METHOD FOR PRODUCING HIGH-PURITY GAS HYDRATE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new method for the continuous production of a hydrate, capable of performing sufficient stirring/mixing operations of a gas hydrate raw material, constantly forming a hydrate on the interface of bubbles or on the surface of water droplets and ice particles, and separating and removing the formed hydrate. SOLUTION: A hydrate-forming liquid is supplied from the top of a column and a hydrate-forming gas is supplied from the bottom of the column in the form of air bubbles or liquid bubbles under a condition to keep the temperature and pressure capable of forming the hydrate. The descending flow speed of the hydrate-forming liquid is made to be slower than the ascending speed of the gas bubbles or liquid bubbles of the hydrate-forming gas and both flows are brought into contact with each other in a counter-current state to form a hydrate. The formed hydrate is a hydrate particle having a small particle diameter to form a descending hydrate, and the hydrate is successively lowered and discharged taking advantage of the differences of the flow speeds and densities of the hydrate-forming liquid and the hydrate-forming gas. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT