Analysis of Influencing Factors in Pilot Experiment for Synthesis of Natural Gas Hydrate by Spray Method

Abstract

In recent years, the technology of storing and transporting natural gas in the form of hydrate has received a lot of attention. At present, the research on the synthesis of natural gas hydrate for the purpose of storage and transportation is still in the laboratory stage, and its synthesis process is in the design and conception stage. The influencing factors of natural gas hydrate synthesis under pilot-scale conditions are more complex. Moreover, pilot experiments are oriented to actual production, and its economic feasibility and operational convenience have higher requirements. This paper aimed to study the influencing factors of gas hydrate synthesis by spray method under pilot-scale conditions. Under specific conditions of surfactant and pressure, we carried out research on the effects of reaction temperature, different forms of atomizers, high-pressure pump flow, experimental water, and other factors. Experiments show that the optimal synthesis conditions were a temperature of −5 °C, a pressure of 5 MPa, a conical nozzle, a generated gas hydrate as the hydrate of type I structure, and a gas storage capacity of 1:123 (gas–water ratio).