Modelling CO₂ dispersion from vents and accidental releases

When processing, transporting and storing large quantities of CO₂, there is a risk of hazardous releases of CO₂ into the surroundings from blowdown vents and accidental releases from process equipment, pipelines, storage tanks and caverns. To predict the exposure to the environment, to perform safety assessments and to pre-design safety measures, reliable and efficient simulation technology for detailed predictions of atmospheric CO₂ dispersion in realistic, complex environments is needed.

In this project advanced industrial simulation technology for detailed prediction of three-dimensional transient CO₂ dispersion for realistic conditions has been developed. The simulation technology is based on the KAMELEON FIREEX KFX® simulation tool which is a result of more than 40 years of R&D activities on turbulent flow and combustion. Today KAMELEON FIREEX KFX® is recognized as an internationally leading industrial CFD tool for detailed three-dimensional transient predictions of gas dispersion, flares and fires in the oil and gas industry.

New models for improved prediction of atmospheric CO₂ dispersion have been developed for KFX™. This includes a release source model based on comprehensive state-of-the-art CO₂ thermodynamics, an Eulerian-Lagrangian model for multiphase dispersion of CO₂ gas and solid CO₂ particles, and a model for sublimation of dry-ice particles, as well as improved modelling of complex geometries and terrain based on CAD models and electronic maps. Furthermore, the tool’s capability of predicting CO₂ dispersion at realistic conditions has been demonstrated through relevant tests and comparisons of simulation results to experimental data from both laboratory tests and large-scale field trials. The present tool has the potential of becoming the leading and preferred industrial CFD tool for prediction of atmospheric CO₂ dispersion.