A hydrocarbon-forming gas compression method comprising: a hydrate formation step in which water and hydrate-forming gas are mixed at a first pressure and a first temperature, resulting in the formation of hydrate; a decomposition step in which the hydrate is warmed, and the hydrate is decomposed to re-generate hydrate-forming gas at a second pressure higher than the first pressure.

This invention relates to a process for the production of hydrogen from a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam comprising: A stage for the production of a synthesis gas in a unit for the steam-reforming of the hydrocarbon feedstock, A stage for shift conversion with steam of the synthesis gas that is obtained in the preceding stage producing a hydrogen stream that contains methane and carbon dioxide, A stage for recovering carbon dioxide and methane, present in the stream that is obtained in the shift conversion stage, in the form of hydrates that produce a stream of pure hydrogen, A stage for regeneration of methane, A stage for recycling methane to steam reforming.

A process for managing hydrates and hydrocarbon-based solids in a hydrocarbon stream. The process includes: introducing the hydrocarbon stream into an inlet of a system comprising at least a first cold flow reactor and a second cold flow reactor, each cold flow reactor comprising a heat exchanger and at least one static mixer; directing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the first cold flow reactor; cooling the portion of the hydrocarbon stream directed to the first cold flow reactor to a temperature less than the hydrate formation temperature, the temperature effective to substantially complete hydrate formation upon exiting the system to form a hydrate and hydrocarbon-based solids managed hydrocarbon stream; directing a lesser portion of the hydrocarbon stream to the second cold flow reactor; and remediating the second cold flow reactor by removing hydrate or hydrocarbon-based solids formed on internal surfaces of the second cold flow reactor. A remediable system for managing hydrates and hydrocarbon-based solids in a hydrocarbon stream is also described.

This disclosure relates generally to the use of gas clathrates. More particularly, this disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatuses related to the use of gas clathrates as a fuel source for automobiles. The gas clathrates may first be dissociated into at least one gas and the at least one gas delivered to the prime mover of a vehicle or the gas clathrates may be directly utilized by the prime mover as a fuel source.

The present invention provides a method for preparing gas hydrates by reacting a plurality of guest gases with water, wherein a first guest gas has a higher water solubility than that of a second guest gas, and the pressure of the gas hydrate formation condition of the second guest gas is lower than the pressure of the gas hydrate formation condition of the first guest gas. While the traditional gas hydrate production method, wherein a single guest gas is reacted with water, is unsatisfactory in terms of cost effectiveness and productivity, the present invention provides improved production yield of gas hydrates and enables an easy production of gas hydrates at lower pressure.

A method for inhibiting the plugging of a conduit containing a flowable mixture comprising at least an amount of hydrocarbons capable of forming hydrates in the presence of water and an amount of water, which method comprises adding to the mixture an amount of a functionalized dendrimer effective to inhibit formation and/or accumulation of hydrates in the mixture at conduit temperatures and pressures; and flowing the mixture containing the functionalized dendrimer and any hydrates through the conduit wherein the functionalized dendrimer comprises two or more functional end groups selected from the group consisting of non-cyclic tertiary amine functional end groups, quaternary ammonium functional end groups, polyalkylene glycol functional end groups, quaternary ammonium zwitterionic end groups and phosphate or sulfate end groups.

A method for storing and transporting a hydrate with high natural gas storage capacity is provided. The method adopts a mode of generating the hydrate at a low temperature and storing the hydrate at a high temperature, and specifically includes: in a mode that a hydrate reaction tank is used as a transportation tank at the same time, introducing a mixed hydrate reaction liquid into the hydrate reaction tank matched with a transportation vehicle; introducing natural gas; enabling a hydrate generation reaction at a temperature of 273.65-283.15 K; in case of equilibrium of the reaction, heating to a temperature of less than or equal to 298.15 K for storage for long-distance transportation. By adopting the present method, the hydrate with high natural gas storage capacity can be synthesized within a relatively short period of time, and the hydrate can be safely, economically and efficiently transported to a destination.

A production and transportation system for natural gas hydrates includes a gas storage reservoir, a plurality of hydrate storage and transportation tanks, a refrigerator, a pressure regulating valve, a liquid storage tank, a living quarter/surrounding user, a hydrate storage reservoir, a plurality of connecting pipes, a plurality of one-way gas valves, one-way liquid valves, and optional liquid pumps. The plurality of hydrate storage and transportation tanks are connected in parallel through the connecting pipes and then connected with an output end of the gas storage reservoir through the pressure regulating valve, the liquid storage tank is connected with the optional liquid pump and then sequentially connected with the plurality of hydrate storage and transportation tanks, and the plurality of hydrate storage and transportation tanks are connected in parallel and then connected with an input end of the living quarter/surrounding user through the optional liquid pump.

A method for regulating and controlling a generated crystal form of a natural gas hydrate is provided. A mixture composed of a salt substance, a surfactant, a water-soluble thermodynamic additive and water is introduced in a generation process of the natural gas hydrate. The salt substance and the surfactant also have a synergistic effect with a water-soluble thermodynamic accelerator. The addition of the salt substance and the surfactant can change a local solubility of the water-soluble thermodynamic additive in water, so that the regulating and controlling process of the hydrate crystal can be realized, thereby improving a hydrate gas storage capacity and solving the problem of low natural gas storage capacity in the generated natural gas hydrate in a water-soluble thermodynamic additive system.

A method of inhibiting hydrates in a fluid comprising water and gas comprising adding to the fluid an effective hydrate-inhibiting amount of a composition comprising one or more copolymers of N-alkyl (alkyl)acrylamide monomers and one or more cationic monomers selected from acid and alkyl chloride quaternary salts of N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylates and N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl (meth)acrylamides.