New Study on Biotechnology - Biofuel Reveals Efficient Storage and Transportation of Lean Natural Gas

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the National University of Singapore have discovered a new method for efficient storage and transportation of lean natural gas or biogas using hydrate-based technology. The study, published in the journal Energy & Fuels, demonstrates that adding carbon dioxide to a methane-tetrahydrofuran system can facilitate hydrate formation at ambient temperature, reducing the energy cost required for low-temperature operations.

The research team, led by Asheesh Kumar, studied the hydrate formation of a ternary methane-carbon dioxide-tetrahydrofuran (CH4-CO2-THF) system using an in situ high-pressure micro-differential scanning calorimeter (HP mu-DSC). The team found that the addition of 24% CO2 to the CH4-THF system had a minimal impact on the thermodynamic stability of mixed CH4-THF (sII) hydrates, enabling hydrate formation at ambient temperature.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study reveals that hydrate-based technology could be a potential option for efficient storage and transportation of lean natural gas or biogas, which contains a significant portion of carbon dioxide.
  • The addition of 24% CO2 to the CH4-THF system has a minimal impact on the thermodynamic stability of mixed CH4-THF (sII) hydrates.
  • The research demonstrates that the hydrate-phase equilibrium conditions of the CH4-CO2-THF system can be determined through dissociation thermograms (hydrate dissociation temperature) for pressures ranging from 3.13 to 6.75 MPa.
  • The study shows that the energy cost required for low-temperature operations can be reduced due to the low-temperature operations required for the storage and transport of CO2 lean natural gas/biogas hydrates.
  • The research team, comprised of Asheesh Kumar, Chester Su Hem Yeo, Praveen Linga, and Sanat Kumar, was funded by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, National University of Singapore, Department of Science & Technology (India), Science Engineering Research Board (SERB), India, and National University of Singapore.

Statistics:

  • The study was conducted with a simulated lean natural gas or biogas of 24% CO2 and 76% CH4 composition.
  • The hydrate-phase equilibrium conditions of the CH4-CO2-THF system were determined through dissociation thermograms (hydrate dissociation temperature) for pressures ranging from 3.13 to 6.75 MPa.
  • The research demonstrates that the hydrate-forming temperature of the CH4-CO2-THF system can be reduced by 10-15°C compared to the CH4-THF system.

Sources:

  • Calorimetric Assessment of Ternary Methane-carbon Dioxide-tetrahydrofuran (Ch4-co2-thf) Hydrates: Application In Storage and Transport of Co2 Lean Natural Gas. Energy & Fuels, 2021;35(16):13249-13255.
  • Energy & Fuels can be contacted at: Amer Chemical Soc, 1155 16TH St, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA.