Solomon Brown

Global sensitivity analysis of the impact of impurities on CO2 pipeline failure

This paper describes the testing, comparison and application of global sensitivity techniques for the study of the impact of the stream impurities on CO2 pipeline failure. Global sensitivity analysis through non-intrusive generalised polynomial chaos expansion with sparse grids is compared to more common techniques and is found to achieve superior convergence rate to crude Monte Carlo, quasi-Monte Carlo and EFAST for functions with up to a moderate level of “roughness”. This methodology is then applied to the hypothetical full bore rupture of a 1 km CO2 pipeline at 150 bara and 283.15 K. The sensitivity of the ensuing outflow to the composition of a quaternary mixture of CO2 with N2, CH4 and O2 as representative stream impurities. The results indicate that the outflow rate is highly sensitive to the composition during the early stages of depressurisation, where the effect of the impurities on phase equilibria has a significant impact on the outflow.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS): The way forward

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is broadly recognised as having the potential to play a key role in meeting climate change targets, delivering low carbon heat and power, decarbonising industry and, more recently, its ability to facilitate the net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. However, despite this broad consensus and its technical maturity, CCS has not yet been deployed on a scale commensurate with the ambitions articulated a decade ago. Thus, in this paper we review the current state-of-the-art of CO2 capture, transport, utilisation and storage from a multi-scale perspective, moving from the global to molecular scales. In light of the COP21 commitments to limit warming to less than 2 °C, we extend the remit of this study to include the key negative emissions technologies (NETs) of bioenergy with CCS (BECCS), and direct air capture (DAC). Cognisant of the non-technical barriers to deploying CCS, we reflect on recent experience from the UKs CCS commercialisation programme and consider the commercial and political barriers to the large-scale deployment of CCS. In all areas, we focus on identifying and clearly articulating the key research challenges that could usefully be addressed in the coming decade.

Thermodynamic interpolation for the simulation of two-phase flow of non-ideal mixtures

This paper describes the development and application of a technique for the rapid interpolation of thermodynamic properties of mixtures for the purposes of simulating two-phase flow. The technique is based on adaptive inverse interpolation and can be applied to any Equation of State and multicomponent mixture. Following analysis of its accuracy, the method is coupled with a two-phase flow model, based on the homogeneous equilibrium mixture assumption, and applied to the simulation of flows of carbon dioxide (CO2) rich mixtures. This coupled flow model is used to simulate the experimental decompression of binary and quinternary mixtures. It is found that the predictions are in good agreement with the experimental data and that the interpolation approach provides a flexible, robust means of obtaining thermodynamic properties for use in flow models.

A geometrically based grid refinement technique for multiphase flows

Abstract An adaptive mesh refinement technique developed for the solution of scalar problems is extended to the simulation of two-phase flow problems, as a means of reducing the computational runtime associated with such problems. The methodology, involving the adaptive partition of the domain into uniformly discretised regions, is extended to systems of equations without increase in algorithmic complexity. By application first to the simpler case of the Euler equations of gas dynamics, the technique is shown to handle shocks without loss of accuracy and to result in significant CPU runtime reductions of over 90%. Application to more complex two-phase flow problems, including the flashing flow during the decompression of a pipeline, also show dramatic increase in computational performance.

Optimal Valve Spacing for Next Generation CO2 Pipelines

Pipeline transportation is considered as the primary mode of transporting CO2 for future carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The failure of such pipelines could lead to the release of a significant amount of inventory, which in high enough concentrations is toxic and presents a significant risk to life. To mitigate this hazard, emergency shutdown valves (ESDVs) are installed at regular intervals along the pipeline, to minimise the amount of inventory released in the event of failure. This paper presents a methodology and the required metrics for optimising valve spacing as a trade-off between the reduction in hazard against the cost of installation and maintenance.

Metal recovery from jarosite waste - A resin screening study

ABSTRACT Work has been carried out screening hydrometallurgical resins for application in the valorization of industrially produced jarosite. Of the seven resins tested, anion exchange resins performed poorly for valuable metal recovery. Purolite S950+ and S957, along with a strong acid resin, show good extraction properties, but are selective for Fe3+ over the other (divalent) metals. Purolite S930+ (iminodiacetic acid-functionalized resin) demonstrates selectivity for Cu2+ over Fe3+, but poor selectivity for Ni2+, Zn2+, and Co2+. Dowex M4195 (bispicolylamine-functionalized resin) demonstrates promise for extracting metals of value away from a mixed metal pregnant liquor solution (PLS). A three-stage column-based recovery process is proposed for jarosite leachate treatment.

Efficient simulation of chromatographic separation processes

This work presents the development and testing of an efficient, high resolution algorithm developed for the solution of equilibrium and non-equilibrium chromatographic problems as a means of simultaneously producing high fidelity predictions with a minimal increase in computational cost. The method involves the coupling of a high-order WENO scheme, adapted for use on non-uniform grids, with a piecewise adaptive grid (PAG) method to reduce runtime while accurately resolving the sharp gradients observed in the processes under investigation. Application of the method to a series of benchmark chromatographic test cases, within which an increasing number of components are included over short and long spatial domains and containing shocks, shows that the method is able to accurately resolve the discontinuities and that the use of the PAG method results in a reduction in the CPU runtime of up to 90%, without degradation of the solution, relative to an equivalent uniform grid.