Solid fraction modelling for CO2 and CO2–THF hydrate slurries used as secondary refrigerants

In the present paper, the suitability of hydrate slurries in secondary refrigeration was investigated by the means of a new hydrate solid-fraction model. Considering the high melting enthalpy of CO₂-containing hydrates, slurries presenting high hydrate solid fractions can carry sufficient latent heat to be useful for a two-phase secondary-refrigerant application. The model presented in this paper allowed to calculate the solid fraction of CO₂ and CO₂–THF hydrate from thermodynamic conditions of pressure and temperature. Contrary to a previous work on single CO₂ hydrates in a closed system, the present model can take into account hydrate mixture and is well adapted to additional CO₂ injections (opened system). By relying on the hydrate-conversion model results, the study of hydrates in suspension in a carrying liquid was also studied in an experimental loop and was based on a formation process by CO₂ injection in a cooled aqueous solution.