and hydrate saturation during hydrate formation (pVT method). Based on the experimental results and the analysis, it is concluded that: (1) Both initial pressure and temperature have effect on the hydrate formation and temperature plays a more important role in the process; (2) heating and secondary pressurization will promote the gas hydrate formation and enhance the hydrate saturation as a result. Meanwhile, the promotion of heating seems to be more obvious than that of secondary pressurization; (3) different concentrations of SDS surfactant have clearly influence on the saturation of gas hydrate and there is an optimal concentration to promote the hydrate formation.     

Direct measurement of formation and dissociation rate and storage capacity of dry water methane hydrates

Dry water (DW) has been recently demonstrated to be an effective medium for methane storage in a hydrated form. Here, a series of experiments have been carried out on dry water methane hydrates (DW-MH) to investigate their formation and dissociation rates, storage capacity and structural characteristics. The result shows that the storage capacity of MH increases at least 10% by using DW relative to using surfactants like sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution. Also, it is found that controls on pressure-temperature (P-T) condition have influences on the induction and reaction time of DW-MH formation, i. e. the induction and reaction time are much shorter when the reaction cell is cooled to ~ 3 °C first. On the basis of Raman spectra, the hydration number is calculated as 5.934 ± 0.06 at different positions of the DW-MH, which suggests that the sample is very homogeneous. The dissociation process of the DW-MH sample exhibits a rapid release of methane gas at the first stage of dissociation. Although hydrate dissociation is prevented by the effect of self preservation, most methane gas has released from the hydrate, however, before the self preservation occur.     

相变浆液中甲烷水合物的生成过程强化

利用相变材料（PCM）正十四烷的固液相变过程,吸收甲烷水合释放的热量,实现了直接换热强化水合过程的目的。正十四烷与水混合制成相变乳液（PCE）,经冷却后形成浆液。在半间歇水合器中,测定并计算了甲烷水合物在此浆液中的收率和生成速率。为了提高计算的准确性,设计了一套PVT装置,通过减压法实验测定了低温条件下甲烷在正十四烷中的溶解度。实验结果表明：低温条件下,甲烷在正十四烷中的溶解度与压力基本呈线性关系;相比于间接传热方式下的水合过程,相变浆液中甲烷水合物收率及生成速率得到了有效提升。     

Evidence of liquid water formation during methane hydrates dissociation below the ice point

Dissociation of small methane hydrate samples formed from water droplets of size 0.25-2.5 mm has been investigated below the ice melting point in the temperature range of 240-273 K, where the self-preservation effect is observed for bulk hydrates. The experiments included optical microscopy observations combined with P-T measurements of the dissociation conditions for the methane hydrates. For the first time, the formation of supercooled liquid water during the hydrate dissociation was reliably detected in the temperature range of 253-273 K. The formation of the liquid phase was visually observed. The induction time of the ice nucleation for the metastable liquid water depended from the dissociation temperature and a size of water droplets formed during the hydrate dissociation. It was found that in the temperature range of 253-273 K values of the dissociation pressure for the small hydrate samples fall on the extension of the water-hydrate-gas equilibrium curve into the metastable region where supercooled water exist. The average molar enthalpy of 51.7 kJ/mol for the dissociation of the small methane hydrate samples in the temperature range of 253-273 K was calculated using Clausius-Clapeyron equation. This value agrees with the enthalpy of dissociation of bulk methane hydrates into water and gas at temperatures above 273 K.     

Kinetics of formation of carbon dioxide clathrate hydrates

The new experimental apparatus capable of observing the clathrate hydrate formation kinetics was developed in this study. Experimental data on the kinetics of carbon dioxide hydrate formation were carefully measured. The experiments were carried out in a semi-batch stirred tank reactor with stirring rate of 500 rpm at three different temperatures between 275.2 and 279.2 K and at pressures ranging from 2.0 to 3.5 MPa. The kinetic model was adopted to predict the growth of hydrates with only one adjustable parameter which represented the rate constant for the hydrate particle growth. The model was based on the crystallization theory coupled with the two-film theory for gas absorption into the liquid phase. The model predictions matched the experimental data very well with the largest deviation of 7.18%, which is within experimental error range. This study is the first for the kinetic data of carbon dioxide hydrate formation and important in developing carbon dioxide fixation process using clathrate hydrate phenomenon.     

Syngas formation by direct oxidation of methane: Reaction mechanisms and new reactor concepts

The reaction mechanism of direct catalytic oxidation of methane to syngas over a platinum catalyst under high temperature, short contact time conditions was studied with a detailed reactor and reaction model. Based on a detailed analysis of this mechanism, new integrated reactor concepts were deduced. Two concepts were studied in detail: a fixed bed reactor with integrated recuperative heat exchange, and a catalytic membrane reactor with distributed reactant feed. The reactor concepts are presented, and advantages and problems of the concepts are discussed.     

Kinetics of internal steam reforming of methane on Ni/YSZ-based anodes for solid oxide fuel cells

The kinetics of steam reforming of methane was determined on a Ni-YSZ anode, which we refer to as anode ‘A’ and on a Ni-YSZ anode modified by the addition of a basic compound, which we refer to as anode ‘B’. A salient feature of our work is that the data were collected on 50 μm thick anodes screen-printed on 110 μm thick YSZ electrolytes and the experiments were carried out in a fuel cell configuration. Orders in methane and steam were both higher on the modified Ni-YSZ anode. Activation energy was also higher on this anode suggesting different nature of sites in the two anodes. In the present study we have attempted to generate kinetic data at steam/carbon ratios which are economically attractive for fuel cell operation.     

Experimental verification of anomalous chloride enrichment related to methane hydrate formation in deep‐sea sediments

Anomalous chloride concentration enrichment has been detected in marine sediments comprising methane hydrates (MHs). In this study, we designed an electric circuit system linked to the high‐pressure resistance cell in which the chloride ion concentration can be directly measured within reliable accuracy under in situ conditions of the deep‐sea floor pressure and temperature. Chloride concentration increased under a fast MH formation rate, but no noticeable concentration change was detected under a relatively low‐rate. Furthermore, we suggested that the MH formation rate must be maintained at least ～10² mol m^?2 yr^?1 so as to efficiently enrich chlorides and retain the acquired chlorinity. The present experimental system dose not fully reflect the relatively minor effective variables such as vertical advections in real system, but the results seem to be sufficient for revealing chloride enrichment phenomena induced by fast MH formation rate with free methane gas. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012     

Reaction mechanism of partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas over supported ni catalysts

A mechanistic study on the partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas (H₂ and CO) was conducted with supported nickel catalysts. To investigate the reaction mechanism, pulse experiments, O₂-TPD, and a comparison of the moles of reactants and products were carried out. From the O₂-TPD experiment, it was observed that the active catalyst in the synthesis gas production desorbed oxygen at a lower temperature. In the pulse experiment, the temperature of the top of the catalyst bed increased with the pulses, whereas the temperature of the bottom decreased. This suggests that there are two kinds of reactions, that is, the total oxidation of methane (exothermic) at the top and reforming reactions (endothermic) at the bottom. From the comparison of the moles of reactants and products, it was found that the moles of CO₂, CH₄ and H₂O decreased as the moles of H₂ and CO increased. The results support the mechanism that synthesis gas is produced through a two-step reaction mechanism: the total oxidation of methane to CO₂ and H₂O takes place first, followed by the reforming reaction of the produced CO₂ and H₂O with residual CH₄ to form synthesis gas. This paper is dedicated to Professor Hyun-Ku Rhee on the occasion of his retirement from Seoul National University.     

MDI生成聚异氰脲酸酯的等温反应速度动力学研究

在催化剂的存在下，使ＭＤＩ进行等温聚合，采用ＦＴＩＲ快速红外光谱技术跟踪２２７０ｃｍ＾－１处峰的变化，以此来研究ＭＤＩ生成聚异氰脲酸酯的等温反应动力学，以及温度、催化剂浓度等对反应速度的影响。     

粘度法研究RIM聚氨酯反应动力学

本文根据粘度法测定反应级断ｎ的理论依据，利用旋转粘度计在等温、无催化剂条件下研究ＲＩＭ聚氨酯的反应动力学，发现在异氰酸酯基／羟基（浓度比）等于１．５时，其反应级数为１．３５，这与份数时间法测定的结果相一致。     

压力对甲醇合成本征反应速率常数的影响

本文对不同压力下一氧化碳和二氧化碳同时加氢合成甲醇的复合反应本征动力学进行了实验研究。实验在压力3—7MPa,温度215—245 C的条件下进行,采用C301—1型铜基催化剂。本研究以已经获得的以逸度表示的L-H-H-W型复合反应本征动力学方程为基础,依据不同压力下的本征动力学测试数据的处理结果,考察了压力对反应速率常数的影响。实验结果表明:此复合反应动力学方程在实验压力范围内是适用的,反应速率常数与压力无关。