Supercritical & Liquid CO2 Flushing Unit
9000456
The Supercritical CO2 Flushing System (SCCO2) fits perfect for control lines and umbilical, because of the low pressure drop over long distances, which can exceed 20 km, with a small inner diameter lower than ¼”. This means that turbulent flow can be maintained throughout, and a cleanness level of AS4059 Class 3 / ISO 4407 12/9 has made proof of concept in testing. However, it can also be fitted to other appliances.
The reason of this cleanness and low-pressure drop is that Supercritical CO2 has the same carrying capacity as oil, but the viscosity is 10 times lower than water. This makes it a lot better than the conventional flushing systems that has a pressure drop of over 60.000 PSI over ¼” OD 13.000-meter control line, were SCCO2 has a drop of below 3.000 PSI and maintains a Reynolds No. of approximately 20.000.
To maintain a turbulent flow, you need a Reynolds number higher than 3000, and in long distances, this is not possible with conventional flushing.
The state “supercritical” is a state that is not gas, and not fluid, but a state in between these two. This means that is has the same benefits as both of those two states.