Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University with the support of Priority 2030, a program of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, will have developed a domestic technology for combusting a new type of fuel by 2025. The technology is based on natural and artificial gas hydrates. These gas compounds in ice and water cage are extracted from the sea and ocean floor and called frozen fuel of the future or “combustible ice”. The creation of the technology for combusting fuel based on the gas hydrates will allow applying the hydrates when producing heat and electrical power as well as applying them in engines for different purposes with minimal harm to the environment.
Photo: samples of gas hydrates
The natural gas hydrates are extracted in northern latitudes. Over 220 deposits of gas hydrates have been discovered in the world. These deposits are noteworthy due to the fact they are the richest source of hydrocarbon gas on our planet. At the same time, their main advantage is environmental friendliness. In comparison with coal, heavy fuel oil and petroleum products, the gas hydrates produce minimal man-made emissions being combusted.
Within Energy of Future, a strategic project implemented by TPU, the university scientists study limiting conditions under which fuel ignite spontaneously, combust forcibly and turns to the steady-state burning phase in power units. According to the scientists, without these fundamental data, it is impossible to create safe and efficient fuel based on hydrates.
“Reserves of gas hydrates are great, especially in northern maritime countries. It makes this kind of fuel promising for the energy industry, including for long-distance transmission.
At the moment, the price for hydrates is high, however, we are sure that their advantages will generate demand on the market and consequently their price will become affordable. The efficient technology of combusting fuel based on the hydrates will be definitely helpful here,” says Pavel Strizhak, professor of the TPU Butakov Research Center.
According to the scientists, similar research is being conducted in the USA and Japan. A fundamental difference of the TPU scientists’ approach is that they are conducting experiments with almost all possible and most promising heating circuits, which allow conducting a full range of hydrate research and obtaining maximum information on specific characteristics of their combusting. It is the first time when such an approach has been implemented.
The first carried out experiments have shown that when bursting gas hydrates, 50-80 percent less harmful emissions of nitrogen and carbon oxides are released than in the case of conventional fuels, such as oil, natural gas and coal. The scientists have also compared the rate of gas release from double and single hydrates. It is an essential criterion for further application of hydrates in practice: the higher the rate, the better. It has turned out the release rate of the double hydrates is two to five times higher.
“Natural gas is a direct competitor of the hydrates nowadays. The technology of gas use as one of the energy resources are developing fast in the world.
Countries keeping significant reserves of gas hydrates are encouraged to develop the technology for its use with the purpose of reducing the dependence on natural gas exports from other countries.
I am sure the results of our research will allow scientists and engineers to apply the gas hydrates safe and efficient in the energy and transport sectors worldwide,” adds Pavel Strizhak.
With the support of Priority 2030, Tomsk Polytechnic University will receive new research equipment for this project. In particular, these are additional stands, which will simulate the most promising power units. Using these stands, the scientists will be able to polish their technology.