The effects of SDS, SLES and THF on the growth rate, kinetic behaviors and energy consumption during ethylene hydrate formation process

Abstract

In this study, the kinetics of hydrate formation in ethylene-water and ethylene-THF-water systems with or without SDS and SLES was investigated and analyzed. The effects of these surfactants were tested in the concentration range of 250–1000ppm. The experimental results indicated that SLES can be introduced as a new promoter of ethylene hydrate formation. The experiments with the surfactants also led to an interesting result in relation to unconventional behavior of the hydrate formation kinetics. The kinetic behavior of hydrate formation was also examined and analyzed in ethylene-THF-water system. The results demonstrated that THF plays a crucial role in the enclathration rate of the ethylene molecules in the large cages of the hydrate structure. In this regard, the concentrations of 1 and 2mol% THF, had the best performance to promote ethylene hydrate formation kinetics. Also, the energy consumption measurements showed that the use of SDS, SLES and THF (at the concentrations of 1 and 2mol%) can increase the potential of ethylene hydrate in some practical application fields, due to energy saving and the increase of hydrate formation rate.