Development of a Generalized, Automated, High Pressure Heat Flux Calorimeter and Its Application to Measure the Heats of Dissociation and Hydrate Numbers of Methane Hydrates

摘要

A generalized heat flux Calvet calorimeter to study the calorimetry of gas hydrates under free surface and porous media environment has been developed. The calorimeter features an aqueous phase electrical conductivity system to instantaneously register the amount of water participating in the hydrate formation process. Two high pressure proportioning provide a variable volume system to track the amount of the participating gas phase. The entire system is computer operated and controlled through an analog to digital converter and a microcomputer. The apparatus has been successfully applied to determine the heat of decomposition of methane hydrates at 5 and 10 degs C. Further calorimetric studies of various sort are projected for the future.