Towards improved genetic programming based-correlations for predicting the interfacial tension of the systems pure/impure CO2-brine

Background-: Accurate knowledge of the interfacial tension (IFT) of the systems pure/impure CO2-brine has significant importance for satisfying the dichotomy of maximizing CO2 injections and minimizing leakage risks during injection of CO2 in deep saline aquifers for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). Methods-: In this study, new explicit correlations were implemented using the genetic programming (GP) approach for estimating the IFT of the systems pure/impure CO2-brine under widespread operational conditions. In this regard, 2346 authenticated IFT measurements for these systems were utilized by considering pressure, temperature, monovalent cation molality, bivalent cation molality, and the mole fractions of CH4 and N-2 as the correlations' inputs. Significant Findings-: The obtained results showed that the outcomes of GP-based correlations were in high agreement with the real IFT measurements. Moreover, GP-based correlations achieved overall coefficient of determination (R-2) and root mean square error (RMSE) values of 0.9519 and 3.30, respectively. Besides, the GP-based correlations outperformed the best existing explicit correlations for estimating the IFT of the systems pure/impure CO2-brine. Lastly, the performed trend analyses revealed that these newly implemented correlations preserved correctly the physics sense with respect to changes in the independent variables. (C) 2021 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, new explicit correlations for estimating the interfacial tension of pure/impure CO2-brine systems were developed using genetic programming, achieving high agreement with real measurements and outperforming existing models. The newly implemented correlations accurately captured the physics sense of the system's behavior under changes in independent variables, showing great potential for applications in carbon capture and sequestration processes.