Kinetics of carbon dioxide and methane hydrate formation

Abstract

AbstractExperimental data on the kinetics of carbon dioxide hydrate formation and its solubility in distilled water are reported. The experiments were carried out in a semi‐batch stirred tank reactor at nominal temperatures of 274, 276 and 278 K and at pressure ranging from 1.59 to 2.79 MPa for the kinetics experiments and at pressure ranging from 0.89 to 2.09 MPa for the solubility experiments. A minor inconsistency in the kinetic model developed by Englezos et al. (1987a) was removed and the model was modified to determine the intrinsic kinetic rate constant for carbon dioxide hydrate formation. The same model was also used to re‐determine the intrinsic kinetic rate constant for methane hydrate formation. The model is based on the crystallization theory coupled with the two‐film theory for gas absorption in the liquid phase. The Henry's constant (H) and apparent dissolution rate constant (KLa) required in the model were determined using the experimental solubility data. The kinetic model describes the experimental data very well. The kinetic rate constant obtained for the carbon dioxide hydrate formation was found to be higher than that for methane.