At one of the youth laboratories of the Russian “Tomsk” University, the assembly of the first experimental heating line based on “burning ice” (gas hydrate) technology has begun, to provide energy to settlements and remote areas
This was reported in a report presented at the first International Energy Forum in the city of Tomsk in western Siberia.
Nikita Shlegel, acting head of the Gas Hydrates Laboratory at Tomsk Polytechnical University, said: "We have developed a unique technology, not only in Russia but also globally, for the production of what is known as 'burning ice,' a modern type of fuel based on gas hydrates. When these hydrates are heated, the gas stored in them is released, allowing it to be used directly to heat residential buildings and meet domestic needs. This technology is of particular importance in remote settlements, as it eliminates the need to lay gas pipelines and create additional infrastructure."
Gas hydrates are compounds composed of gases encased in a shell of frozen water, sometimes called "frozen fuels of the future" or "burning ice." These hydrates occur naturally on the ocean floor and are among the richest potential sources of hydrocarbon gases. They also have lower emissions compared to coal, fuel oil, and petroleum derivatives, making them a more environmentally friendly option. However, their commercial use remains li mymited due to the challenges associated with their efficient production, transportation, and utilization.
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According to those in charge of the project, the new technology consists of three main stages: preparing the gas by mixing the primary raw materials, including natural gas, associated gas and mine gas, then synthesizing the gas hydrates inside a 200-liter reactor and transferring them to dedicated containers, and finally simulating the transport and use processes for three types of consumers, including a private home equipped with a boiler, an industrial facility equipped with a compressor station, and a gas-fired power generation station.
The pilot plant is expected to produce approximately 200 liters of gas hydrate during an operating period of 6 to 8 hours, equivalent to about 32,000 cubic meters of gas. This quantity is estimated to be sufficient to heat a small village of about 50 homes for an entire month of winter. The system also allows for remote monitoring and control of its operations.
In the future, the researchers plan to equip the complex with an additional reactor to produce carbon dioxide hydrates, for use in research related to the development of fire extinguishers and fire-fighting bombs based on this technology.
After completing system testing and refinement, the scientists, in collaboration with their industrial partners, plan to develop a mobile version of the pilot plant, which will be deployed in 2027 to a gas field in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) to provide heating for a village. The project ultimately aims to create a scalable technology that will allow for the integration of gas hydrates into heating systems and widespread practical applications.
It is worth mentioning that the pilot gas hydrate project is being carried out in cooperation between Tomsk Polytechnic University and the Kronstadt Foundation, with support from the "Priority 2030" program of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science within the national project "Youth and Children".
