Omega Simulation to Undertake Two Decarbonization Promotion Projects for the Nippon Foundation

Summary

Omega Simulation Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, announces that it has been selected by the Nippon Foundation, a private, non-profit grant-making organization, to undertake two projects as part of the Nippon Foundation - DeepStar^*1 Joint Research and Development Program for the promotion of decarbonization in the field of offshore oil and natural gas. These projects are scheduled to commence on June 1.

The two research & development projects are (1) the optimization of compression performance of CO2 using process model-based control technology, and (2) hydrogen-natural gas blends phase behavior for safe offshore pipeline transport of low-carbon energy. Both projects are developing necessary core technologies to promote decarbonization. In these research and development projects, Omega Simulation will conduct joint research with the Center for Hydrate Research of the Colorado School of Mines^*2 to demonstrate and model changes in the physical properties of hydrogen, natural gas and carbon dioxide while utilizing the company’s Mirror Plant^*3 technology.

Project overviews

1. Optimization of compression performance for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) using process model-based control technology

Objective: Development of control technology to maintain CO2 in a liquid state

Background: If captured CO2 can be kept in a liquid state when it is injected for sequestration (storage), compressor power consumption can be minimized. For this reason, it is expected that it will become standard practice to operate at a pressure level that is sufficient to maintain CO2 in a liquid state. The development of this technology is expected to enable efficient monitoring, fault prediction, and optimal operation planning for CCUS, and will lead to improved safety and efficiency.

Method:

• Modeling of CO2 phase (state) changes (gas, liquid, solid [dry ice]) depending on temperature and pressure
• Utilizing these models to develop control technology that maintains CO2 in a liquid state even when conditions fluctuate

• Based on actual data, modeling the characteristics of hydrogen-natural gas blends that vary based on the level of purity and presence of impurities
• Using these models to display the characteristics of constantly changing hydrogen-natural gas blends on a cloud-based wide area monitoring system
• Using these models to develop technology that derives safe and optimal operating ranges

_{*1  A global offshore technology development consortium based in Houston, Texas. Companies from around the world participate.
*2  A state university in Golden, Colorado, USA, that specializes in engineering and applied sciences and possesses expertise in the development and management of natural resources
*3  A plant simulator with an online connection to an integrated production control system that provides an accurate real-time online reproduction of the internal conditions of the plant during operation, such as faithfully reproducing invisible gas concentrations and continuous state changes over time.}
 

About the Nippon Foundation - DeepStar Joint Research and Development Program to Promote Decarbonization in the Field of Offshore Oil and Natural Gas

Based on a memorandum of understanding between the Nippon Foundation and the DeepStar consortium that was concluded in December 2021, and with funding provided by the Nippon Foundation, the two organizations will work together to promote the development of decarbonization technologies.

 
About Omega Simulation Co., Ltd.

Omega Simulation Co., Ltd. was established in April 1997, bringing together Yokogawa’s plant control system know-how and Mitsui Chemicals’ process simulation technology. Yokogawa currently holds 85.1% of the company’s stock, with the remainder held by Mitsui Chemicals. Omega Simulation is engaged in the development, sale, and maintenance of plant operation training simulators and software to support plant analysis, operation, and control.
 
The names of corporations, organizations, products, services and logos herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Omega Simulation Co., Ltd., or their respective holders.