Methane approaches

Estimate the cost of nonbonded HH repulsion as < function of distance by plotting energy (vertical axis) vs HH separation (horizontal axis) for methane+metham (two methanes approaching each other with CH bond head on ). Next, measure the distance between the nearest hychogens in eclipsed ethane. What is the HI repulsion energy in the methane chmer at this distance Multiplied by three, does this approximate the rotatioi barrier in ethane ... 

The chapter by White et al. proposes a different approach to metha-nator temperature control. Here the temperature rise is controlled by limiting the amount of reaction in each stage, and that is done by introducing steam (a product of the reaction). High initial temperatures are followed by successively lower temperatures entering each reactor in series. This is a second-generation methanation approach which may follow closely on the first-generation approaches typified by the previous three papers. 

D, Results. The plot of the analytical results in Figure 3 are those for coking dry coal for 1 hours at a flue temperature of 1260 C. Concentration of hydrogen approaches a maximum of over 70f> and the methane approaches the minim im of less than near the end of the coking cycle. Generally, coking is continued for an additional JO minutes after these analytical values are reached auid then the coke is pushed from the oven. 

Despite the interesting results obtained in the oxidative dehydrogenation of methane approach, the use of the oxidative coupling reaction remains limited because of the low methane conversions and high temperatures required. 

A new approach we found is based on the initial bromination of methane to methyl bromide, which can be effected with good selectivity, although still in relatively low yields. Methyl bromide is easily separated from exeess methane, whieh is readily recyeled. Hydrolysis of methyl bromide to methyl alcohol and its dehydration to dimethyl ether are readily achieved. Importantly, HBr formed as by produet ean be oxidatively reeycled into bromine, making the overall proeess cat-alytie in bromine. 

U.S. capacity for producing biofuels manufactured by biological or thermal conversion of biomass must be dramatically increased to approach the potential contributions based on biomass availabiUty. For example, an incremental EJ per year of methane requires about 210 times the biological methane production capacity that now exists, and an incremental EJ per year of fuel ethanol requires about 14 times existing ethanol fermentation plant capacity. 

A low calorific value gas, which includes nitrogen from air, could be produced for boiler or turbine use in electric power production, or an intermediate calorific value gas containing no nitrogen for an industrial fuel gas, or synthesis gas for chemical and methane production could be provided. This approach which has been studied in Russia, Europe, Japan, and the United States, is stiU noncommercial in part because it is not economically competitive. 

Radiolytic oxidation is important to the design and operation of reactors because it adversely affects key graphite properties and, by removing moderator material, may bring about the need for increased fuel enrichment. As mentioned earlier, an inhibitor (methane) is added to the coolant to reduce radiolytic oxidation to acceptable levels. However, access of the inhibitor to the inner portions of the moderator brick must be assured. Two approaches have been adopted in the AGRs to provide this access. Vertical methane access holes are provided in the fuel bricks and in the later stations, Heysham II and Tomess, a pressure drop from outside to inside the brick was established to cause an enhanced flow through the brick. The amount of inhibitor added must be restricted, however, because the carbon inhibition reaction product deposits on the fuel pin and restricts heat transfer to the coolant, thus reducing reactor efficiency. 

However, we also need to discuss how the attractive interactions between species can be included in the theory of partly quenched systems. These interactions comprise an intrinsic feature of realistic models for partially quenched fluid systems. In particular, the model for adsorption of methane in xerosilica gel of Kaminsky and Monson [41] is characterized by very strong attraction between matrix obstacles and fluid species. Besides, the fluid particles attract each other via the Lennard-Lones potential. Both types of attraction (the fluid-matrix and fluid-fluid) must be included to gain profound insight into the phase transitions in partly quenched media. The approach of Ford and Glandt to obtain the chemical potential utilizing... 

Adsorption of hard sphere fluid mixtures in disordered hard sphere matrices has not been studied profoundly and the accuracy of the ROZ-type theory in the description of the structure and thermodynamics of simple mixtures is difficult to discuss. Adsorption of mixtures consisting of argon with ethane and methane in a matrix mimicking silica xerogel has been simulated by Kaminsky and Monson [42,43] in the framework of the Lennard-Jones model. A comparison with experimentally measured properties has also been performed. However, we are not aware of similar studies for simpler hard sphere mixtures, but the work from our laboratory has focused on a two-dimensional partly quenched model of hard discs [44]. That makes it impossible to judge the accuracy of theoretical approaches even for simple binary mixtures in disordered microporous media. 

Some petroleum geologists believe that there may be more methane trapped in hydrates than what is associated with natural gas reserves. However, as an energy source, there is considerable uncertainty whether this methane can ever be recovered safely, economically, and with minimal environmental impact. The Russians have experimented with the use of antifreeze to break down hydrates at some onshore locations in Siberia. But perhaps a more promising approach would be to pipe warm surface water to the bottom to melt the hydrates, with a collector positioned to convey the gas to the surface. Another approach might be to free methane by somehow reducing the pressure on the methane hydrates. 

---