Comparative study on the effects of hollow silica and activated carbon on methane hydrate formation and dissociation

Abstract

Both hollow silica activated carbon are attractive porous media because of their high specific area. High porosity, and high adsorption gas capacity The methane hydrate formation and dissociation were compared between the system with hollow silica and activated carbon The formation experiment was conducted in the quiescent condition and closed system at 8 MPa and 4℃. The dissociation experiment was conducted after the formation was completed at 6.5 MPa with the driving force of 21 ℃ Results showed that the temperature profiles and rate of methane hydrate formation between activated carbon and hollow silica systems are different The hydrate formation at 6 MPa gave lower conversion than that at 8 MPa in the system with activated carbon. But the different of experimental pressure not effect to the conversion in hollow silica system The methane gas recovery in the system with hollow silica is higher than the activated carbon system. Therefore, hollow silica is an effective porous media for methane hydrate formation at lower pressure and also methane recovery than the activated carbon system It may be concluded that the type and characteristics of porous media played a significant role on the methane hydrate formation and dissociation.