The Influence of Polymers and Nanomaterials on the Kinetics, Flow Characteristics and Surface Interactions of Hydrate/Ice Forming Systems

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Water is one of the most unique compounds in nature that is not only essential for life but also plays a significant role in many processes related to energy and safety. Water can exist in many solid forms when it is exposed to the proper conditions and components but two of the most important are: Gas Hydrate and Ice. Naturally occurring gas hydrates hold enormous amounts of stored energy that exceed conventional carbon reserves and mostly contain natural gas, the cleanest of all fossil fuels. Hence, they are being considered as a new/alternative method to sustain our ever increasing energy demands and preserve our quality of life. Carbon dioxide is also a major component in the emissions of thermal power plants, which contributes to global warming. The gas storage properties of hydrates position it as a potential candidate for capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide in order to lower its emissions and abide by the 2016 Paris Agreement, which Canada and 167 other nations agreed to. Complications arising from gas hydrate formation can also pose a significant threat to machinery and equipment in oil and gas processes. Its formation has even led to the loss of life and environmental devastation, as evidenced by the infamous British Petroleum oil spill of 2010. Similarly, ice accretion can cause catastrophic devastation such as the 1998 ice storm that hit Eastern Canada and the Northeastern U.S. Ice that forms on modern infrastructure such as aircrafts, ships, offshore oil platforms, wind turbines, telecommunications and power transmission lines jeopardizes their integrity and poses a significant safety hazard to operators and civilians alike. For these reasons, it is important to study both these phase change processes in order to provide information that is essential for the design of safe, economical, and environmentally responsible processes and facilities to deal with gas hydrate and ice formation. In order to accomplish this, a better understanding of the following is required. 1) Kinetics: Inhibition of gas hydrate formation via water-soluble polymers tailored using block copolymer self-assembly. 2) Rheology: Investigation of the effects of nanofluids and water-soluble polymers on the flow of water as it transitions to either gas hydrate or ice. 3) Surface interactions: Design and testing of hydrate-phobic and icephobic coatings comprised of polymer, nanomaterial and biomimetic surfaces. These three targeted areas will allow us to garner a better understanding of hydrate and ice and how to possibly exploit them by controlling and manipulating their interactions. The outcome of this work has the potential to place Canada at the forefront of technologies related to: 1) De-crystallizing techniques that preclude hydrate and ice accretion, 2) Natural gas recovery from in situ gas hydrate formations and 3) Storage and transportation of methane and carbon dioxide in gas hydrate form.