Effects of Different Surfactants on the Kinetics of Ethane‐Hydrate Formation: Experimental and Modeling Studies

Abstract

Abstract An experimental study of the ethane‐hydrate‐formation kinetics has been performed. First, the effects of stirring velocity and initial pressure on the hydrate‐formation rate were investigated. Second, the effects of additives on the ethane‐hydrate‐formation rate were also studied. Three surfactants, namely sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB), and TritonX‐100 (TX‐100) were tested. The results show that DTAB not only does not significantly promote the hydrate‐formation rate at different concentrations, but actually inhibits the ethane‐hydrate‐formation rate, whereas SDBS does increase the hydrate‐formation rate. Furthermore, TX‐100 increases the ethane‐hydrate‐formation rate, but to a lesser degree than SDBS.