High pressure release of binary mixtures of CO2 and N2. Experimental investigation and simulation

Experimental investigations on top vented vessel blowdown of pressurized CO2 with dissolved nitrogen are presented. During the processes pressure, axial temperature profile, axial void profile and mass were measured. The release process provokes a separation of the two components. This separation process can be investigated quantitatively by calculating phase equilibria for the measured pressure and temperatures. A one-dimensional simulation model based on mass and energy balances and a drift flux model is developed which predicts well the pressure and temperature transients and the mass flow rate.