PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GAS HYDRATE

摘要

A process is provided which includes: bringing a natural gas, e.g., methane gas or propane gas, or a mixture of these gases into gas-liquid contact with raw-material water to form a gas hydrate; compression-molding the gas hydrate into pellets; and cooling/depressurizing the pellets. Also provided is an apparatus for use in the process. In the cooling/depressurizing step 4, molded gas hydrate masses h3 in a pressurized state are cooled and depressurized to a downstream-side pressure. In the cooling/depressurizing step 4, a receiving chamber 15 which accommodates the gas hydrate masses h3 obtained in the molding step 3 is provided, and the masses h3 are depressurized to the downstream-side pressure while passing through the receiving chamber 15. The masses h3 are introduced into and immersed in a liquid refrigerant r packed in the receiving chamber 15 so that the masses h3 are cooled by solid/liquid contacting with the liquid refrigerant r.