Patent ID: 7781627
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: B01J,C10L

Abstract:
1. A system for forming gas hydrates, the system comprising: a first valve adapted to be coupled to a first fluid source containing a hydrate-forming fluid containing hydrate guest molecules; a second valve adapted to be coupled to a second fluid source containing a reaction fluid containing aqueous surfactant solutions; a reactor coupled to the first valve, an interior of the reactor comprising a hydrate-forming region and a hydrate-transfer region, wherein the interior of the reactor is in fluid communication with the first valve; an injector coupled to the second valve and located within the hydrate-forming region of the interior of the reactor; a storage chamber; a conduit coupled between the reactor and the storage chamber, wherein an interior of the conduit is in fluid communication with the hydrate-transfer region of the interior of the reactor; and a moveable surface within the interior of the conduit, wherein the hydrate-forming and hydrate-transfer regions of the interior of the reactor are adapted to retain an organic-phase liquid solution, the reactor is adapted to dissolve the hydrate-forming fluid within the organic-phase liquid solution, the injector is adapted to inject the reaction fluid containing aqueous surfactant solutions into the organic-phase liquid solution having the hydrate-forming fluid dissolved therein, and the movable surface is adapted to transfer gas hydrate particles formed according to a reaction of the hydrate-forming fluid and reaction fluid within the liquid solution from the hydrate-transfer region to the storage chamber wherein the conduit is inclined upwards relative to a lower portion of the reactor.