Open AccessNoncontact monitoring of thin hydrate layers with microwave cavity resonator
Author(s) -
Wang Bin,
Li Xiaoxiao,
Xing Lanchang,
Gao Muzhi,
Wang Meng,
Wang Huimin,
Wang Guoqing,
Ge Xinmin,
Wei Zhoutuo
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
energy science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.638
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 2050-0505
DOI - 10.1002/ese3.1279
Subject(s) - hydrate , clathrate hydrate , materials science , resonator , microwave , microwave cavity , dielectric , thin layers , layer (electronics) , tetrahydrofuran , thin film , mineralogy , analytical chemistry (journal) , composite material , nanotechnology , chemistry , optoelectronics , chromatography , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , solvent
In oil/gas production and transportation systems, the formation of gas hydrates needs to be properly managed as they can potentially lead to plugging. Monitoring the thin hydrate layers during the initial formation stage is thus significantly critical for preventing such a risk. Noncontact monitoring of the thin hydrate layer with an open‐ended microwave cavity resonator is presented in this study. The measuring mechanism of the proposed method was studied with numerical simulation, and the measurement ranges with two typical modes TM010/TM021s were experimentally investigated. The resonance frequency of the TM010 mode is applicable for measuring the thickness of hydrates within 20 mm, while the TM021 mode is only suitable for 8 mm. Then, formation/dissociation experiments of thin hydrate layers were conducted by using tetrahydrofuran to form the hydrate. Both simulation and experimental results showed that the resonant frequency can provide a sensitive response to the dielectric properties and layer thickness. Then the relationship between the resonant frequency and the fractions of solution/hydrate in the mixed layers was determined, and it was further optimized according to the simulation and experimental results. In addition, hydrate layer melting experiments were conducted with different layer thicknesses, and the volumetric fraction of the hydrate can be calculated with fixed layer thickness, thus the phase change during the hydrate melting process was precisely monitored with a time step of 1 min.