Experimental Study on Gaseous CO2 Leakage and Dispersion Characteristics in a Scaled Pipeline Station

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is key to achieving the “dual carbon” goals. CO 2 pipelines connect capture sources with utilization or storage sites, enabling large-scale deployment. However, leakage incidents occur frequently during CO 2 pipeline transportation, which not only disrupt normal production operations, but also pose serious threats to the safety of on-site personnel. Therefore, investigating the leakage and dispersion characteristics of CO 2 in pipeline stations is of great significance for the safety design and personnel protection of these facilities. To better understand CO 2 leakage and dispersion within pipeline stations, a scaled experimental platform was developed to reproduce the main spatial layout and obstacle configuration of a typical pipeline station. A series of controlled experiments were conducted to investigate the leakage and dispersion characteristics of gaseous CO 2 . The effects of five key factors on the leakage and dispersion process were systematically analyzed: leakage orifice diameter (0.5-10 mm), leakage direction (0°-90°), leakage pressure (3-5 MPa), leakage duration (1-5 min), and ambient wind speed (0-0.4 m/s). It also classified the hazard levels of different areas within the station. The results and conclusions of this research can provide guidance for the design and operation of CO 2 pipeline stations.