Evaluation on the natural gas hydrate formation process

Abstract

Abstract Gas hydrates have endowed with great potential in gas storage, and rapid formation of gas hydrates is critical to use this novel technology. This work evaluated the natural gas hydrate formation process, which was compared from six parameters, including conversion of water to hydrate, storage capacity, the rate of hydrate formation, space velocity (SV) of hydrate reaction, energy consumption and hydrate removal. The literature was selected by analyzing and comparing these six parameters mentioned above, meanwhile placing emphasis on the three parameters of storage capacity, the rate of hydrate formation and space velocity of hydrate reaction. Through analysis and comparison, four conclusions could be obtained as follows. Firstly, the overall performance of the stirring process and the spraying process were better than other processes after analyzing the six parameters. Secondly, the additive types, the reactor structure and the reactor size had influence on the natural gas hydrate formation process. Thirdly, the energy consumption via reciprocating impact in the hydrate formation process was higher than that via stirring, spraying and static higee. Finally, it was one key for hydrate removal to realize the hydrate industrial production.