Sarshar - Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Shiraz University, Zand Street, Shiraz, Iran
Esmaeilzadeh - Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Shiraz University, Zand Street, Shiraz, Iran
Fathikalajahi - Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Shiraz University, Zand Street, Shiraz, Iran

Propane hydrates can form during storage and transportation of the liquefied petroleum gases. Propane is considered by the researchers because; it is one of the major components of liquefied petroleum gas. The present paper has considered the hydrate formation in the presence of water in a laboratory flow loop. In this study, rate of propane consumption which represent the hydrate formation rate and loop pressure drop are measured for operating temperature and pressure of 3-5 °C and 1 MPa, respectively. The long induction time in propane hydrate formation reaction is observed in this study. It is concluded that the risk of hydrate formation in propane or LPG lines is reduced when the residence time is less than the induction time. Also, the retarding effect of the temperature rise on the hydrate formation rate is examined.

Kinetics; Gas hydrate; Gas pipeline; Flow loop; Propane hydrate