Review on hydrate film growth kinetics

As hydrate formers are mostly water-insoluble, gas hydrate film firstly formed at the interface between water phase and hydrate former (guest) phase. Hydrate film is the main form in hydrate growth process, the state of the art in research of gas hydrate film growth is leading us to overall understanding of hydrate growth kinetics and development of technologies to promote or inhibit hydrate growth. This review provided an overview of the observations of hydrate film morphologies, experimental and modeling investigations to lateral and vertical growth of hydrate film. Firstly, we reviewed the morphological observations of hydrate formation at hydrate former/water interfaces occurring in different cases, such as gas/water interface, liquid guest/water interface, and gas-liquid guest-water system. Secondly, the experimental and modeling investigations to lateral growth and vertical growth of hydrate film were summarized, respectively. The experimental measurements of hydrate film growth rate and thickness were also reviewed. The mechanisms of heat transfer and mass transfer in modeling hydrate film growth were concluded. Finally, suggestions for further developments on the studies of hydrate film growth kinetics were presented.