Experimental correlation for the formation rate of CO₂ hydrate with THF (tetrahydrofuran) for cooling application

The CO₂ hydrate formation experiments with THF (tetrahydrofuran) are performed in a stirred semi-bath reactor. The experimental data on CO₂ hydrate formation are obtained at constant pressure and temperature with the low driving force conditions. The experimental temperature is above 279 K, which is high enough to prevent the formation of only THF hydrate. The Gibbs free energy difference by the pressure variation is chosen as the driving force. The experimental results confirm that the THF drastically reduces the required CO₂ hydrate formation pressure. A two-parameter kinetic model based on the Chen-Guo model is developed to predict the CO₂ hydrate formation rate and to correlate the experimental data. It is found that the experimental correlation based on the present estimation model fits well with the experimental results and can predict the CO₂ hydrate formation rate satisfyingly for cooling application.