PRODUCT FAMILY
Rocking Cell
Investigating gas hydrates and gas hydrate inhibitors in natural gas
The Rocking Cell is a laboratory test method. It examines the formation of gas hydrates during the transportation of natural gas and natural gas mixtures in the pipeline. This method is used to screen gas hydrate inhibitors and is the most stringent method in the petroleum and petrochemical industry.
The Rocking Cell is available with stainless steel test cells or fully visible sapphire glass test cells. If the Rocking Cell is equipped with stainless steel test cells, kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors can be tested in the laboratory. The Sapphire Rocking Cell with sapphire glass test cells also makes it possible to test the mode of action of anti-agglomerants.
As experts in flow assurance laboratory equipment, we are the only manufacturer in the world to offer the Rocking Cell with stainless steel test cells and four different models of the Sapphire Rocking Cell for a wide range of laboratory and testing requirements.
The right instrument for every application
- Rocking Cell RC5 - Basic device with 5 stainless steel test cells
- Sapphire Rocking Cell RCS2 - with 2 test cells and enlarged 180° tilt angle
- Sapphire Rocking Cell RCS6 - with 6 test cells and optimized for the fume cupboard
- Sapphire Rocking Cell RCS8 - with 8 test cells, optimized for 2 blank tests and 3 duplicate tests
- Sapphire Rocking Cell RCS20 - with 10 or 20 test cells for large requirements
Application Areas of Rocking Cells
The Rocking Cell laboratory device is used to determine the conditions for the formation of gas hydrates, develop and optimize gas hydrate inhibitors and carry out quality controls. To this end, the Rocking Cell simulates two- and three-phase mixtures of natural gas, reservoir water and crude oil or condensates at pressures of up to 350 bar, as typically occur during pipeline transportation.
Thermodynamic inhibitors (THI) and low-dosage inhibitors (LDHI) such as kinetic gas hydrate inhibitors (KHI) and anti-agglomerants (AA) can be investigated.
Developing and optimizing gas hydrate inhibitors
Simulating deepwater conditions and gas hydrate formation
Examining two-phase and three-phase natural gas mixtures
Testing Thermodynamic Hydrate Inhibitors (THI)
Testing Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors (KHI)
Testing anti-agglomerates (AA)
Measuring Principle of Rocking Cell
The measuring principle of the Rocking Cell and the Sapphire Rocking Cell is based on the uniform tilting movement of temperature-controlled, pressurized test cells (Rocking Cells). When rocking, a ball rolls back and forth evenly over the entire length of the test cells, mixing the liquid-gas mixture contained within.
The movement of the ball generates large shear forces and strong turbulence in the test cell. This simulates the conditions during natural gas transportation in the pipeline. A typical test based on this measuring principle is divided into three phases: Flowing Conditions, Shut-in and Restart Flowing Conditions.
IN USE WORLDWIDE
Used by Leading Labs
Software for Rocking Cell Product Family
The PSL software makes it easy to carry out tests and record data.
Variably adjustable test conditions enable automatic test sequences. The following test conditions can be set:
- Temperature
- Rocking rate per minute
- Rocking angle of test cells
- Duration of test run (flowing conditions)
- Duration of shut-in
- Position of test chamber during shuti-in
Long-time runs up to 30 day and longer are possible.
Aim and benefits of rocking cell measurements
The aim of the rocking cell measurements is to develop, optimize or select the best gas hydrate inhibitor. The comparison of untreated and treated samples enables statements to be made about the effectiveness of the gas hydrate inhibitors used.
The Rocking Cell with stainless steel test cells examines the kinetic hydrate inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors. The Sapphire Rocking Cell can also test anti-agglomerants.
Potential Rocking Cell Tests
- Compare measurement results of untreated and inhibited samples
- Carry out reference measurements
- Developing, testing and optimizing gas hydrate inhibitors
- Monitoring and preventing gas hydrate formation
- All: Long-term experiments of 30 days and longer
- RC5 stainless steel: tests of kinetic hydrate inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors
- RCS sapphire glass: additional tests of anti-agglomerants
- RCS-Saphirglas: Multiphasen-Gemische visuell beobachtbar
- RCS sapphire glass: Viscosity changes of multiphase mixtures under pressure
- Optional all: Perform acid gas tests
Online Demo with Rocking Cell
During the product demonstration, you will gain many insights into how it works. You can follow the measuring process live and then discuss your questions with our experts.
Important Data at a Glance
| Rocking Cell RC5 - Stainless steel test cells | Sapphire Rocking Cell RCS2 | Sapphire Rocking Cell RCS6 | Sapphire Rocking Cell RCS8 | Sapphire Rocking Cell RCS20 | |
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| Test cells | 5 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 10 or 20 |
| Material test cell | stainless steel, 316L | Sapphire crystal, completely visible | |||
| Pressure Range | 0 .. 200 bar (0 .. 2,900 psi) |
0 .. 200 bar 0 .. 2,900 psi) 350 bar (5,080 psi) - optionally |
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| Temperature range |
-5 .. +40 °C (+23.. +104 °F) -10 .. +60 °C (+14 .. +140 °F) - optionally |
-5 .. +40 °C (+23.. +104 °F) -10 .. +60 °C (+14 .. +140 °F) - optionally |
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| Sample Volume | 40 cm³ | 20 cm³ | |||
| Sour gas resistance | opionally | opionally | |||
| Application | KHI, KI, HET | KHI, KI, HET, AA, Multi-Phase | |||
| Sample throughput | medium | low | medium | medium | high |
| Good to Know | Cost-effective entry-level model, small footprint | 180° tilt angle for viscosity measurement, small footprint | Optimized for the fume cupboard | Optimized for 2 blank tests and 3 duplicate tests, for the laboratory proof | Professional device for high throughput |
