CO2 shipping-compression, liquefaction and dehydration (CO2 LIQUID)

The proposed project deals with liquefaction of CO2 and its transportation by ship either for storage or enhanced oil recovery, and the impact of impurities on loading and unloading scenarios. There is little experience of handling liquid CO2 under shipping conditions. The levels, for which impurities (including water) need to be removed from CO2 so as to mitigate handling issues, and the associated impact on energy efficiency of compression and liquefaction, are not understood, especially for CO2 from fossil-fired power plants.
The study aims to evaluate the propensity for leakages, freezing, blockages, and safety issues for liquid CO2 suitable for transportation by ship (near to the triple point).
The project aims to modify the existing PACT facility at Cranfield to allow the multi operational facility to test CO2 in either dense phase or semi refrigerated fluid state. Two key technology gaps will be addressed: How to prepare an energy efficient triple point CO2 under controlled manner and what operational issues would encounter as a function of key impurities?

As has been recently stated by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in its strategy for the transition to a low-carbon economy, carbon capture and storage (CCS) will play a vital role enabling fossil fuel-based power generation investments in a diversified infrastructure that includes new nuclear and renewable capacity. This project will enable an improved understanding of CO2 transport by ship; thereby it facilitates early deployment of CCS projects as well as supporting infrastructure growth and development over the coming decades.
A number of UK-based companies will benefit through developing know-how (shipping transport and operational difficulties), and be positioned to work with supporting industrial partners to exploit the derived technology in the marketplace.

A key element of the CO2 LIQUID project is an early engagement with key users and beneficiaries of the work. During this project there will be specific activities (modification of the facility, engineering data generation) set-up to explicitly identify research innovations or other outcomes of particular interest to stakeholders, and their impact for beneficiaries and routes by which maximum impact can be achieved. Update reports will be produced every six months and presented/disseminated through the UKCCSRC bi-annual meetings. The aim of presenting at these meetings will be to explain the findings and determine possible routes for deployment through relevant organisations, e.g. UKCCSRC RAPID process, International Energy Agency CCS Roadmap and APGTF CCS RD&D Strategy. These Impact Handbook developments will be combined with state-of-the-art surveys to ensure that pathways to impact pursued by CO2 LIQUID researcher are co-ordinated with other significant UK activities, including science forums/events to maximise their effectiveness.