Clathrate hydrate with latent heat storing capability, process for producing the same, and apparatus therefor, latent heat storing medium, and method of increasing amount of latent heat of clathrate hydrate and processing apparatus for increasing amount of latent heat of clathrate hydrate

Abstract

An apparatus for production of a clathrate hydrate with enhanced latent heat storing capability includes a gas supplier for supplying a gas to an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium compound, and a cooler for cooling the aqueous solution, the apparatus producing the clathrate hydrate with enhanced latent heat storing capability including both the quaternary ammonium compound and the gas as guests by supplying the gas to the aqueous solution with the gas supplier in the stage of cooling with the cooler.

1 . A clathrate hydrate with latent heat storing capability comprising a quaternary ammonium compound as a guest, further comprising a gas supplied from outside as a further guest in the stage of generation of the clathrate hydrate to thereby enhance the latent heat storing capability. 
     
     
         2 . A clathrate hydrate with latent heat storing capability comprising both a quaternary ammonium compound and a gas as guests, the clathrate hydrate being produced by supplying a gas from outside to an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium compound and cooling the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         3 . A latent heat storing medium comprising the clathrate hydrate according to  claim 1  as a composition. 
     
     
         4 . A latent heat storing medium comprising the clathrate hydrate according to  claim 2  as a composition. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A process for producing a clathrate hydrate with latent heat storing capability, comprising:
 supplying a gas from outside to an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium compound and cooling the aqueous solution, thereby producing a clathrate hydrate including the quaternary ammonium compound and the gas as guests to enhance the latent heat storing capability of the clathrate hydrate.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The process for producing a clathrate hydrate according to  claim 6 , wherein the gas supplied from outside has a temperature lower than a melting point of the clathrate hydrate. 
     
     
         9 . The process for producing a clathrate hydrate according to  claim 6 , wherein the gas supplied from outside is one cooled by supplying the same to an ice thermal storage tank and has a temperature lower than a melting point of the clathrate hydrate. 
     
     
         10 . A latent heat storing medium comprising the clathrate hydrate produced by the process according to  claim 6  as a composition. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A latent heat storing medium comprising the clathrate hydrate produced by the process according to  claim 8  as a composition. 
     
     
         13 . A latent heat storing medium comprising the clathrate hydrate produced by the process according to  claim 9  as a composition. 
     
     
         14 . A method of increasing an amount of latent heat of a clathrate hydrate comprising a quaternary ammonium compound as a guest, comprising:
 supplying a gas from outside to an aqueous solution containing a quaternary ammonium compound and cooling the aqueous solution, and, in a process of producing the clathrate hydrate, further including the sac as a guest.   
     
     
         15 - 21 . (canceled)