Viscosities, thermal conductivities and diffusion coefficients of CO₂ mixtures: Review of experimental data and theoretical models

Accurate experimental data on the thermo-physical properties of CO₂-mixtures are prerequisites for development of more accurate models and hence more precise design of CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) processes. A literature survey was conducted on both the available experimental data and the theoretical models associated with the transport properties of CO₂-mixtures within the operation windows of CCS. Gaps were identified between the available knowledge and requirements of the system design and operation. For the experimental gas-phase measurements, there are no available data about any transport properties of CO₂/H₂S, CO₂/COS and CO₂/NH₃; and except for CO₂/H₂O, CO₂/H₂O/NaCl and CO₂/amine/H₂O mixtures, there are no available measurements regarding the transport properties of any liquid-phase mixtures. In the prediction of gas-phase viscosities using Chapman-Enskog theory, deviations are typically less than 2% at atmospheric pressure and moderate temperatures. The deviations increase with increasing temperatures and pressures. Using both the Rigorous Kinetic Theory (RKT) and empirical models in the prediction of gas-phase thermal conductivities, typical deviations are 2.2-9%. Comparison of popular empirical models for estimation of gas-phase diffusion coefficients with newer experimental data for CO₂/H₂O shows deviations of up to 20%. For many mixtures relevant for CCS, the diffusion coefficient models based on the RKT show predictions within the experimental uncertainty. Typical reported deviations of the CO₂/H₂O system using empirical models are below 3% for the viscosity and the thermal conductivity and between 5-20% for the diffusion coefficients. The research community knows little about the effect of other impurities in liquid CO₂ than water, and this is an important area to focus at in future work.
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