Utilization of Nanoparticles to Improve the Kinetics of CH₄ Gas Hydrates in Gas Storage Applications

Abstract

Increasing energy demands have opened research channels into alternate areas to explore viable options for energy storage. This has led to investigations into the use of gas hydrate technology, specifically derived from methane gas, for diverse energy applications, such as gas storage and gas transportation. In this study, the kinetics of CH 4 hydrate formation in (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.2 wt %) CuO and Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles, graphene nanoplatelets, and ZnO microparticles in the presence of 0.05 wt % sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were measured experimentally. The experimental measurements were conducted in a 52 cm 3 equilibrium cell at a pressure of 4.66 MPa and a temperature of 275.8 K. The kinetic parameters under investigation included the induction time, storage capacity, water conversion, rate of gas uptake, and gas consumption. Results show that the inclusion of nanoparticles in the experiments decreased the induction time from 18.4 min with deionized water to 1.0 min with 0.1 wt % CuO + 0.05 wt % SDS while the induction period increased to 20.7 min with 1.2 wt % ZnO + 0.05 wt % SDS microparticles. A maximum storage capacity of 28.5 (v/v) was obtained using 0.1 wt % CuO + 0.05 wt % SDS. The highest gas uptake rate recorded was 8.9 × 10 −4 mol gasmol water −1 min −1 , achieved with the combination of 0.5 wt % CuO + 0.05 wt % SDS. Overall, the parameters investigated in this study indicated a significant enhancement in the rate of hydrate formation with the inclusion of nanoparticles.

Growth Kinetics and Porous Structure of Surfactant-Promoted Gas Hydrate

“…The water conversion rate dτ w /d t w dτ/d t is thus proportional to the meniscus velocity d l /d t normald τ w normald t = ν w l ν normalw normalh − ν normalw normall normald ( Δ l / l w 0 ) normald t τ w is proportional to the more familiar gas uptake normalized by the quantity (number of moles) of water initially present, τ g = τ w / N h . , τ w does not exceed 1, and the maximum normalized gas uptake is therefore 1/ N h .…”

“…This methodology, which provides information over a large range of molecular to macroscopic scales, is implemented with two prototypical surfactant promoters, SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and AOT (dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt or AerosolOcTyl). SDS is a benchmark promoter, to which other surfactant promoters are usually compared; ,, it is often used in combination with other additives, including thermodynamic promoters, , solid porous or nonporous particles, − or soil organic matter …”

Phase Transition Characteristics of Hydrate Formation Process in Microscale Pores

“…Gas hydrates, encompassing natural gas hydrates, carbon dioxide hydrates, and others, are prevalent in nature, holding significant importance across disciplines including energy, , chemistry, and geology . The formation of hydrates within microscale pores entails multifaceted phenomena, encompassing phase equilibrium, − reaction kinetics, , heat and mass transfer, , fluid dynamics, − and even mechanical interactions. , …”