Flow measurement of wet CO2 using an averaging pitot tube and coriolis mass flowmeters

The flow measurement of wet-gas is an active field with extensive research background that remains a modern-day challenge. The implication of wet-gas flow conditions is no different in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) pipelines. The associated complex flow regime with wet-gas flow makes it difficult to accurately meter the flow rate of the gas phase. Some conventional single-phase flowmeters like the Coriolis, Orifice plate, Ultrasonic, V-Cone, Venturi and Vortex have been tested for this application, usually accompanied with special recommendations. Often, a correlation equation valid within a certain range of specific conditions is required to correct the response of the flowmeter. This paper presents investigations into the suitability and performance of one of the most advanced averaging pitot tubes for the flow measurement of wet CO2 gas. The averaging pitot tube with flow conditioning wing geometry (APT-FCW) was studied and experimentally assessed in earlier work for the flow measurement of pure and dry CO2 within an error of ±1%. Under wet-gas conditions, however, the APT-FCW sensor is found to give an error of up to ±25% and within ±1.5% after appropriate correcting solutions are applied for a liquid fraction of up to 20%.