Growth Charateristics of Methane-Propane Clathrate Hydrate

메탄-프로판 하이드레이트의 성장 특성에 관한 연구

Growth characteristics of methane-propane clathrate hydrate, growing under different undercooling conditions, was investigated. After the water within pressurized vessel was fully saturated with guest gas molecules by agitation, medium was rapidly undercooled and maintained at the constant temperature. The growth of hydrate was always Initiated with film formations at the upper bounding surface of liquid pool. The visual observation using microscope revealed detailed features of subsequent crystal nucleation, migration, growth and interference occurring within liquid pool. A number of small crystals ascended and settled at the hydrate film. When undercooling was small $({\Delta}T=3.2K)$, some of the settled crystals slowly grew into faceted columns. As the undercooling increased, the downward growth of crystals underneath the hydrate film became dendritic and occurred with greater rate and with finer arm spacing. The shapes of the floating crystals were diverse and included octahedron and triangular or hexagonal platelet When the undercooling was small, the octahedral crystals were found dominant. As the undercooling increased, the shape of the floating crystals also became dendritic. The detailed characteristics of floating crystals were reported in this study.