Investigation of flow characteristics in small-scale highly pressurized leaked CO2 jet plume from pipeline

Abstract

Rapid phase transition and complex kinetic effects appeared in the supercritical CO2 small scaled accidental release from a failed pipeline have significant influences on highly pressurized CO2 leaked jet plume in the leakage process. In this study, typical flow characteristics of the highly pressurized CO2 leaked jet plume were analyzed by experimental methods, including the Nusselt number as an indirect measurement of choked flow intensity in the leakage process. The centerline velocities outside leakage orifice exit measured showed a quite similar decreasing trend with the decompression process of highly pressurized CO2 at the orifice. Numerical simulation method was also applied to capture the near-field supersonic under-expanded jet structures, variation of expansion shock and potential Mach disk, which have been observed by experimental method. The centerline velocity variations of jet plume calculated showed good agreement with the experiment measurements within an acceptable accuracy.