Gas-hydrate storage of natural gas

Abstract

Gas hydrate storage of gases occurs in nature. Recent core data from USGS deep ocean drilling endeavors form the basis of their estimates of more carbon stored in gas hydrates of ocean sediments than exist in all discoveries of coal, natural gas, and crude oil. Realizing the value of natural gas as a clean-burning, economical, abundant and efficient energy source for peak loads at electrical power plants, but realizing the major impediment of storage means, DOE granted our laboratory a study to determine feasibility of safely storing above-ground natural gas in synthetic gas hydrates. The research suggested a process that provided rapid hydrate formation, complete conversion of interstitial water, and packing of hydrate mass as it formed; 156 volumes of gas at standard temperature and pressure stored in 1 volume of the ice-like hydrate was accomplished. Subsequently, as a semester project, a group of five senior chemical engineering students were asked to put the hydrate research findings into an innovative large-scale plant design for their capstone design course; they were to select, size and cost the equipment; they were to create process flow charts, perform mass/energy balances, and perform an economic analysis of the prospective storage facility for a power plant. Their efforts in the preliminary design predicted that a 2.25 million standard cubic feet storage facility could be economically competitive with conventional natural gas storage if multiple cycles per year were involved. Their in-depth analysis and first-hand laboratory experience proved to be a unique learning experience in energy storage problems.