High-resolution optical studies of solids nucleation in cryogenic processes

在液化天然气(LNG)生产过程中，低浓度杂质会冻结和堵塞液化过程核心的低温热交换器。关于这些固体的动力学(即它们形成的速度)，特别是与液化天然气有关的百万分之几的浓度，存在着很大的知识差距。该项目与埃克森美孚上游研究公司合作，将使用经过验证的高分辨率光学技术，为控制工业堵塞风险的高压低温流体中的固体成核和生长动力学提供新的见解。结果将使能源优化，以提高液化效率，以及测试创新的堵塞-补救方法。

During liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, low concentration impurities can freeze and block the cryogenic heat exchangers at the heart of the liquefaction process. Substantial knowledge gaps exist regarding the kinetics of these solids (i.e. the rate at which they form), especially at the part per million concentrations relevant to LNG. This project, in partnership with ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, will use a proven high resolution optical technique to deliver new insight into solid nucleation and growth kinetics in the high-pressure cryogenic fluids that govern industrial blockage risk. The results will enable energy optimisation to increase liquefaction efficiency as well as tests of innovative blockage-remediation methods.