Methane combustion in hydrate systems: Water-methane and water-methane-isopropanol

Kinetics of dissociation of synthetic and natural methane gas hydrates, and also double isopropanol-methane hydrate is investigated. Thermal fields of the sample surfaces are measured by means of thermal imaging in combustion of released methane with clathrate dissociation. The dissociation rates of natural hydrate and double hydrate with isopropanol are many times lower than those of synthetic methane hydrate. Methane combustion is accompanied by formation of a thin water film on the powder surface, which has a strong effect on the heat and mass transfer mechanisms. The experiments demonstrated partial self-preservation for methane hydrate and the absence of self-preservation for double isopropanol-methane hydrate. The experimentally observed dissociation rate of double isopropanol-methane hydrate is considerably lower than that of methane hydrate.     

Monitoring hydrate formation and dissociation in sandstone and bulk with magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been shown to be a very effective tool for monitoring the formation and dissociation of hydrates because of the large intensity contrast between the images of the liquid components and the solid hydrate. Tetrahydrofuran/water hydrate was used because the two liquid components are miscible and form hydrate at ambient pressure. These properties made this feasibility study proceed much faster than using methane/water, which requires high pressure to form the hydrate. The formation and dissociation was monitored first in a THF/water-saturated Berea sandstone plug and second in the bulk. In both cases it appeared that nucleation was needed to begin the formation process, i.e., the presence of surfaces in the sandstone and shaking of the bulk solution. Dissociation appeared to be dominated by the rate of thermal energy transfer. The dissociation temperature of hydrate formed in the sandstone plug was not significantly different from the dissociation temperature in bulk.     

用分子动力学模拟甲烷水合物热激法分解

用分子动力学模拟方法研究甲烷水合物热激法分解，系统地研究注入340 K液态水的结构Ⅰ型甲烷水合物的分解机理.模拟显示水合物表层水分子与高温液态水分子接触获得热能，分子运动激烈，摆脱水分子间的氢键束缚，笼状结构被破坏.甲烷分子获得热能从笼中挣脱，向外体系扩散.热能通过分子碰撞从外层传递给内层水分子，水合物逐层分解.对比注入277K液态水体系模拟结果，得出热激法促进水合物分解. 关键词： 甲烷水合物 分子动力学模拟 热激法     

MRI measurements of CO2 hydrate dissociation rate in a porous medium

After obtaining experimental data of CO₂ hydrate formation and dissociation in a porous medium using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the purpose of this study was to analyze the different dissociation rate of CO₂ hydrate using two heating rates. Images were obtained by using a fast spin-echo sequence, and the field of view was set to 40×40×40 mm. The vessel pressure was monitored during hydrate formation and dissociation, which was used to compare with MRI mean intensity. The result indicated that the MRI could visualize hydrate formation and dissociation, and the MRI mean intensity of water was in good agreement with the vessel pressure changes. The hydrate formation and dissociation rates were also quantified using the MRI mean intensity of water. The experimental results showed that the higher heating rate caused the rapid hydrate dissociation.     

甲烷水合物形成促进技术实验研究

实验研究了液态烃(环戊烷和甲基环己烷)对甲烷水合物形成条件的影响,测试结果表明液态烃降低了甲烷水合物的形成压力,并改变了形成水合物的结构。实验研究了促进剂(液态烃和表面活性剂)对水合物形成诱导时间和生长过程的影响,结果表明液态烃和表面活性剂降低了水合物形成的诱导时间,提高了水合物形成速度;而且表面活性剂提高了水合物形成过程中的耗气量,并改变了水合物形成机理。     

显微激光拉曼光谱原位观测甲烷水合物生成与分解的微观过程

采用显微激光拉曼光谱技术对高压透明毛细管中甲烷水合物的生成与分解的微观过程进行了原位观测,初步探讨了甲烷水合物笼型结构的变化规律.结果表明,甲烷水合物在生成过程中,甲烷分子的拉曼峰(2 917 cm-1)逐渐分裂为两个峰(2 905和2 915 cm-1),表明溶解态甲烷分子从单一的化学环境进入了两个有差异的化学环境中...     

In situ observations by magnetic resonance imaging for formation and dissociation of tetrahydrofuran hydrate in porous media

Tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrate has long been used as a substitute for methane hydrate in laboratory studies. This article investigated the formation and dissociation characteristics of THF hydrate in porous media simulated by various-sized quartz glass beads. The formation and dissociation processes of THF hydrate are observed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. The hydrate saturation during the formation is obtained based on the MRI data. The experimental result suggests that the third surface has an effect on hydrate formation. THF hydrate crystals lean to form on the glass beads and in their adjacent area as well as from the wall of the sample container firstly. Furthermore, as the pore size diminishes, or as the formation temperature decreases, the nucleation gets easier and the formation processes faster. However, the dissociation rate is mostly dependent on the dissociation temperature rather than on the pore size.     

Numerical Investigation into the Development Performance of Gas Hydrate by Depressurization Based on Heat Transfer and Entropy Generation Analyses

The purpose of this study is to analyze the dynamic properties of gas hydrate development from a large hydrate simulator through numerical simulation. A mathematical model of heat transfer and entropy production of methane hydrate dissociation by depressurization has been established, and the change behaviors of various heat flows and entropy generations have been evaluated. Simulation results show that most of the heat supplied from outside is assimilated by methane hydrate. The energy loss caused by the fluid production is insignificant in comparison to the heat assimilation of the hydrate reservoir. The entropy generation of gas hydrate can be considered as the entropy flow from the ambient environment to the hydrate particles, and it is favorable from the perspective of efficient hydrate exploitation. On the contrary, the undesirable entropy generations of water, gas and quartz sand are induced by the irreversible heat conduction and thermal convection under notable temperature gradient in the deposit. Although lower production pressure will lead to larger entropy production of the whole system, the irreversible energy loss is always extremely limited when compared with the amount of thermal energy utilized by methane hydrate. The production pressure should be set as low as possible for the purpose of enhancing exploitation efficiency, as the entropy production rate is not sensitive to the energy recovery rate under depressurization.     

Experimental investigation of flame spreading over pure methane hydrate in a laminar boundary layer

Flame spreading over pure methane hydrate in a laminar boundary layer is investigated experimentally. The free stream velocity (U_∞) was set constant at 0.4 m/s and the surface temperature of the hydrate at the ignition (T_s) was varied between ?10 and ?80 °C. Hydrate particle sizes were smaller than 0.5 mm. Two types of flame spreading were observed; “low speed flame spreading” and “high speed flame spreading”. The low speed flame spreading was observed at low temperature conditions (T_s = ?80 to ?60 °C) and temperatures in which anomalous self-preservation took place (T_s = ?30 to ?10 °C). In this case, the heat transfer from the leading flame edge to the hydrate surface plays a key role for flame spreading. The high speed flame spreading was observed when T_s = ?50 and ?40 °C. At these temperatures, the dissociation of hydrate took place and the methane gas was released from the hydrate to form a thin mixed layer of methane and air with a high concentration gradient over the hydrate. The leading flame edge spread in this premixed gas at a spread speed much higher than laminar burning velocity, mainly due to the effect of burnt gas expansion.     

甲烷水合物拉曼光谱法研究进展

介绍了甲烷在气相、水合相中的拉曼光谱特征,从水合物生成热力学、生成动力学、分解动力学和分解机理几方面对甲烷水合物实验室拉曼光谱分析和深海拉曼光谱检测的最新进展进行了综述。生成热力学方面重点介绍了基于拉曼光谱技术的水合物生成条件的原位观测、水合物结构的鉴定及水合物孔穴占有率和水合数的求算,生成动力学方面主要介绍了水合物生成过程中孔穴形成随时间的变化关系及水合物形成后流体中甲烷浓度的变化规律等内容。水合物分解方面着重介绍了水合物分解的微观机理、孔穴占有率的变化规律及多孔介质中水合物分解速率表达式。针对目前拉曼光谱法研究水合物存在的问题,对未来的发展方向和重点提出了建议。     

用分子动力学模拟甲烷水合物热激法结合化学试剂法分解

用分子动力学模拟方法研究甲烷水合物的热激法，化学试剂法，以及热激法结合化学试剂法分解，系统研究温度为277K和340K时添加液态水(WTR)和30wt％乙二醇(EG)溶液对水合物分解的影响.模拟显示WTR与水合物表面水分子形成氢键，破坏水合物原有的氢键平衡，造成笼状结构坍塌，水合物分解.EG分子中的羟基与水合物表面水分子形成氢键，从而破坏原有的稳定结构，造成水合物笼状结构被破坏，达到促进水合物分解，释放甲烷气体的效果.比较温度为277K和340K时添加WTR和30wt％EG溶液对水合物分解效果得出EG(340K)> WTR(340K)>EG(277K)>WTR(277K)，热激法结合化学试剂法能更好促进水合物分解.     

NMR研究甲烷水合物在中孔SBA-15内的生成

利用自行研制的高压釜和原位高压核磁共振研究了甲烷水合物在具有孔径均一的中孔SBA-15中的形成过程. 结果发现在静止的状态下,甲烷在中孔SBA-15内与水也能生成甲烷水合物,但其形成所需要的诱导时间比在纯水的条件下要短,SBA-15可促进甲烷水合物的形成;原位高压¹H和¹³C NMR研究表明即使甲烷过量,在一定压力下,SBA-15孔道内的水也不能完全形成甲烷水合物.     

Molecular dynamics study on the dissociation of methane hydrate via inorganic salts

Hydrate plugging is a hidden threat to the safe exploitation of oil and gas. Inorganic salts are widely used as thermodynamic inhibitors to effectively prevent the hydrate formation. This study uses a molecular dynamics method to explore the mechanism of the hydrate dissociation via inorganic salts on the micro-scale. We simulated the dissociating process of methane hydrate under different concentration series of NaCl, KCl and CaCl₂ solutions at 273 K, and analysed the changes of ionic structure, transport parameters and kinetic energy in the system of inorganic salt/hydrate. The simulation results successfully revealed the step-by-step dissociation of hydrate, and the differences in dissociation rates among the different inhibitors. The energy needed for hydrate dissociation alters for different inorganic solutions; the energy reaches maximum when KCl is the inhibitor, and lowest when the concentration of CaCl₂ exceeds 30% w/w. We calculated the coordination numbers of all components, including oxygen atoms, cations and anions, and also their diffusion coefficients; analysed the effects of the three inorganic salts on the simulated hydrate structure and its transport; in addition, investigated the mechanism of hydrate dissociation via inorganic salts.     

CH4水合物在SDS和CTAB溶液中的生成特性研究

为探究不同促进剂在甲烷水合物生成过程的微观作用机理,选取动力学促进剂十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)和热力学促进剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)作为添加剂,采用分子动力学方法研究其对甲烷水合物生成速率的影响.通过分析势能变化、均方位移、径向分布函数、分子簇生长速率,发现质量分数为0.9%SDS、1.2%SDS、1.2%CTAB、1.6%CTAB的溶液均可促进水合物生成.质量分数为1.2%的SDS溶液水合物生长速率最快,且SDS促进效果优于CTAB.通过分析甲烷分子密度分布云图,发现呈阴性的SDS分子头部基团吸附了大量甲烷分子,水分子受挤压向中间聚集;CTAB含氮的头部基团朝向均相溶液,包含在不稳定的水合物笼中,形成半笼型水合物.相比之下,CTAB溶液中水合物含气率更高.     

Modeling the properties of methane + ethane (Propane) binary hydrates,depending on the composition of gas phase state in equilibrium with hydrate

The properties of methane + ethane and methane + propane hydrates of cubic structures sI and sII are theoretically investigated. It is shown that the composition of the formed binary hydrate strongly depends on the percentage of a heavier guest in gas phase. For instance, for a 1% molar ethane concentration in gas phase, even at a low pressure, ethane occupies 60% large cavities in the hydrate sII, and as the pressure grows to 100 atm, it occupies 80% large cavities at a low temperature. The tendency remains the same at a temperature of higher than the ice melting point, but the methane concentration in the hydrate decreases to 30%. In the structure sI, the influence of the component composition of the gas mixture on that of the formed hydrate is less evident. However, in this case, calculation showed also that for a 1% molar ethane concentration in gas phase, ethane molecules occupy from 8 to 10% large hydrate cavities, depending on the pressure. This work is concerned with modeling phase transitions between cubic structures sI and sII of methane + ethane binary hydrates in view of incomplete occupation of cavities in the hydrate by guest molecules. For an ethane concentration under 2% in the gas mixture, the structure sII becomes more thermodynamically stable than the structure sI. However, as the ethane concentration grows to 20% in the equilibrium ice-gas-hydrate and to 40% in the equilibrium water-gas-hydrate, the structure sI becomes more thermodynamically stable. Hence, for low ethane concentrations in a gas mixture, the structure sI can be formed only as a metastable phase. Phase equilibria of methane hydrate sI and mixed methane + propane hydrate sII are considered, depending on the gas phase composition. Similar results are obtained for this equilibrium; this can evidence simultaneous formation of hydrates sI and sII at low propane concentrations.     

Formation and dissociation of gas hydrate inclusions during migration in water

The paper studies the process of floating a gas hydrate particle in liquid. The typical depths when gas bubble floating is accompanied by gas hydrate formation (or with zero gain of hydrate) were calculated. The low depths were identified when floating occurs with hydrate dissociation. The model assumes that the gas hydrate formation is limited by heat transfer from interface to the surrounding liquid. The model for gas hydrate dissociation assumes the rate governed by thermal conductivity of hydrate particle and by convective heat transfer to surrounding water. The temperature of the gas hydrate surface equals the phase transition temperature at the given water pressure. Comparative analysis of thermal conductivity and convective heat transfer effects on hydrate dissociation rate was performed for different initial radius of the particle.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of decomposition and thermal conductivity of methane hydrate in porous media

The hydrate has characteristics of low thermal conductivity and temperature sensitivity. To further analysis the mechanism of thermal conductivity and provide method for the exploitation, transportation and utilization of hydrate, the effect of decomposition and thermal conductivity of methane hydrate in porous media has been studied by using the molecular dynamics simulation. In this study, the simulation is carried out under the condition of temperature 253.15 K-273.15 K and pressure 1 MPa. The results show that the thermal conductivity of methane hydrate increases with the increase of temperature and has a faster growth near freezing. With the addition of porous media, the thermal conductivity of the methane hydrate improves significantly. The methane hydrate-porous media system also has the characteristics of vitreous body.With the decrease of the pore size of the porous media, thermal conductivity of the system increases gradually at the same temperature. It can be ascertained that the porous media of different pore sizes have strengthened the role of the thermal conductivity of hydrates.     

Using magnetic resonance imaging to monitor CH4 hydrate formation and spontaneous conversion of CH4 hydrate to CO2 hydrate in porous media

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to monitor and quantify methane hydrate formation and exchange in porous media. Conversion of methane hydrate to carbon dioxide hydrate, when exposed to liquid carbon dioxide at 8.27 MPa and ∼4°C, was experimentally demonstrated with MRI data and verified by mass balance calculations of consumed volumes of gases and liquids. No detectable dissociation of the hydrate was measured during the exchange process.     

碳化铝与水反应合成甲烷水合物的实验研究

 利用自行设计的高压气水合物实验装置,通过碳化铝与水反应成功合成了甲烷水合物。实验结果表明,碳化铝与水反应合成甲烷水合物的方法有效地解决了传统甲烷水合物模拟实验中甲烷气体引入问题;同时,碳化铝与水反应产生的甲烷及沉淀物能较好地模拟海洋环境中水合物形成的自然条件,为实验模拟甲烷水合物研究提供了一种新方法。利用此方法,对甲烷水合物合成与分解温度、压力条件及动力学过程进行了初步研究。     

天然流体包裹体中甲烷水合物生成条件原位变温拉曼光谱研究

准确获取流体包裹体中气体水合物的生成条件一直是传统包裹体分析方法面临的一个难题。文章采用原位拉曼光谱技术分析了天然流体包裹体中甲烷水合物的生成条件。并由常温拉曼光谱分析表明,研究流体包裹体的流体组成为CH4-H2O体系。通过三种方法控制实验温度的变化,在第三种方法实验条件下获得了-170 ℃时甲烷水合物与冰的拉曼光谱,逐渐升温原位观测甲烷水合物的消失温度。原位拉曼光谱检测结果表明,研究包裹体中甲烷水合物的生成温度为7.5 ℃。结合CH4-H2O体系水合物形成条件相平衡计算,得到包裹体中甲烷水合物生成时的压力为5.587 3 MPa。研究结果表明,原位拉曼光谱技术是准确获取流体包裹体种气体水合物生成条件的一种有效方法。