Synthesis of Carbon Dioxide Hydrates in a Slurry Bubble Column

Abstract

Carbon dioxide hydrates were synthesized in a 0.10m I.D. and 1.22m tall bubble column equipped with a cooling jacket for heat removal. Visual observations at different driving forces (pressures between 2.75 and 3.60 MPa and temperatures between 0 and 8ºC) were recorded with a digital camera through a sight glass of 118.8 by 15.6 mm. The superficial gas velocity was varied from 20 to 50 mm/s to attain different levels of turbulence in the liquid. The growth rate was found to be dependent on the sequence/method used to reach the operating temperature and pressure. A greater supersaturation was obtained when the system temperature and pressure were reached with very low or no bubble-induced mixing. As a result, hydrates nucleated and grew immediately when starting the gas flow with the reactor volume being quickly filled with hydrates. Moreover, the hydrate growth rate and solution final density were higher when operating conditions partially condensed CO2 resulting in greater interphase mass transfer rates. In parallel, since hydrate formation is an exothermic process and the reaction is often limited by the rate of heat removal, heat transfer measurements were achieved in a simulated hydrate environment. The instantaneous heat transfer coefficient and related statistics gave insight on the role of bubbles on heat transfer and hydrodynamics.