Effect of weak consolidation process of liquid bridge on interparticle mechanical behavior of clathrate hydrate

Clarifying the mechanism that results in the mechanical behavior differences of hydrate particles in different states is of great significance for understanding the agglomeration mechanism of hydrate particles and the mechanical behavior characteristics of the liquid bridge between particles in a pipeline environment dominated by oil or gas. In this study, the typical liquid bridge morphology and the consolidation characteristics of hydrate particles during the contact-pull process between hydrate particles and water droplets were observed using an improved micro-force testing device, as well as a force sensor with a higher sampling frequency and the electric displacement stage with a smaller step. It was found that the consolidation state of the liquid bridge changes in a complex manner in the gas-phase environment, and there is a special weak consolidation state: when the hydrate shell on the surface of the liquid bridge is pulled off, a new hydrate shell will form on the surface of the unconverted water at the fracture until the liquid bridge is stretched to several times the particle diameter length and breaks. Based on the hydrate shell formation theory and the existing model of hydrate interparticle mechanics, a possible liquid-bridge weak consolidation model was developed to explain this state to elucidate the mechanism that causes the difference in the mechanical behavior of the liquid bridge for hydrate particles in different states.