The influence of ultrasonic waves on ice and THF hydrate formation

Asadi, Masumeh; Hashempoor, Sepideh

doi:10.22075/jpetk.2025.24543.1002

The influence of ultrasonic waves on ice and THF hydrate formation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Masumeh Asadi ¹

Sepideh Hashempoor ²

¹ Rudaki Complex, East Rudaki Street, Yadegar-e Emam Boulevard, Madar Squre, Mehr Villa, Karaj, Iran

² School of Chemical, Gas and Petroleum Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

10.22075/jpetk.2025.24543.1002

Abstract

In this work, the influence of ultrasonic waves was investigated on ice and THF/H2O hydrate formation. The experiments were carried out under ambient pressure, with ultrasonic power ranging from 0 to 288W and irradiation temperature ranging from 6 to 12℃. The effect of the ultrasonic waves with a frequency of 25 kHz was analyzed on the induction time and freezing point. The results indicate that ultrasonic waves increase the nucleation temperature of THF/H2O solution and decrease the induction time. Likewise, an optimal temperature was selected as irradiation temperature. It was observed that lower temperatures, or the closest temperature to equilibrium temperature of ice (0 ºC) and THF/H2O hydrate (4.4°C), were considered the most suitable temperature for ultrasonic radiation. At lower power levels of ultrasonic waves, both ice and THF/H2O hydrate formation were reduced due to prolonged irradiation and extra heat generation. Therefore, ultrasonic irradiation at 50% and 70% duty cycles was employed to mitigate heat generation. Subsequently, it was demonstrated that utilizing ultrasonic waves with a duty cycle of 70% promoted the process of hydrate formation.

Highlights

Keywords

Ultrasonic

Tetrahydrofuran

Induction time

Crystallization

Irradiation optimal temperature