JP4313461B2 - Gas hydrate manufacturing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gas hydrate production apparatus and process, and more particularly, to a gas hydrate for industrially producing methane hydrate (or gas hydrate) from a gas mainly composed of methane such as natural gas and water. The present invention relates to a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, as a clean energy source and various constituent raw materials, a gas mainly composed of methane such as natural gas has been attracting attention, and research for making natural gas or the like a gas hydrate has been conducted for the purpose of storage or transportation. . Methane hydrate is composed of water and methane, and its production requires, for example, a high pressure of about 80 MPa or more at a temperature of 303 ° K. In addition, methane hydrate is a structurally unstable substance. For example, the water / methane ratio (hydration number) of methane hydrate is determined by the hydration number determined by the occupancy ratio of gas molecules to the structure at the molecular level ( Theoretically, methane molecule 1 has an apparent hydration number of 5.75) and a water / methane ratio including macro unbound water.
Conventionally, methane hydrate has been produced by reacting methane and water at high pressure and low temperature using a pressure vessel, but this method is only a laboratory method and is produced industrially continuously. The method to do was not known.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The subject of this invention is providing the apparatus and manufacturing method which can manufacture methane hydrate industrially continuously from the gas which has methane as a main component like water and natural gas.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the invention claimed in the present application is as follows.
(1) A cylindrical container having a cooling means, means for supplying water or antifreeze into the cylindrical container, a gas introduction pipe inserted into the central portion of the cylindrical container, and a central axis of the gas introduction pipe A rotating shaft inserted into the rotating shaft, a driving means for the rotating shaft, a propeller-type stirring blade provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft, and a lower end of the gas introduction pipe so as to surround the end of the stirring blade. An apparatus for producing gas hydrate, comprising: a gas dispersion section; means for introducing a gas mainly composed of methane into the gas introduction pipe; and means for discharging the methane hydrate generated in the cylindrical container to the outside. .
(2) The gas hydride according to (1), wherein the cylindrical container has a gas supply port mainly composed of methane, and an upper end of the gas introduction pipe is open to a space in the cylindrical container. Rate manufacturing equipment.
[0005]
(3) A cylindrical container having a cooling means, means for supplying water or antifreeze into the cylindrical container, a rotating shaft inserted in the center of the cylindrical container, and a center of the rotating shaft A gas introduction hole, a driving means for the rotating shaft, a stirring blade having a guide blade provided at a lower end of the rotating shaft, a means for introducing a gas mainly composed of methane into the gas introducing hole, An apparatus for producing gas hydrate, comprising means for discharging methane hydrate generated in the cylindrical container to the outside.
(4) The discharge means for the produced methane hydrate is a means for scraping the produced methane hydrate to the discharge port and a water or antifreeze discharge port provided on the side of the cylindrical container. (3) The apparatus for producing a gas hydrate according to any one of (3).
(5) Using the apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), the reaction temperature and pressure in the cylindrical container are 1 to 4 ° C. and 30 to 100 atm, and methane is a main component through the gas introduction pipe. Methane hydrate is synthesized by supplying the gas and rotating the stirring blade at a peripheral speed of 0.5 to 20 m / s and sucking and colliding water or antifreeze with the gas to the stirring blade. Gas hydrate manufacturing method.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of the methane hydrate manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a cylindrical container in the manufacturing apparatus of FIG.
[0007]
This apparatus includes a cylindrical container 1 having a cooling jacket 3, a line 5 for supplying water or antifreeze liquid into the cylindrical container 1, a gas introduction pipe 12 inserted in the center of the cylindrical container 1, A rotating shaft 13 inserted into the central axis of the gas introducing pipe 12, a driving means 10 for the rotating shaft, a propeller-type stirring blade 24 provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft 13, and a lower end of the gas introducing pipe 12 The gas dispersion unit 15 provided so as to surround the stirring blade 24, the line 8 for supplying a gas (natural gas) containing methane as a main component into the cylindrical container 1, and the gas generated in the cylindrical container The methane hydrate 9 is mainly composed of a discharge port 7 for discharging the methane hydrate 9 to the outside and a scraper 14 for scraping the methane hydrate generated in the discharge port 7. The gas introduction pipe 12 has an upper end opened to an empty space in the container, and a gas dispersion portion 15 provided at the lower end. As shown in FIG. 3, the gas dispersion unit 15 includes a pair of disks 15 </ b> A and 15 </ b> B whose peripheral portions are supported by a support rod 21, and a stirring blade 24 is disposed therebetween. The water or antifreeze sucked by the rotation of the stirring blade collides, and the mixed gas and liquid are dispersed as fine bubbles around the disk. In the figure, 2 and 6 are refrigerant supply and discharge lines to the cooling jacket, 4 is a water or antifreeze extraction line, 10 is a drive heater, 11 is a water or antifreeze supply line, and 16 is a liquid in a cylindrical container. A level meter for detecting the level, 17 is a discharge line for the generated methane hydrate, 18 is a cooler for methane hydrate, and 19 is a storage container for methane hydrate. In the figure, FR represents a flow controller, TR represents a temperature controller, and LR represents a level controller.
[0008]
The cylindrical container 1 consists of a pressure container, and the pressure and temperature in the container are maintained at the reaction temperature and pressure at which methane hydrate is generated. As these temperature and pressure, the range of 1 degreeC-4 degreeC and 30-100 atmospheres is preferable normally. The gas dispersion unit 15 may have any shape other than the one shown in FIG. 3 as long as it can uniformly mix and disperse the source gas and water or antifreeze. As the antifreeze, any antifreeze containing water such as an antifreeze such as ethylene glycol may be used. The water or antifreeze liquid reduced in the cylindrical container is replenished into the system from the replenishment line 5 and the liquid level at the discharge port 7 is maintained.
[0009]
In the above apparatus system, natural gas and water or antifreeze as raw material gas are supplied from the lines 8 and 5 into the cylindrical container 1 at a weight ratio of about 1: 6. In the cylindrical container 1, water or antifreeze is supplied in advance from the line 5 and is filled up to the level of the discharge port 7. When the rotating shaft 12 and the rotating blade 24 are rotated at a high speed with a peripheral speed of 0.5 to 20 m / s by the drive motor 10, the source gas is sucked downward through the gas introduction pipe 12 and is stirred at a high speed from the back of the stirring blade. It mixes in the water or antifreeze that is produced, becomes fine bubbles and comes into contact with the surrounding water or antifreeze to produce methane hydrate. The generated methane hydrate crystal 9 floats on water or antifreeze, is scraped by the scraper 14, and is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 7. The obtained water or antifreeze containing methane hydrate crystals is temporarily stored in the cooler 18 from the line 17, and after separating the methane hydrate crystal particles 19, the remaining water or antifreeze is passed through the line 22 to the original. It is returned to the cylindrical container. In this way, methane hydrate can be continuously produced in high yield.
[0010]
Next, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gas dispersion portion 15 of the gas hydrate manufacturing apparatus showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV. 1 and 2 is different from the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that a hollow shaft is used as the rotating shaft 13 instead of the gas introduction pipe 12, and the lower end of the hollow rotating shaft is used as shown in FIG. An umbrella-shaped upper lid portion 29 is formed by expanding the diameter, and the upper lid portion 29 and a lower lid portion 30 having a perforated portion 28 in the center are supported by a plurality of guide blades 26, and a stirring blade (or a centrifugal pump) is provided. It is formed.
[0011]
In such a configuration, when the rotary shaft 13 is rotated at a high speed of a peripheral speed of 0.5 to 20 m / s, the water is sucked from the perforated portion 28 of the lower lid portion 30, that is, the raw material at the same time as the antifreeze liquid is sucked. The gas is introduced from the gas inlet hole 27, sucked downward, mixed into the water or antifreeze liquid, becomes fine bubbles, contacts the surrounding water or antifreeze liquid, and generates methane hydrate. The generated methane hydrate 9 floats on the water or antifreeze as in the previous embodiment, is scraped by the scraper 14, and is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 7.
Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described.
[0012]
【Example】
Example 1
In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, water is supplied in advance from the line 11 to the apparatus (cylinder container capacity 15 liters) configured as shown in FIGS. did. Next, the natural gas supply line 8 is connected to a natural gas cylinder (not shown), the supply ratio of natural gas to water is set to 1: 6, and the gas is supplied from the lines 8 and 5 into the container. The rotating shaft 13 was rotated at high speed. The gas is supplied to the stirring blade through the gas introduction pipe 27 and collides with water or antifreeze liquid sucked from below, and at the same time, is dispersed to the surroundings, becomes fine bubbles and reacts with water to generate methane hydrate. Production conditions and results are shown below.
[0013]
Inner diameter of gas introduction hole 27: 5 mm
Upper lid and lower lid diameter: 50 mm
Number of guide blades: Temperature in 12 cylindrical container: 1-3 ° C
Pressure in cylindrical container: 40-60 kg / cm ²
Cooling jacket refrigerant: Ethylene glycol methane hydrate production rate: 3-7 kg / hour
As shown above, methane hydrate could be continuously produced in high yield.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, methane hydrate can be industrially produced by continuously reacting a gas mainly composed of methane with water or an antifreeze.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of a methane hydrate production apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of the cylindrical container of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a gas dispersion unit used in the apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a gas dispersion portion of a gas hydrate manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view in the arrow direction along the line VV in FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cylindrical container, 2 ... Refrigerant inlet line, 3 ... Cooling jacket, 4 ... Water or antifreeze extraction line, 5 ... Water or antifreeze supply line, 6 ... Refrigerant outlet line, 7 ... Methane hydrate discharge port, 8 ... Natural Gas supply line, 9 ... Methane hydrate, 10 ... Drive motor, 12 ... Rotating shaft, 13 ... Gas introduction hole, 14 ... Scraper, 15 ... Gas dispersion unit, 16 ... Liquid level meter, 18 ... Cooler , 19 ... methane hydrate, 24 ... stirring blade.

Claims (5)

A cylindrical container having cooling means; means for supplying water or antifreeze into the cylindrical container; a gas introduction pipe inserted into the central portion of the cylindrical container; and a central axis of the gas introduction pipe A rotating shaft, a driving means for the rotating shaft, a propeller-type stirring blade provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft, and a gas dispersion provided to surround the end of the stirring blade at the lower end of the gas introduction pipe A gas hydrate manufacturing apparatus comprising: a section; means for introducing a gas containing methane as a main component into the gas introduction pipe; and means for discharging the methane hydrate generated in the cylindrical container to the outside. The gas hydrate production according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical container has a gas supply port mainly composed of methane, and an upper end of the gas introduction pipe is open to a space in the cylindrical container. apparatus. Cylindrical container having cooling means, means for supplying water or antifreeze into the cylindrical container, a rotating shaft inserted in the center of the cylindrical container, and gas introduction provided at the center of the rotating shaft A hole, a driving means for the rotating shaft, a stirring blade having a guide vane provided at the lower end of the rotating shaft, a means for introducing a gas mainly composed of methane into the gas introducing hole, and the cylindrical shape An apparatus for producing gas hydrate, comprising means for discharging methane hydrate generated in a container to the outside. The discharge means for the generated methane hydrate is a water or antifreeze discharge port provided on a side portion of the cylindrical container, and means for scraping the generated methane hydrate to the discharge port. An apparatus for producing gas hydrate according to claim 1. Using the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the reaction temperature and pressure in the cylindrical container are set to 1 to 4 ° C and 30 to 100 atmospheres, and gas containing methane as a main component is supplied through the gas introduction pipe. Then, the stirring blade is rotated at a peripheral speed of 0.5 to 20 m / s, and water or antifreeze liquid and the gas are sucked into and collided with the stirring blade to synthesize methane hydrate. The manufacturing method.

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