Monitoring gas hydrate formation and transport in a flow loop with acoustic emission

Experimental studies on flow loop allow estimating the amount of formed hydrate and their transport during time. The amount of hydrates formed spatially during flow is unknown together with the location of the beginning of sedimentation and plug. This experimental study was carried on to verify the use of acoustic emission (AE) to spatially follow the formation of hydrates but also sedimentation and agglomeration. The AE energy variations allowed to follow the emulsification, to identify the beginning of the crystallization and to follow the crystallization, agglomeration and plug/sedimentation in the flow loop.