ガスハイドレートを利用した天然ガス輸送・貯蔵技術の研究動向(<特集>水素および天然ガスの貯蔵技術の現状)

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Gas hydrates, which are clathrate compounds, have a crystal structure made up of polyhedra, which are cages formed by water molecules. Natural gas molecules are encapsulated within these cages. The crystal structure of gas hydrates accommodates an extremely high gas content, for example, more than 170×10^<-3> Nm^3/kg for methane gas contained in methane hydrate. Recently, the properties of gas hydrates have attracted keen interest for the development of natural gas transport and storage technology. Technology for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) has attained a high degree of maturity, but requires high initial costs because of the refrigeration necessary for liquefying and storing the natural gas at cryogenic temperatures down to 110 K. For this reason, LNG transport is generally used in only large-scale operations. The initial costs of transporting and storing natural gas as gas hydrate are estimated to be lower than those associated with LNG. Accordingly, natural gas hydrate (NGH) transport and storage is expected be used in small- and medium-scale operations. NGH is stored and transported under normal pressure at temperatures below the melting point of ice (i.e., about 250 K). Although NGH is thermodynamically unstable under such conditions, its dissociation is obstructed by an ice layer or film formed at the dissociating surface of NGH. This phenomenon of gas hydrates is called the self-preservation effect, and is expected to maintain the NGH even under thermodynamically unstable conditions below the melting point of ice. This report presents an overview of the recent research and development of NGH transport and storage as well as fundamental studies on the self-preservation effect of gas hydrates.
2012-06-20

ガスハイドレートを利用した天然ガス輸送・貯蔵技術の研究動向(<特集>水素および天然ガスの貯蔵技術の現状)

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