Controlled Production of Natural Gas Hydrates in an Experimental Device with an Internal Circulation Circuit

For countries with limited access to conventional hydrocarbon gases, methane hydrates have emerged as a potential energy source. In view of the European Union's requirements to reduce the energy intensity of technological processes and increase energy security, it appears promising to accumulate natural gas and biomethane in the form of hydrate structures and release them if necessary. Storing gas in this form in an energy-efficient manner creates interest in developing and innovating technologies in this area. Hydrates that form in gas pipelines are generated by a more or less random process and are an undesirable phenomenon in gas transportation. In our case, the process implemented in the proposed experimental device is a controlled process, which can generate hydrates in orders of magnitude shorter times compared to the classical methods of generating natural gas hydrates in autoclaves by saturating water only. The recirculation of gas-saturated water has been shown to be the most significant factor in reducing the energy consumption of natural gas hydrate generation. Not only is the energy intensity of generation reduced, but also its generation time. In this paper, a circuit diagram for an experimental device for natural gas hydrate generation is shown with complete description, principle of operation, and measurement methodology. The natural gas hydrate formation process is analyzed using a mathematical model that correlates well with the measured hydrate formation times. Hydrates may become a current challenge in the future and, once verified, may find applications in various fields of technology or industry.