DeFACTO (NO2.8)

DeFACTO will enable and improve large-scale CO2 transport and injection by enhancing the understanding of CO2 flow in pipes and injection wells. DeFACTO is a vertical flow facility that enables the circulation of CO2 through a 90 meters deep U-tube loop (depicted in the figure). The loop is instrumented with over 100 high precision-fast response pressure and temperature sensors, enabling measurements of pressure waves  and temperature profiles with a high degree of accuracy. The CO2 can be circulated through the vertical loop where its behaviour can be analysed at different depths. Each tube in the U-loop can be isolated and pressurised or depressurised individually. The data collected helps us  understand when and how the CO2 freezes under depressurisation, cavitation phenomena, two-phase and transient flow behaviour, phase change, and ultimately assists engineers in the design of safer and more efficient CO2 transport and storage systems. 

The vertical flow loop is connected to a 139 meters long horizontal flow loop, located on top of the facility. The horizontal flow loop enables circulation of CO2 with precisely controlled parameters (contaminants, temperature, pressure, gas to liquid ratio). 

Experiments can be performed with pure CO2 and with impurities (N2, up to 20% CH4).

Located right next to the Depress facility in the thermal laboratories of NTNU/SINTEF with its available infrastructures and services and adjacent to the offices of leading scientists in the field at SINTEF and NTNU.

The facility is the only one in Europe that allows the flow of CO2 with impurities in a controlled environment, with defined temperature in the hole and defined boundary conditions.