CO2 Static Test Facility (UK7.1)

The purpose of the CO2 Static Test Facility is to allow R&D into fluid property sensors, samplers and secondary measurement from flow sensors. The facility allows the installation of full-size flow sensors or pipe spool pieces of variable diameter and length.

The pressure and temperature can be controlled in such a way as to establish CO2 conditions in gas, dense phase (liquid) and supercritical conditions. The test facility can use either pure CO2 or a CO2 mixture containing common contaminants. The presence of impurities allows the detection of the onset of phase boundary changes and the effect of two-phase regimes on different sensors. The CO2 mixture are normally pre-mixed but provision has been made to allow for injection of contaminants. Potential components and concentrations of these contaminants are:

The testing of sampler systems may involve the extraction of CO2 from the test section in a controlled manner while maintaining the pressure and temperature of the test section. For such tests, quantities of CO2 extracted can have flowrates of up to 500 ml per min (expressed as gas at atmospheric pressure and temperature) and maximum volume of 10 litres (at system P and T).

 A summary of the design parameters is given below:

• Fluid:                                                  Pure CO2 or CO2 mixture (see table above)
• Pressure Range:                                0 bar(g) – 150 bar(g)
• Pressure Stability:                              ±1 bar (>100 bar)
                                                             ±0.1 bar (<100 bar)

• Setpoint Pressure Uncertainty:         ±1bar
• Temperature Range:                         4°C – 60°C
• Air Temperature Stability:                  ±1°C
• Fluid Temperature Stability:              ±0.1°C
• Setpoint Temperature Uncertainty:   ±1°C
• Circulation Flowrate:                          1l/s
• Test Piece Diameter:                         25mm to 200mm
• Test Piece Length:                             200mm – 1500mm
• Sampling Flowrate:                            Up to 500 ml/min
• Test time for stability  :                       10 min to 2 hours
• Control:                                               manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic
• Test item weight:                                 up to around 50kg

The mechanical design of the flow loop allows the test section to operate in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation, to allow investigation of stratification effects on sampling systems, for example (image 1).

NEL is the UK’s Designated Institute for Flow Measurement and Liquid Density. On the East Kilbride site, where the CO₂ Static Test Facility is located, other facilities include:

• Single phase water flow facility
• Single phase oil flow facility
• Elevated pressure and temperature flow loop
• Gas flow loop
• Multiphase flow loop
• Advanced multiphase facility
• Primary standard liquid densitometer

A range of sensors and sampling systems will be required to ensure the safety and economic viability of CCUS schemes.  The NEL CO₂ Static Test Facility provides an environment in which such devices can be developed and tested under controlled conditions across the ranges of temperatures, pressures, phases and compositions likely to be encountered in CCUS schemes.