Aixian Liu

Bio: Aixian Liu is an academic researcher from China University of Petroleum. The author has contributed to research in topics: Hydrate & Clathrate hydrate. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 32 publications receiving 403 citations.

Experimental Study on the Separation of CH4 and N2 via Hydrate Formation in TBAB Solution

Abstract: In order to reduce the emission of coal bed methane mixed with air (can be regarded as a CH4 and N2 mixture), which will be helpful to adequately utilize the natural resources and protect environment, the separation of CH4 and N2 via hydrate formation in tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB) solution was systematically studied in this work. The CH4−N2 hydrate formation conditions were determined in TBAB solution first, and then the separation experiments were carried out in TBAB and TBAB−sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution, respectively. The experimental results show that CH4 and N2 form a hydrate much easier after adding TBAB to water. The composition of CH4 in the hydrate after single-stage equilibrium separation in TBAB solution can be increased from 46.25 mol % to 67.86 mol %. At the same conditions, the composition of CH4 after separation in TBAB−SDS solution is 68.66 mol % and the reaction time shortens greatly. Besides, the recovery of CH4 is more than 47%, and the gas storage capacity of hydrate ...

Experimental and Modeling Study on Phase Equilibria of Semiclathrate Hydrates of Tetra-n-butyl Ammonium Bromide + CH4, CO2, N2, or Gas Mixtures

Abstract: Tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) is most-widely used as a hydrate promoter in the separation of flue gases and CO2 sequestration. Because of the complicacy of semiclathrate hydrate formed by TBAB aqueous solution and gases, few researchers have investigated the thermodynamic modeling of phase equilibria of semiclathrate hydrates. In this work, the CH4–N2 hydrate dissociation conditions were determined in TBAB solution first, and then a thermodynamic model for gas hydrate proposed by Chen and Guo was extended for semiclathrate hydrates of gas mixtures in TBAB aqueous solution. The Patel-Teja equation of state (PT EoS) was used for calculation of the fugacity of the gas phase. To evaluate the activity of water and activity coefficients of TBAB in TBAB aqueous solution, a correlation on the basis of existing osmotic coefficient and activity coefficient values is employed. For modeling the hydrate phase, parameters for sII hydrates proposed in the Chen–Guo hydrate model were used to calculate the fugacit...

Experiment on the Separation of Air-Mixed Coal Bed Methane in THF Solution by Hydrate Formation

Abstract: Because of the technology limitation and safety requirement, a large amount of air-mixed coal bed methane is released directly to the atmosphere. It leads to severe waste of resources and exacerbates the greenhouse effect. This work tries to alleviate this problem by separating CH4 from a mixture of CH4 and N2 via hydrate separation method. Several experiments were systematically carried out in 6 mol % tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution to separate CH4/N2 gas mixtures containing 4.90 to 71.23 mol % CH4. The results that THF can significantly reduce the formation pressure of CH4–N2 hydrate materialize the possibility of separating CH4 and N2 using hydrate separation technology in industrial scale. CH4 can be separated effectively from CH4/N2 mixture and concentrated in hydrate phase with the presence of THF. The recovery of CH4 ranges from 34.06% to 58.16% and the separation factor is between 2.29 and 5.17. A two-stage separation process of 46.28 mol % CH4/53.72 mol % N2 with recycle is designed to increase th...

The status of natural gas hydrate research in China: A review

Abstract: Over the past century, fossil fuels have provided the majority of China's energy. However, their extensive utilization leads to a shortage and environmental pollution. Recently, submarine and permafrost gas hydrate deposits have been investigated as a possible clean and sustainable energy source by governmental institutions, research organizations, and energy industries in China. The primary objective of this paper is to review the potential studies pertaining to gas hydrate exploration and resource assessment, the safe and efficient exploitation of gas hydrates and the basic properties of gas hydrates. To date, there are over 20 institutions and organizations in China committed to gas hydrate investigation, among which the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey (GMGS) and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS) etc. primarily focus on gas hydrate exploration research, while the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Research Center, Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion (GIEC) and China University of Petroleum-Beijing (CUPB) etc. concentrate on gas hydrate mining technologies. In this paper, the occurrence and exploration of gas hydrates in both permafrost regions and the continental slope of China have been determined from numerous research contributions and are presented. Moreover, the latest progress in gas hydrate fundamental studies, including hydrate phase equilibria, hydrate formation mechanisms, hydrate thermal physical properties and the acoustics and resistivity characteristics of gas hydrates are briefly reviewed, and relevant data are gathered and compared. Emphasis is also placed on gas hydrate mining technologies and gas production using depressurization methods, thermal stimulation methods or other methods. Furthermore, the security of natural gas hydrate-bearing sediments during gas production and the environmental impacts of gas hydrate are identified. With additional financial and political support and advanced research facilities, research on gas hydrates in China is progressing rapidly but is still in its early developing stage, thus, future work should be undertaken with greater diligence.

Research progress of hydrate-based CO2 separation and capture from gas mixtures

Abstract: Hydrate-based CO2 separation and capture from gas mixtures containing CO2 has gained growing attention as a new technology for gas separation, and it is of significance for reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Previous studies of the technology include the thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrate formation/dissociation, hydrate formation additives, analytical methods, separation and capture progress, equipment and applications. Presently, the technology is still in the experimental research stages, and there are few reports of industrial application. This review examines research progress in the hydrate formation process and analytical methods with a special focus on laboratory studies, including the knowledge developed in analog computation, laboratory experiments, and industrial simulation. By comparing the various studies, we propose original comments and suggestions on further developing hydrate-based CO2 separation and capture technology.

Gas Hydrate Inhibition: A Review of the Role of Ionic Liquids

Abstract: Ionic liquids (ILs) are popular designer green chemicals with great potential for use in diverse energy-related applications. Apart from the well-known low vapor pressure, the physical properties of ILs, such as hydrogen-bond-forming capacity, physical state, shape, and size, can be fine-tuned for specific applications. Natural gas hydrates are easily formed in gas pipelines and pose potential problems to the oil and natural gas industry, particularly during deep-sea exploration and production. This review summarizes the recent advances in IL research as dual-function gas hydrate inhibitors. Almost all of the available thermodynamic and kinetic inhibition data in the presence of ILs have been systematically reviewed to evaluate the efficiency of ILs in gas hydrate inhibition, compared to other conventional thermodynamic and kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors. The principles of natural gas hydrate formation, types of gas hydrates and their inhibitors, apparatuses and methods used, reported experimental data, a...