Investigation of THF hydrate formation kinetics: Experimental measurements of volume changes

The present study is based on the investigation of hydrate formation and growth of THF through an online and direct method. In fact, the volume rise associated with hydrate formation has been used for kinetics studies. This procedure which is called volumetric method is more precise than the conventional method based on temperature variation. Monitoring the hydrate nucleation using the deviation of volume can be carried out more rapidly, compared to doing so using the temperature variation, especially in the initial hydrate nucleation point. Furthermore, the mole of formed hydrate can be easily estimated by this method. According to this approach, the effect of MCM-41 nanoparticles with a mass/volume fraction of 0.004%, 0.016%, 0.04% and 0.2% on ambient pressure has been studied applying THF hydrate former. The results of temperature and volume variation indicated that the growth of hydrate was enhanced by an increase in the concentration of nanofluid to the specific concentration. Moreover, it was approved that, the volumetric method is more appropriate to identify the kinetics of hydrate nucleation and growth in the presence of additives. •The formation of THF hydrate is investigated introducing an online method.•This technique is more appropriate to identify hydrate nucleation.•The capability of proposed method is evaluated in presence of MCM-41 nanoparticles.•The volumetric method is compared with temperature variation in hydrate formation.