Phase stability conditions for clathrate hydrate formation in (fluorinated refrigerant + water + single and mixed electrolytes + cyclopentane) systems: Experimental measurements and thermodynamic modelling

Abstract

Phase equilibrium conditions (dissociation data) for clathrate hydrates (gas hydrates) were studied for systems involving fluorinated refrigerants + water + single and mixed electrolytes (NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2 and Na2SO4) at varying salt concentrations in the absence and presence of cyclopentane (CP). The ternary systems for (R410a or R507) + water + CP were performed in the temperature and pressures ranges of (279.8–294.4) K and (0.158–1.385) MPa, respectively. Measurements for {R410a + water + (NaCl or CaCl2) + CP} were undertaken at salt concentrations of (0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) mass fractions in the temperature and pressure ranges of (278.4–293.7) K and (0.214–1.179) MPa, respectively. The temperature and pressure conditions for the (R410a + water + Na2SO4) system were investigated at salt concentration of 0.10 mass fraction in range of (283.3–291.6) K and (0.483–1.373) MPa respectively. Measurements for {(R410a or R507) + water + mixed electrolytes NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2} were undertaken at various salt concentrations of (0.002–0.15) mass fractions in the temperature and pressure ranges of (274.5–292.9) K and (0.149–1.119) MPa in the absence and presence of CP, for which there are no published data related to mixed salt and a promoter. The phase equilibrium measurements were performed using a non-visual isochoric equilibrium cell and the pressure-search technique. This study was focused on obtaining equilibrium data that can be utilized to design and optimize for water desalination process and the development of a Hydrate Electrolyte–Cubic Plus Association (HE–CPA) Equation of State based model. The results indicate hydrate dissociation pressure reduction/hydrate dissociation temperature increase up to ambient conditions in the presence of promoter (CP). The experimental results were then modelled. The modelling results are in good agreement with the measured hydrate dissociation data.