Experimental Study on Flow Interruption by Cyclopentane Hydrates-in-Water

Abstract

This work investigates the flow behaviour and plugging potential of cyclopentane hydrates within a dynamic flow loop system, focusing on the effects of different hydrate volume fractions. The primary objective was to identify specific hydrate concentrations that significantly affect the hydraulic characteristics of the system and potentially lead to plugging. A custom designed flow loop facilitated a series of experiments to measure pressure drop and identify critical blockage thresholds for hydrate volume fractions ranging from 9.5% to 50%. The study found that blockages typically begin to form at a volume fraction of 40%, with a critical flow rate of approximately 135-140 kg/h, suggesting a specific limit at which the risk of blockage increases significantly. Interestingly, further increases in hydrate concentration did not proportionally increase the severity of plugging, suggesting a potential saturation point in the system's ability to form plugging. The non-cohesive nature of cyclopentane hydrates also highlighted their potential as a less obstructive refrigerant, beneficial for applications such as on-board fish preservation in the fishing industry. The results provide valuable insights into the management of hydrate formation in industrial flow systems and highlight the importance of precise control of hydrate concentration to avoid operational disruptions. Future studies are recommended to further investigate the thermodynamic properties of cyclopentane hydrates, thereby enhancing their application potential in refrigeration and other industrial processes.