Effect of nano-SiO₂ particles on THF hydrate induction time and its distribution

Clathrate hydrate has been studied for a few decades as a potential alternative energy source and gas storage medium. The direct engineering application of hydrate is still struggling due to the slow formation rate and the ambiguity of induction time. To understand the effect of nanoparticles on the hydrate nucleation induction time, we used different amounts and magnitude sizes of nano-SiO₂ particles as promoter to observe the Tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrate induction time under repeated experiments. We conducted a statistical analysis method based on Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K–S) test and probability-probability plot (P–P plot) test for the analysis of induction time. The results showed that the logarithmic normal distribution can be used to describe the distribution of THF hydrate induction time with addition of nano-SiO₂ under repeated experiments. The expected value and variance of induction time vary with particle sizes of different magnitudes at different mass concentrations, showing different effects of nano-SiO₂ on hydrate formation and dispersion of induction time. There is a critical condition (with different sizes or mass concentrations) for the influence of nano-SiO₂ particles on the THF hydrate induction time, which determines the promoting or inhibiting effect of nano-SiO₂ particles on THF hydrate formation.