Kinetic effect of single MgCl₂ and NaCl aqueous solutions on ethane hydrate formation

Experimental data on the kinetics of C₂H₆ hydrate formation in the presence of pure water and two aqueous single solutions, MgCl₂ and NaCl, are presented in this study. The measurements of experimental hydrate formation process were performed in a high pressure reactor at 276.15 K, at initial pressure range of 2.0-2.4 MPa, and solution concentration range of 2.34-10 wt%. The effect of solution concentration and initial pressure on the induction time, gas consumption, conversion, and storage capacity and growth rate was examined. It was observed that with the increase of the solution concentration, the induction time increased, while the storage capacity and the number of moles of C₂H₆ consumed decreased. A diffusion-reaction kinetics model was employed to predict the hydrate growth rate at the beginning of hydrate formation. The results showed that the addition of MgCl₂ and NaCl decreased the apparent rate constant, and MgCl₂ had a greater effect than NaCl in inhibiting the hydrate growth. (author)