Continuous Formation Process of CO2 Gas Hydrate via a Vortex and Impinging Stream Reactor

Abstract

A continuous formation process of CO2 hydrate was investigated in a vortex and impinging stream reactor (VIR) of 1.76 L with the temperatures ranging from 274.46 to 275.86 K and the pressures ranging from 1.79 to 3.163 MPa. In the VIR, a high-gravity field can be generated, where both centrifugal and impinging forces can intensify the mass transfer in reactants. There are two distinct steps in the process. The first step is the unstable hydrate formation process. The next one is called the stable formation process, which presents the rapid and continuous formation of the CO2 gas hydrate. It is found that the formation rate of CO2 hydrate is up to 249.8 mol/h when the Higee factor β is 390.28.