MEASUREMENT OF INDUCTION TIMES FOR THE FORMATION OF METHANE AND ETHANE GAS HYDRATES

Experimental data on hydrate formation kinetics, including induction times for methane, ethane and a mixture of the two gases, are presented. The data were measured using a stirred batch reactor recording the pressure as a function of time at constant temperature. The data indicate that the induction time is strongly dependent on the stirring rate and the driving force. Experiments conducted at the same stirring rate and with a high driving force seem to show that the induction time varies exponentially with the size of the driving force. At lower driving force other parameters apparently also play an important role in determining the duration of the induction period. Some qualitative theories concerning which other parameters might influence the nucleation time are proposed and discussed.