The delay of gas hydrate formation by kinetic inhibitors

The formation of gas hydrates is crucial to many technological applications including energy production, storage, desalination, and CO2 capture. Kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHI) chemicals have been used industrially for over 25 years suppress in key industrial applications. However the mechanisms by which they operate, specifically whether delay nucleation or just retard growth, remain open questions. Here induction time probability distributions methane were measured at several constant subcoolings as a function KHI concentration. This allowed growth rates each condition be separately quantified through observed times initial consumption rates, respectively. Adding produces Gamma-distribution times, characterized two parameters: rate average number events associated with detection. qualitatively different exponential probabilities systems without any KHI. These data reveal how KHIs both increase work required form critical nuclei effective sites where could occur. By showing unambiguously low subcoolings, this opens systematic pathways developing improved either inhibition promotion. approach testing demonstrated here may also help natural producers assess costs benefits competing designs management.