Clathrates for Gas Storage

Abstract

This invention relates to a gas hydrate (often referred to as a clathrate) comprising a water-in-gas emulsion (egdry-water (DW)) and an enclathrated exogenous gas such as for example methane, natural gas, hydrogen or carbon dioxide.

1 . A gas hydrate comprising:
 a water-in-gas emulsion of water droplets or particles stabilised by a network of hydrophobic particles; and   an exogenous gas enclathrated in the water-in-gas emulsion.   
     
     
         2 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the water-in-gas emulsion is dry water. 
     
     
         3 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the water-in-gas emulsion is a water-in-air emulsion. 
     
     
         4 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the water-in-gas emulsion comprises 5 wt % or less of hydrophobic particles. 
     
     
         5 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic particles are hydrophobic fumed silica particles. 
     
     
         6 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exogenous gas is hydrogen, carbon dioxide or a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         7 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exogenous gas is selected from the group consisting of methane, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, a hydrocarbon and natural gas. 
     
     
         8 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exogenous gas is CH 4 , CO 2 , O 2 , H 2 , N 2 , H 2 S, Ar, Kr, Xe, He, Ne or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exogenous gas is CH 4 . 
     
     
         10 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exogenous gas is CO 2 . 
     
     
         11 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the exogenous gas is H 2 . 
     
     
         12 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the average diameter of the droplets is less than about 100 μm. 
     
     
         13 . A gas hydrate as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the size of the hydrophobic particles is less than 500 nm. 
     
     
         14 . Enclathrating at least one exogenous gas using at least one water-in-gas emulsion. 
     
     
         15 . A process for preparing a gas hydrate the process comprising:
 exposing a water-in-gas emulsion to an exogenous gas in a contained environment at a temperature less than ambient temperature and pressure greater than ambient pressure.