Energy and Environmental Analysis of Membrane-Based CH 4 -CO 2 Replacement Processes in Natural Gas Hydrates

Beatrice Castellani, Alberto Maria Gambelli, Andrea Nicolini and Federico Rossi
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Beatrice Castellani: CIRIAF, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Alberto Maria Gambelli: CIRIAF, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Andrea Nicolini: CIRIAF, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Federico Rossi: CIRIAF, University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: Natural gas hydrates are the largest reservoir of natural gas worldwide. This paper proposes and analyzes the CH 4 -CO 2 replacement in the hydrate phase and pure methane collection through the use of membrane-based separation. The investigation uses a 1 L lab reactor, in which the CH 4 hydrates are formed in a quartz sand matrix partially saturated with water. CH 4 is subsequently dissociated with a CO 2 stream supplied within the sediment inside the reactor. An energy and environmental analysis was carried out to prove the sustainability of the process. Results show that the process energy consumption constitutes 4.75% of the energy stored in the recovered methane. The carbon footprint of the CH 4 -CO 2 exchange process is calculated as a balance of the CO 2 produced in the process and the CO 2 stored in system. Results provide an estimated negative value, equal to 0.004 moles sequestrated, thus proving the environmental benefit of the exchange process.

Keywords: methane hydrate; CO 2 replacement; hydrate formation; natural gas hydrate; membrane separation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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