ISSN Online: 2377-424X
ISBN Print: 0-85295-345-3
International Heat Transfer Conference 10
The Effect of Hydrate Formation on Heat Transfer
Abstract
Experiments are performed in order to study
the effect of hydrate formation on the heat
transfer in pipes. The hydrate formation
in the horizontal flow of the gaseous refrigerant
R134a and water is examined in a
15mm diameter cylindrical transparent test
section of a pipe at low pressure.
The experiments conducted have shown that the formation of hydrates starts at the pipe wall. The whole perimeter of the pipe wall is covered by hydrates and a hydrate layer is achieved. The thickness of the hydrate layer can be related to the measured heat transfer resistances and the measured pressure losses. The thickness of the hydrate layer can be calculated analytically, if a first order logarithmic function of the radial coordinate is assumed for the temperature field within the hydrate layer.
The experiments conducted have shown that the formation of hydrates starts at the pipe wall. The whole perimeter of the pipe wall is covered by hydrates and a hydrate layer is achieved. The thickness of the hydrate layer can be related to the measured heat transfer resistances and the measured pressure losses. The thickness of the hydrate layer can be calculated analytically, if a first order logarithmic function of the radial coordinate is assumed for the temperature field within the hydrate layer.