Drag Reduction of Clathrate Hydrate Slurry

Abstract

In order to investigate the drag reduction methodology for clathrate hydrate slurries that can transport high-density heat, the pressure drop measurements of the slurries treated with surfactant additives have been performed. A cationic surfactant of bishydroxyethylmethylanmonium chloride was applied at the concentration of 2,000 ppm as a drag reducer for trimethylolethane (TME) clathrate hydrate slurry, From the results, the surfactant drag reduction is found effectively to reduce the friction drag of clathrate hydrate slurries up to the hydrate particle fraction of 11%. A feasibility study for air-conditioning system of a certain building reveals the hydrate slurries treated with surfactants drastically reduce the pumping power.