Facilities and equipment

Find out more about our range of experimental facilities and equipment.

We have a number of facilities including:

  • THMC Multiphase Flow Rig
  • Hydrogen Flow Rig
  • Low Pressure CO2 Flow Rig
  • Reactive Flow Rig
  • Unconfined Loading Rig
  • Freeze-Thaw Fracturing Rig
  • Hydrogen reaction vessels
  • High pressure and temperature batch reaction vessels
  • Multiphase Microfluidic Flow Rig
  • Micro-CT Hydrogen Flow Cell
  • Optical Multiphase Static Batch Reaction Vessels

More details on the facilities and equipment available are under each of the drop-down menus below.

 

The THMC Multiphase Flow Rig was designed and built to facilitate multiphase flow through 38mm diameter cylindrical rock samples over a range of temperatures, fluid types, fluid pressures and confining stress equivalent to less than 4km depth. It also allows the injection of tracers and other such markers along with fluid sample collection post rock contact.

The equipment consists of a Hassler-type high-pressure vessel which holds cylindrical rock samples of 38mm diameter and up to 80mm in length. The fluid pumps (both brine and CO2) are designed for high temperature, pressure and supercritical CO2 conditions. All wetting parts within the system are in 316 stainless steel or PEEK to limit corrosion. Injection is at the bottom of the sample to minimise slug flow and maximise the effects of buoyancy. 

The THMC Multiphase Flow Rig is rated to provide:

  • up to 60MPa radial confining (σ2=σ3) pressure.
  • up to 60MPa fluid pressure.
  • up to 80°C rock temperature.
  • up to 80°C injection fluid temperature.
  • single and multiphase fluid flow including supercritical, liquid and gaseous CO2, hydrogen, nitrogen, water and brines.
  • flow rates from 0.001ml/min to 20ml/min depending on pump type.
    • ISCO Syringe pumps with 100ml capacity
    • CP Class dual-headed, positive displacement piston pumps with constant pressure or flow rate control.
    • Cetoni Dual Syringe Pump system
  • upstream, downstream and differential pressure measurement and logging.
  • fluid sampling
  • full lab view control and logging
  • 38mm diameter and up to 80mm length samples

The Hydrogen Flow Cell is devised to combine with a Hiden HPR20 mass spectrometer designed to characterise the bulk flow properties of hydrogen through a 1m long sandstone core at elevated temperature and pressure.

Breakthrough curves can be used to determine: advective velocity; mechanical dispersion; molecular diffusion and sorption of hydrogen during mass transfer through porous reservoir sandstones.

The Hydrogen Flow Rig has been designed to provide:

  • 1m long, 38mm diameter fell sandstone core contained within gas tight foil, resin and stainless steel piping.
  • up to 1MPa gas pressure.
  • up to 60°C rock temperature.
  • up to 60°C injection gas temperature.
  • single and multiphase gas flow including hydrogen, nitrogen, noble gasses, SF6 tracer and CO2.
  • flow rates from 0.01ml/min to 10ml/min.
  • upstream, downstream and differential pressure measurement and logging.
  • gas sampling by Hiden HPR20 mass spectrometer.

The Low Pressure CO2 Flow Cell is devised to combine with a Hiden HPR20 mass spectrometer designed to characterise the bulk flow properties of CO2, nitrogen, noble gasses, SF6 and other tracers through a 1m long sandstone core.

Breakthrough curves can be used to determine: advective velocity; mechanical dispersion; molecular diffusion and sorption of CO2 and tracers during mass transfer through porous reservoir sandstones.

The Low Pressure CO2 Flow Rig is designed to provide:

  • 1m long, 38mm diameter fell sandstone core contained within gas tight foil, resin and stainless steel piping.
  • up to 1MPa gas pressure.
  • up to 60°C rock temperature.
  • up to 60°C injection gas temperature.
  • single and multiphase gas flow including CO2, nitrogen, noble gasses, SF6 and other tracers
  • flow rates from 0.01ml/min to 10ml/min.
  • upstream, downstream and differential pressure measurement and logging.
  • gas sampling by Hiden HPR20 mass spectrometer.

The Reactive Flow Rig was designed and built to facilitate multi-phase flow through 38mm diameter cylindrical rock samples over a range of temperatures, fluid types, fluid pressures and confining stress equivalent to less than 4km depth. It also allows the injection of tracers and other such markers along with fluid sample collection post-rock contact.

The reactive flow rig consists of a Hassler-type high-pressure vessel which holds cylindrical rock samples of 38mm diameter and up to 80mm in length. The fluid pumps (brine, hydrogen, CO2 ) are designed for high temperature, pressure, hydrogen and supercritical CO2 conditions. All wetting parts within the system are in 316 stainless steel or PEEK to limit corrosion. 

The Reactive Flow Rig is rated to provide:

  • up to 60MPa radial confining (σ2=σ3) pressure.
  • up to 60MPa fluid pressure.
  • up to 80°C rock temperature.
  • up to 80°C injection fluid temperature.
  • single and multi-phase fluid flow including supercritical, liquid and gaseous CO2, hydrogen, nitrogen, water and brines.
  • flow rates from 0.001ml/min to 20ml/min depending on pump type.
    • ISCO Syringe pumps with 100ml capacity
    • CP Class dual-headed, positive displacement piston pumps with constant pressure or flow rate control.
    • Cetoni Dual Syringe Pump system
  • upstream, downstream and differential pressure measurement and logging.
  • fluid sampling
  • full lab view control and logging
  • 38mm diameter and up to 80mm length samples

The Unconfined Loading Rig is designed to develop an understanding of the processes involved during creep and deformation in large (200mm diameter) rock samples, particularly the creep of salts for energy storage in salt caverns.

The Unconfined Loading Rig is rated to provide:

  • 200mm diameter and length samples
  • up to 700 bar load
  • up to 70MPa injection pore fluid pressure
  • up to 60°C rock temperature
  • up to 60°C injection gas temperature
  • pore pressure measurement and logging
  • gas sampling by Hiden HPR20 mass spectrometer

The Freeze Thaw Rig was designed to evaluate the impact of freeze-thaw cycling via CO2 Joule Thomson induced freezing up to -55°C on 38mm diameter and 200mm diameter rock samples under isotropic stress.

The rig is combined with state-of-the-art analytical tools such as fibre optic strain, X-Ray CT and temperature sensing to investigate the influence of thermal gradients within rocks. 

The experimental setup also facilitates sensitivity studies to investigate:

  • the effect of repeated freeze-thaw cycles and material integrity
  • rock failure mechanisms
  • freezing rock volume and temperature gradients

The Freeze Thaw Rig is rated to provide:

  • 38mm and 200mm diameter and length transparent artificial samples and rock samples
  • up to 80°C rock temperature.
  • -55°C freezing through CO2 depressurisation Joule Thomson cooling
  • fibre optic strain measurements with the ODiSI-B data acquisition system provided by LUNA Technologies, with strain measurements every 2.6mm.
  • fluid and gas sampling (Hiden HPR20 mass spectrometer).
  • X-Ray CT
  • fracture surface scanning using GOM ATOS III 3D scanner at the Advanced Forming Research Centre.

The hydrogen high pressure and temperature batch reaction vessels have been designed to facilitate multi-phase reaction with samples over a range of gas types (including hydrogen and CO2) temperatures, fluid types, and pressures, the equivalent of up to 4km depth. The vessels have constant pressure monitoring with fluid and gas sampling during the experiments possible. 

The hydrogen high pressure and temperature batch reaction vessels are rated to provide:

  • up to 80MPa gas pressure.
  • up to 80MPa fluid pressure.
  • up to 80°C rock temperature.
  • single and multi-phase fluids including:
    • supercritical, liquid and gaseous CO2
    • hydrogen
    • nitrogen
    • water
    • high salinity brines
  • pressure measurement and logging.
  • fluid sampling
  • full lab view control and logging
  • sample sizes from powder to 40mm diameter cores

The High Pressure and Temperature Batch Reaction Vessels are Parr manufactured 300 ml stainless steel batch reaction vessels with a custom-made Teflon liner. 

The Parr vessels have several fittings, including dual sampling valves (attached to an internal titanium dip-tube), a titanium thermocouple well, line for pressure monitoring and a rupture assembly for safety. 

Numerous batch reactors are available and allow the simultaneous run of a control, a closed system batch reaction, and a batch reaction that allows the fluids to be repetitively sampled throughout the experiment duration.

The High Pressure and Temperature Batch Reaction Vessels are rated to provide:

  • 200 bar pressure
  • up to 300°C temperature
  • a wide variety of rock and fluid types
  • fluid sampling for ICP analysis

The multiphase microfluidic flow system,  equipped with a high-resolution camera, was designed and built to explore and visualize pore-scale single and multiphase fluid flow processes. Optical clear chips create optimal conditions to study physical processes that normally occur inside rock formations over a range of temperatures, fluid types and fluid pressures. 

The system facilitates precise control of pressure and flow rates, coupled with real-time image analysis. This advanced platform supports a wide range of research applications, including the multi-phase flow of hydrogen and CO2 to analyse pore scale flow dynamics (including mixing); contaminant transport; microbial activity, biofilm growth and microbial interactions at the pores scale; fluid property evaluations to assess how viscosity, density, and salinity influence multiphase flow, and surface interaction studies to evaluate the impact of surface properties, such as wettability, on fluid flow behaviour.

The Multiphase Micromodel Rig consists of a high-resolution camera, adaptable light sources (including UV) and glass micromodel slides. A range of syringe pumps, including Cetoni, InfusionONE and ISCO fluid syringe pumps (brine, hydrogen, CO2, etc ) and back pressure regulators are designed for elevated temperature, pressure, hydrogen and CO2 condinions. All wetting parts within the system are in 316 stainless steel or PEEK to limit corrosion.

The Multiphase Micromodel Rig is rated to provide:

  • up to 100 bar fluid pressure.
  • up to 80°C temperature.
  • single and multi-phase fluid flow including CO2, hydrogen, nitrogen, water and brines.
  • A range of ISCO, Cetoni and InfusionONE Syringe pumps with varying capacities to suit requirements
  • flow rates from 0.001ml/min to 20ml/min depending on pump type.
  • upstream, downstream and differential pressure measurement and logging.
  • Optical recording and visualisation of pore scale processes
  • Pulsed flow through the use of a solenoid valve and bespoke flow control system
  • fluid sampling of effluent
  • full computer control and logging
  • Optical micromodel slides with varying wettability and pore network geometries to facilitate pore scale modelling and analysis

The Micro-CT Hydrogen Flow Cell was designed and built to explore and visualize pore-scale single and multiphase hydrogen fluid flow processes through 5mm diameter real rock samples. The system facilitates precise control of pressure and flow rates, coupled with X-Ray CT image analysis of the flow processes and pore network. 

This advanced platform supports a wide range of research applications, including the multi-phase flow of hydrogen and CO2 to analyse pore scale flow dynamics; contaminant transport; microbial activity, biofilm growth and microbial interactions at the pores scale; fluid property evaluations to assess how viscosity, density, and salinity influence multiphase flow, and surface interaction studies to evaluate the impact of surface properties, such as wettability, on fluid flow behaviour. The cell has been successfully deployed for pore-scale imaging of hydrogen displacement and trapping in porous media  at the UK Diamond Syncotron facility. You can read the relevant publication here.

The Micro-CT Hydrogen Flow Cell is a bespoke carbon-fibre reinforced PEEK pressure vessel that is X-ray transparent and can be used within our inhouse X-ray facilities and at other X-ray facilities. The design facilitates fluid flow via a range of syringe pumps, including Cetoni, InfusionONE and ISCO fluid syringe pumps, capable of handling a range of fluids including brine, hydrogen, CO2, etc. 

Back pressure regulators are designed for elevated temperature, pressure, hydrogen and CO2 conditions. All wetting parts within the system are in 316 stainless steel or PEEK to limit corrosion.

The Micro-CT Hydrogen Flow Cell is rated to provide:

  • Up to 10 MPa confining pressure
  • up to 10MPa pore fluid pressure.
  • up to 80°C temperature.
  • single and multi-phase fluid flow including CO2, hydrogen, nitrogen, water and brines.
  • A range of ISCO, Cetoni and InfusionONE Syringe pumps with varying capacities to suit requirements
  • flow rates from 0.001ml/min to 20ml/min depending on pump type.
  • upstream, downstream and differential pressure measurement and logging.
  • fluid sampling
  • supported by 3D image analysis

The Optical Multiphase Static Batch Reaction Vessels are used within the Multiphase Microfluidic Flow Rig and was designed and built to explore and visualize mineral surface reaction processes. Pressure vessels with sapphire optical windows create optimal conditions to study the geochemical processes that normally occur inside rock formations over a range of temperatures, fluid types and fluid pressures. 

The system facilitates precise control of pressure and flow rates, coupled with real-time image analysis. This advanced platform supports a wide range of research applications, including geochemical reactions; microbial activity, biofilm growth and microbial interactions; and surface interaction studies to evaluate the impact of geochemical processes on mineral surface properties.

The Optical Multiphase Static Batch Reaction Vessels consists of a high-resolution camera, adaptable light sources (including UV) and a high-pressure optical batch reaction vessel. A range of syringe pumps, including Cetoni, InfusionONE and ISCO fluid syringe pumps (brine, hydrogen, CO2, etc ) and back pressure regulators are designed for elevated temperature, pressure, hydrogen and CO2 conditions. All wetting parts within the system are in 316 stainless steel or PEEK to limit corrosion.

The Optical Multiphase Static Batch Reaction Vessels are rated to provide:

  • up to 80 MPa fluid pressure.
  • up to 80°C temperature.
  • single and multi-phase fluids including CO2 (gas, supercritical and liquid), hydrogen, nitrogen, water and brines.
  • fluid sampling
  • Optical recording and visualisation of surface reaction processes (and wettability)
  • full computer control and logging

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