• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.150-159
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• 2013

It is generally well known that the stratification of thermal energy in heat stores can be improved by increasing the aspect ratio (the height-to-width ratio) of the stores. Accordingly, it will be desirable to apply a high aspect ratio so as to demonstrate the good thermal performance of heat stores. However, as the aspect ratio of a store increases, the height of the store become larger compared to its width, which may be unfavorable for the structural stability of the store. Therefore, to determine an optimum aspect ratio of heat stores, a quantitative mechanical stability assessment should be performed in addition to thermal performance evaluations. In the present study, we numerically investigated the mechanical stability of silo-shaped rock caverns for underground thermal energy storage at different aspect ratios. The applied aspect ratios ranged from 1 to 6 and the mechanical stability was examined based on factor of safety using a shear strength reduction method. The results from the present study showed that the factor of safety of rock caverns tended to decrease with the increase in aspect ratio and the stress ratio of the surrounding rock mass was influential to the stability of the caverns. In addition, the numerical results demonstrated that under the same conditions of rock mass properties and aspect ratio, mechanical stability could be improved by the reduction in cavern size (storage volume), which indicates that one can design high-aspect-ratio rock caverns by dividing a single large cavern into multiple small caverns.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
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• 1999.03a
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• pp.59-64
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• 1999

지하암반은 계절적 대기온도 변화의 영향을 거의 받지 않는 온도조건 및 뛰어난 단열성으로 인해 물류의 저온냉동저장이나 액화연료의 저장 등을 위한 좋은 대상으로 인식되고 있다. 이러한 분야에 있어서 암반의 열물성 및 열유동 특성은 매우 중요한 요소로서, 이는 장기적인 에너지절약 및 지하구조물의 열역학적 안정성의 정확한 평가와 직접적 연관이 된다. (중략)

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.291-303
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• 2002

In this study, three-dimensional block generation program was developed using the discontinuities input data for three-dimensional mechanical and hydro-mechanical analysis. Shi's two dimensional theory and program was extended to those of three-dimension and the deformations of blocks were calculated. The two-dimensional hyro-mechanical theory of DDA was also extended to three-dimensional theory and coupling deformation of the underground cavern was analyzed considering discontinuities.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.193-205
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• 2008

The construction of underground structures such as oil and food storage caverns are recently increasing in our country. The stability of those underground caverns are greatly influenced by their shape and size. In this study therefore, the effect that the shape of an underground cavern have on its stability were analyzed in terms of safety factor. To this end, caverns with 5 different shapes were investigated and sensitivity analyses were performed based on rock class, overburden, and lateral earth pressure coefficient. The proper amount of shotcrete and rockbolt as supports of a cavern was also assumed based on the shape and site of the cavern and rock conditions. This study is expected to be helpful in designing and evaluating the stability of caverns in future.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.189-198
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• 2009

Recently the concern about the construction of underground structures such as oil and food storage caverns is increasing in Korea and abroad. The stability of those underground caverns is greatly influenced by shape factor and the size of excavation area as well as the joint conditions. In this study, therefore, the effect of the shape factor of an underground cavern on its stability was analyzed in terms of safety factor. To this end, four different shape factors of a cavern excavated in good rock conditions were investigated and sensitivity analyses were performed based on overburden, lateral earth pressure coefficient, joint spacing, properties, and orientation. The stability of a cavern is evaluated in terms of safety factor estimated numerically based on the shear strength reduction technique. In future, this study is expected to be helpful in designing and evaluating the stability of caverns excavated in discontinuous rock masses.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.142-151
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• 2002

Claesson(2001)'s analytical solution, and two numerical models with Dirichlet and Neuman interior boundary condition respectively were investigated to estimate the transient temperature distribution with distances from the Taejon underground food cold storage pilot cavern. Claesson's solution, which is based on constant temperature boundary condition at the rock wall during a temperature decline step, showed relatively good agreement with temperature measurements in the rock mass in order of average error difference, 0.89$\^{C}$ without any adjustments on laboratory thermal properties to represent the rock mass. For the numerical model with heat flux through the rock wall, a boundary condition setting technique was newly proposed to overcome the difficulty of prescribing variable convective heat tranfer coefficient and far-field air temperature inside the cavern as they may be certainly changed according to the cooling-down time. The results showed also good agreement with measurements in order of average error difference, 1.58$\^{C}$, and were compared to those of the numerical model with fixed temperature at the rock wall. Finally, the most proper procedure to precisely predict the temperature profile around a cavern was proposed as a series of analysis steps including an analytical exact solution and numerical models.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.249-256
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• 2000

According to the industrial restructuring in the late 1980's, most domestic mines have been shutdown or suspended in operation. The closed underground excavation caverns remain in their abandoned conditions, and they will potentially cause environmental hazards. To evaluate the feasibility of the utilization of the abandoned caverns, the foreign crises were studied. As a result, we proposed several possible examples including underground storage cavern fur food products, underground compressed air energy system(CAES), and underground repository (or incineration plant) of industrial wastes. Among them, the underground waste repositories are most probable to be seen in Korea in the near future. For this, the study in rock engineering aspects should be conducted, which will include the establishment of support system and safety measure of the abandoned underground excavation caverns.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2012

Thermal energy storage is defined as the temporary storage of thermal energy at high or low temperatures for later use in need. The energy storage can reduce the time or rate mismatch between energy supply and demand, and thus it plays an important role in conserving energy and improving the efficiency of energy utilization, especially for renewable energy sources which provide energy intermittently. Underground thermal energy storage (UTES) can have additional advantages in energy efficiency thanks to low thermal conductivity and high heat capacity of surrounding rock mass. In this paper, we introduced the technologies of underground thermal energy storage and rock caverns for hot water storage in Sweden.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2004

As underground caverns have many advantages such as safety and operation, they can also be used for gas storage purpose. When liquefied gas is stored underground, the cryogenic temperature of the gas affects the stability of the storage cavern. In order to store the liquefied gas successfully, it is essential to estimate the exact temperature distribution of the rock mass around the caverns. The main purpose of this study is the development of theoretical solution to be able to estimate the temperature distribution around storage caverns and the assessment of the solution. In this study, a theoretical solution and a conceptual model for estimating two and three dimensional temperature distribution around the storage caverns are suggested. Based on the multi-dimensional transient heat transfer theory, the theoretical solution is successfully derived by assuming the caverns shape as simplified geometry. In order to assess the theoretical solution, by performing numerical experiments with this multi-dimensional model, the temperature distribution of the theoretical solution is compared with that of numerical analysis. Furthermore, the effects of the caverns size are investigated.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2005

To investigate the feasibility of a new concept of storing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in a lined hard rock cavern, and to develop essential technologies for constructing underground LNG storage facilities, a small pilot plant storing liquid nitrogen (LN2) has been constructed at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM). The LN2 stored in the cavern will subject the host rock around the cavern to very low temperatures, which is expected to cause the development of an ice ring and the change of ground condition around the storage cavern. To investigate and monitor changes in ground conditions at this pilot plant site, geophysical, hydrogeological, and rock mechanical investigations were carried out. In particular, geophysical methods including borehole radar and three-dimensional (3D) resistivity surveys were used to identify and monitor the development of an ice ring, and other possible changes in ground conditions resulting from the very low temperature of LN2 in the storage tank. We acquired 3D resistivity data before and after storing the LN2, and the results were compared. From the 3D images obtained during the three phases of the resistivity monitoring survey, we delineated zones of distinct resistivity changes that are closely related to the storage of LN2. In these results, we observed a decrease in resistivity at the eastern part of the storage cavern. Comparing the hydrogeological data and Joint patterns around the storage cavern, we interpret this change in resistivity to result from changes in the groundwater flow pattern. Freezing of the host rock by the very low temperature of LN2 causes a drastic change in the hydrogeological conditions and groundwater flow patterns in this pilot plant.