Abstract
Formation process of hydrate was studied experimentally. Propane hydrate was formed in a pressure vessel, where ice plate was set and propane gas filled. In order to investigate growth shape of hydrate on the ice surface, formation process was observed especially under isobaric and isothermal conditions. In addition to these experiments, formation rate of hydrate was measured from the variation of shape of growing hydrate. As a result, it was found growth shape of hydrate on the ice surface became circle, and is hardly affected by the side wall of test section. Then, average formation rate depends primarily on pressure and temperature though local formation rate of hydrate may be affected by roughness of ice surface and crystal direction of ice.
