Clathrate hydrate modular storage, applications and utilization processes

A clathrate hydrate module array system, comprising

• a plurality of clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation modules,
• each module comprising
• a container;
• a heat exchanger for heating or cooling substances in the container;
• a first port for injecting or withdrawing a hydrate forming substance;
• a second port for injecting or withdrawing an aqueous solution;
• a first manifold connected to the first ports of two or more modules of the plurality of clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation modules;
• a second manifold connected to the second ports of two or more modules of the plurality of clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation modules;
• a control system for coordinating, managing and monitoring of clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation processes of two or more modules of the plurality of clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation modules.

A system facilitating thermal integration of clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation processes, comprising

• a clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module, comprising a heat exchanger including an inlet port and an outlet port, operative to generate cold energy during disassociation of a clathrate hydrate;
• a cold-energy consuming system;
• and
• means for transferring cold energy generated during disassociation of a clathrate hydrate from the clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module to the cold energy consuming system.

A system facilitating thermal integration of two or more clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation processes, comprising

• a first clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module comprising a heat exchanger including an inlet port and an outlet port;
• at least a second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module comprising a heat exchanger including an inlet port and an outlet port;
• a fluid circuit interconnecting the respective heat exchangers of the first and at least a second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module;
• a pump disposed in the fluid circuit to pump fluid through the fluid circuit;
• wherein the fluid is cooled as it passes through the heat exchanger of the first disassociation hydrate formation and disassociation module when operating in a disassociation mode;
• wherein the fluid, cooled from the first disassociation module, is heated as it passes through the heat exchanger of the second disassociation module when operating in a formation mode.

An apparatus facilitating thermal integration of clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation processes with external systems, comprising

• a clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module comprising a heat exchanger including an inlet port and an outlet port;
• a condenser;
• an evaporator;
• a compressor;
• a plurality of fluid lines interconnecting the condenser, the evaporator, the compressor, and the heat exchanger of the clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module;
• and
• one or more valves selectively configurable to divert flow among the fluid lines to create one or more fluid circuits including select ones of the condenser, the evaporator, the compressor, and the heat exchanger.

In a system comprising a first clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module comprising a first heat exchanger including an inlet port and an outlet port, and first a container including an inlet port, and an outlet port;

• and a second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module comprising a second heat exchanger including an inlet port and an outlet port, and a second container including an inlet port, and an outlet port;
• a method of processing a first gaseous stream comprising first and second gas components, wherein the first gas component forms a clathrate hydrate at a first threshold temperature, wherein the second gas component forms a clathrate hydrate at a second threshold temperature lower than the first threshold temperature;
• the method comprising
• cooling the first container to a third temperature greater than the second threshold temperature and lower than or equal to the first threshold temperature;
• passing a first gaseous stream through the first clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module to form in the first container a clathrate hydrate including the first gas component;
• passing the first gaseous stream through the second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module to form in the second container a clathrate hydrate including the first gas component;
• and
• transferring, during the second passing step, cold thermal energy stored in the clathrate hydrate formed in the first container to the second container as the clathrate hydrate in the first container disassociates.

In a system comprising a first clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module comprising a heat exchanger including an inlet port and an outlet port, and a container including an inlet port, and an outlet port;

• and a second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module comprising a heat exchanger including an inlet port and an outlet port, and a container including an inlet port, and an outlet port;
• a method comprising
• connecting a first gaseous stream comprising first and second gas components into the container of the first clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module, wherein the first gas component forms a clathrate hydrate at a first threshold temperature, wherein the second gas component forms a clathrate hydrate at a second threshold temperature lower than the first threshold temperature;
• cycling cooled refrigerant at a third temperature greater than the second threshold temperature and lower than or equal to the first threshold temperature, through the heat exchanger of the first clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module via the inlet port to form, in the container of the first clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module, clathrate hydrate including the first gas component;
• connecting the outlet port of heat exchanger of the first clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module to the inlet port of the heat exchanger of the second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module;
• connecting the connecting the outlet port of heat exchanger of the second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module to the inlet port of the heat exchanger of the first clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module to form a fluid circuit;
• cycling a refrigerant through the heat exchangers of the first and second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation modules to transfer cold energy stored in the first clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module to the second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module;
• diverting the first gaseous stream to the container of the second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module to form, in the container of the second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation module, clathrate hydrate including the first gas component;
• and
• receiving a second gaseous stream from the respective outlet ports of the containers of the first and second clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation modules, wherein the second gaseous stream has a higher concentration of the second gas component relative to the first gaseous stream.

A gas transportation system, comprising

• a clathrate hydrate transport vehicle comprising an array of one or more hydrate formation, storage, and dissociation tanks;
• a gas loading system comprising
• means for pressurizing hydrate forming gas to a hydrate formation pressure,
• means for removing latent heat of formation from the gas transport vehicle.

An integrated gas supply system, comprising

• a floating refrigeration, storage, production and offloading vessel comprising
• a water cooled refrigeration system, and
• an onboard clathrate hydrate storage array;
• a vessel containing one or more clathrate hydrate formation and disassociation modules;
• and
• a combined power plant and receiving terminal comprising
• a gas storage array,
• a turbine inlet cooling system, and
• means for supplying gas to the local gas distribution infrastructure.