Energy & Fuels, Vol.18, No.5, 1451-1456, 2004
Continuous formation of CO2 hydrate via a kenics-type static mixer
Formation of CO2 hydrate using a Kenics-type static mixer was studied experimentally. The flows of liquid CO2 and water were mixed in the static mixer, and CO2 hydrate was formed continuously from the two-phase flow. The patterns of hydrate formation were found to be dependent on the flow velocities of liquid CO2 and water. The flow of agglomerated hydrate chunks in water occurred under relatively CO2-rich conditions, while dispersed flow of tiny particles of CO2 hydrate with small liquid CO2 drops was observed under relatively water-rich conditions. These effects could be explained by two mechanisms occurring in the static mixer, namely, continuous shedding of hydrate films from the interface between liquid CO2 and water induced by the shearing force and breakup of the CO2 drops. The energy consumption by the static mixer for the hydrate formation process was estimated, and it was significantly less than that for a stirring vessel type reactor. A continuous hydrate formation process could be achieved using the static mixer.