Comparative Effectiveness of Ethylene Glycol and Silica Nanoparticles in Hydrate Formation for Storage/Transportation of Methane

Methane hydrate in nanofluid systems has garnered significant attention due to its potential applications in energy storage, natural gas transportation, and CO2 sequestration. This study explores the behavior of methane hydrate in the presence of nanofluids─colloidal suspensions of nanoparticles in liquids. The primary focus is on understanding how the addition of various nanoparticles influences the formation and dissociation of methane hydrate. Nanoparticles have been observed to alter the nucleation process, accelerate the growth of hydrate crystals, and potentially enhance the stability of methane hydrates under subzero conditions. Nanofluids (20–90 nm) were first prepared by the sol–gel method. Ethylene glycol was used for hydrate formation and its kinetics was compared with that of pure water hydrate formation. This work examined a range of nanofluid solutions with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt % SiO2 nanoparticles. The results indicate that 1.0 wt % nanofluid-based methane hydrate system exhibited improved heat-transfer characteristics, potentially making them more efficient for practical applications like methane storage and transport. Additionally, the interaction between the nanofluid and the hydrate structure can modify the thermodynamic properties of the system, which may offer pathways for optimizing methane storage. With 1 wt % of nanofluids, the storage capacity and quantity of methane uptake increased by 275% compared to water. Investigation of the hydrate growth rate at the start of the hydrate formation process showed that nanoparticles and their mixture increased the induction time, consumption rate, and storage capacity considerably. This research contributes to the understanding of complex interactions between methane hydrates and nanofluids, paving the way for future innovations in energy and environmental technologies. Thus, nanofluids of 1.0 wt % (optimal) concentration from a single-step method increased the CH4 hydrate formation kinetics, thermodynamics, and storage potential.