Experimental investigation of double gas hydrate formation in the presence of modified starch as a kinetic inhibitor in a flow mini‐loop apparatus

The main objective of the present work is experimental investigation of double gas hydrate formation with or without presence of modified starch as kinetic inhibitors in a flow mini‐loop apparatus. To this object, a laboratory flow mini‐loop apparatus was set up to measure the induction time for hydrate formation and the rate uptake when a gaseous mixture (such as 75% C1–25% C3, 25% C1–75% C3, 75% C1–25% i‐C4 and 25% C1–75% i‐C4) is contacted with water containing or not containing dissolved inhibitor under suitable temperature and pressure conditions. In each experiment, water blend saturated with gas mixture is circulated up to a required pressure. Pressure is maintained at a constant value during experimental runs by means of required gas mixture make‐up. The effect of pressure on gas consumption during hydrate formation is investigated with or without presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone and modified starch as kinetic inhibitors at various concentrations. Our results were shown that the modified starch can be applied as inhibitors in prevention of double gas hydrate formation in mini‐loop apparatus. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering