Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Diffusion of Carbondioxide in High-Density Polyethylene and Subsequent Rapid Gas Decompression
Topic(s) : Material and Structural Behavior - Simulation & Testing
Co-authors :
Houssem Eddine REKIK (SAUDI ARABIA), Ali ALGHAMDI (SAUDI ARABIA), Xiaole LI (SAUDI ARABIA), Gilles LUBINEAU (SAUDI ARABIA)Abstract :
The energy industry is particularly interested in pressurized CO2 pipelines for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). Those pipelines are critical for key CCS applications such as sustainable hydrogen production and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) [1]. Currently, steel is the material of choice for pressurized CO2 transport [2]. However, the presence of water and impurities in captured CO2 induces significant corrosion in steel pipelines [2].
Composite pipes exhibit significant advantages over steel in terms of weight, spoolability, ease of installation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions during production, longevity, and maintenance cost [3]. On the other hand, chemical compatibility, permeability, low-temperature performance, and resistance to rapid gas decompression (RGD) are concerns that arise when using polymeric materials in gas transportation [4]. This work is motivated by the interest in exploring the suitability of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liners for CO2 composite pipelines. In this study, we investigate, experimentally and numerically, the effect of RGD on HDPE liner materials for CO2 composite pipelines.
Rapid gas decompression (RGD) in polymers refers to the phenomenon where absorbed gasses rapidly expand due to a sudden decrease in external pressure. This expansion may lead to physical damage such as the formation of cavities, cracks, and blisters [5]. Current standards used in composite pipe qualification examine the effect of RGD on polymers by exposing the samples to 20 cycles followed by visual inspection to observe blistering, cracking, and delamination [6] [7]. Those experiments require significant resources to conduct. Additionally, the link between the observed RGD test results and the long-term performance is missing in this qualification scheme. Therefore, developing a better understanding of the long-term effect of RGD on physical and mechanical properties is essential for minimizing the cost and time associated with material qualification for composite pipes for gas transport applications.
In this work, we propose experimental methods for evaluating the subtle effect of CO2-induced RGD on HDPE, as well as a multiphysics model for the numerical assessment and prediction of the phenomenon. High-density polyethylene samples of various geometries are exposed to RGD in a CO2 environment. Afterward, the effect of CO2-induced RGD on the properties of the polymer is evaluated using gravimetric sorption. Furthermore, a coupled Diffusion-Deformation model is formulated to account for the internal stresses and plastic yielding of the material as well as the gas pressure build-up inside cavities. Finally, we compare our numerical simulations to absorption/desorption experiments and highlight potential directions for improving the predictive capabilities of such approaches.
Composite pipes exhibit significant advantages over steel in terms of weight, spoolability, ease of installation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions during production, longevity, and maintenance cost [3]. On the other hand, chemical compatibility, permeability, low-temperature performance, and resistance to rapid gas decompression (RGD) are concerns that arise when using polymeric materials in gas transportation [4]. This work is motivated by the interest in exploring the suitability of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liners for CO2 composite pipelines. In this study, we investigate, experimentally and numerically, the effect of RGD on HDPE liner materials for CO2 composite pipelines.
Rapid gas decompression (RGD) in polymers refers to the phenomenon where absorbed gasses rapidly expand due to a sudden decrease in external pressure. This expansion may lead to physical damage such as the formation of cavities, cracks, and blisters [5]. Current standards used in composite pipe qualification examine the effect of RGD on polymers by exposing the samples to 20 cycles followed by visual inspection to observe blistering, cracking, and delamination [6] [7]. Those experiments require significant resources to conduct. Additionally, the link between the observed RGD test results and the long-term performance is missing in this qualification scheme. Therefore, developing a better understanding of the long-term effect of RGD on physical and mechanical properties is essential for minimizing the cost and time associated with material qualification for composite pipes for gas transport applications.
In this work, we propose experimental methods for evaluating the subtle effect of CO2-induced RGD on HDPE, as well as a multiphysics model for the numerical assessment and prediction of the phenomenon. High-density polyethylene samples of various geometries are exposed to RGD in a CO2 environment. Afterward, the effect of CO2-induced RGD on the properties of the polymer is evaluated using gravimetric sorption. Furthermore, a coupled Diffusion-Deformation model is formulated to account for the internal stresses and plastic yielding of the material as well as the gas pressure build-up inside cavities. Finally, we compare our numerical simulations to absorption/desorption experiments and highlight potential directions for improving the predictive capabilities of such approaches.