Leak response gelling of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Final report Jan-Oct 81
Techniques for thixotropic gelling of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in response to leak or rupture in an LNG container were examined, and the hazard-reducing potential of the technique was demonstrated by limiting mobility and reducing evaporation and burning rate. Of 30 candidate gelants for liquefied methane evaluated, gels of highest yield stress and lowest evaporation rate were obtained with carbon blacks and pyrogenic silica, and means were investigated for reducing the volume requirements of these low bulk-density materials; these included the addition of a surfactant, gelant concentration in a liquid carrier at least partially soluble in methane, and pelletization. All of these techniques showed promise, and pelletization of the low-density gelants reduced required gelant volume to 11 percent of the undensified volume. High-shear mixing of the densified gelants as well as of high-density gelants such as bentonite clay into a methane homolog at room temperature improved the speed of gelation. Other dispersion techniques were investigated. It is recommended that future research optimize gelling and dispersion techniques for industry use and develop hardware designs for long-term gelant storage and rapid introduction in the event of spillage.
- Research Organization:
- Energy and Minerals Research Co., Exton, PA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6782376
- Report Number(s):
- PB-83-126011
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Study of gelled LNG
Study of gelled LNG. Final technical report
Related Subjects
LEAKS
CONTAINMENT
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
CARBON BLACK
CONTAINERS
EVAPORATION
FORECASTING
GAS SPILLS
GELATION
GELS
METHANE
ALKANES
CARBON
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUEFIED GASES
NATURAL GAS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
032000* - Natural Gas- Transport
Handling
& Storage