Laboratory Study of Tetrahydrofuran Hydrate Formation in the Presence of Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide as a Kinetic Inhibitor

Since the inhibition of gas hydrates is very important in gas transfer,  in this study the effect of temperature and material of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as an inhibitor on the formation of tetrahydrofuran hydrates has been investigated. First, tetrahydrofuran hydrates were investigated in 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 degrees Celsius and 15, 20, 25, 30% by weight of tetrahydrofuran at atmospheric pressure, while the induction time and pure hydrate equilibrium were determined. Then experiments were carried out in the presence of 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt.% of cetyl Teri methyl ammonium bromide as a hydrate inhibitor, and the effects of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide on the induction time as well as the kinetics of hydrate formation were studied. The results show that at a constant temperature over time,  the addition of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide increased to the induction time hydrate. more ever, in some concentrations of inhibitory substances, the inhibitory role has been lost and the induction time has decreased. By detecting the kinetic diagram of the hydrate formation, additionally, it was found that the heat released during the formation of the hydrate was reduced by the addition of the inhibitor and the nucleation time also increased.