Rapid nucleation and growth of tetrafluoroethane hydrate enhanced by bubble and gas cycling

The application of hydrate technology is predominantly limited by the rapid nucleation and stable formation of hydrates, which could be promoted by the disturbance of bubbles. In this study, the effect of bubble generation and different bubble sizes on the nucleation and growth characteristics of R134a hydrates were investigated. The impact of three methods (depressurization-induced R134a vaporization, depressurization combined with stirring and gas cycling bubbling) of bubble effect and size on the nucleation, growth characteristics, and stability of R134a hydrate formation were explored. The research results indicate that utilizing only the depressurization method to induce R134a vaporization and bubble formation leads to a gas consumption rate of 19.6 mmol/min, which is 868 times higher than that in a pure water system. Furthermore, refining bubble size through stirring under depressurization conditions further augments the gas conversion rate by 8.6 %, and the optimal temperature for R134a hydrate formation is identified to be as low as 4 °C. Importantly, utilizing gas cycling as a means to generate bubbles enables uniform and rapid nucleation and growth of hydrates. Within a short 10 min, R134a hydrates was rapidly and stably formed, achieving a formation rate 35 times faster compared to the boiling-condensation method. In comparison to stirring-depressurization, the gas cycling method further increases the gas consumption rate by 10 %. The drawback of slow nucleation and growth rates in hydrates, as well as the need to enhance their stability, is addressed by the gas cycling method.