Intensification and kinetics of methane hydrate formation under heat removal by phase change of <i>n</i>‐tetradecane

Abstract

A method of direct heat removal resulting from the phase change of n‐tetradecane was used to intensify the heat transfer during hydrate formation. The growth rates of methane hydrate in aqueous slurries containing 25–45 wt % of solid n‐tetradecane were investigated at pressures between 4.70 and 6.46 MPa (gauge) and near the fusion point of solid n‐tetradecane. Methane hydrate growth started at a practically constant rate, which became variable after a sudden increase. Two rate laws were established to correlate with the experimental data for the constant and variable rate stages. The methane hydrate growth rates achieved with solid n‐tetradecane were significantly enhanced compared with those obtained under indirect heat removal. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 61: 3441–3450, 2015