• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2011

We performed a numerical modeling study of thermodynamic and multiphase fluid flow processes associated with underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) in a lined rock cavern (LRC). We investigated air tightness performance by calculating air leakage rate of the underground storage cavern with concrete linings at a comparatively shallow depth of 100 m. Our air-mass balance analysis showed that the key parameter to assure the long-term air tightness of such a system was the permeability of both concrete linings and surrounding rock mass. It was noted that concrete linings with a permeability of less than $1.0{\times}10^{-18}\;m^2$ would result in an acceptable air leakage rate of less than 1% with the operational pressure range between 5 and 8 MPa. We also found that air leakage could be effectively prevented and the air tightness performance of underground lined rock cavern is enhanced if the concrete lining is kept at a higher moisture content.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2011

In this paper, we performed thermodynamic energy balance analysis of the underground lined rock cavern for compressed air energy storage (CAES) using the results of multi-phase heat flow analysis to simulate complex groundwater-compressed air flow around the cavern as well as heat transfer to concrete linings and surrounding rock mass. Our energy balance analysis demonstrated that the energy loss for a daily compression and decompression cycle predominantly depends on the energy loss by heat conduction to the concrete linings and surrounding rock mass for a sufficiently air-tight system with low permeability of the concrete linings. Overall energy efficiency of the underground lined rock caverns for CAES was sensitive to air injection temperature, and the energy loss by heat conduction can be minimized by keeping the air injection temperature closer to the ambient temperature of the surroundings. In such a case, almost all the heat loss during compression phase was gained back in a subsequent decompression phase. Meanwhile, the influence of heat conductivity of the concrete linings to energy efficiency was negligible.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.1 s.60
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• pp.38-49
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• 2006

LNG storage in lined rock cavern demands various techniques concerned with rock mechanics, thermo-mechanics and hydrogeology in design, construction and maintenance stage. LNG pilot cavern was constructed in Daejeon in order to verify these techniques. In this paper, evaluation of drainage system and ice ring formation was studied by numerical simulation. By Modflow analysis in the viewpoint of aquifer and Seep/W analysis in the viewpoint of flow system, it was verified that the drainage system in the pilot cavern was efficiently operated. Since ice ring formation can be simulated by interactive relation between heat transfer and water flow, coupled analysis of those was performed. In this analysis, the position of ice ring was presumed and it was demonstrated that the formation is affected by velocity and direction of groundwater flow.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.233-237
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• 2003

For Taejon LNG Pilot Cavern being constructed to verify the technical aspects for storing LNG in lined rock cavern, various numerical studies were carried out to estimate the temperature profile and to understand thermo-mechanical behaviour in the rock around the cavern. With the help of Claesson's analytical solution and numerical models, the extent of zero degree isotherm and possible boil-off rate of gas to be stored were estimated. Even though the tensile stress by cooling down is very large compared to the tensile strength of the rock, it has been shown that possible rock yielding might bring about the dramatic reduction of the stress.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.394-405
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• 2011

In this paper, we applied coupled non-isothermal, multiphase fluid flow and geomechanical numerical modeling using TOUGH-FLAC coupled analysis to study the complex thermodynamic and geomechanical performance of underground lined rock caverns (LRC) for compressed air energy storage (CAES). Mechanical stress in concrete linings as well as pressure and temperature within a storage cavern were examined during initial and long-term operation of the storage cavern for CAES. Our geomechanical analysis showed that effective stresses could decrease due to air penetration pressure, and tangential tensile stress could develop in the linings as a result of the air pressure exerted on the inner surface of the lining, which would result in tensile fracturing. According to the simulation in which the tensile tangential stresses resulted in radial cracks, increment of linings' permeability and air leakage though the linings, tensile fracturing occurred at the top and at the side wall of the cavern, and the permeability could increase to $5.0{\times}10^{-13}m^2$ from initially prescribed $10{\times}10^{-20}m^2$. However, this air leakage was minor (about 0.02% of the daily air injection rate) and did not significantly impact the overall storage pressure that was kept constant thanks to sufficiently air tight surrounding rocks, which supports the validity of the concrete-lined underground caverns for CAES.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.711-715
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• 2003

For Taejon LNG Pilot Cavern being constructed to verify the technical aspects for storing LNG in lined rock cavern, efficiency tests of groundwater drainage system composed of many pumps and boreholes were performed around the cavern before and after the construction of concrete lining. Through evaluation of water balance and monitoring of pressures and flowrates, even if the present drainage system is very good for reducing water entries into the cavern, non-negligible water is still flowing in the floor of the cavern concrete due to heavy rainfall. To improve the drainage efficiency, additional drainage holes and some grouting were planned.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.434-445
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• 2010

Underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) system in a lined rock cavern is considered one of the promising large-scale energy storage technologies. In this study, permeabilities of concrete lining block and its construction joint, which are the major components of an air tightness system of the undeground CAES, were measured from a model experiment. From the experiment, it was found that intrinsic permeability of construction joint was larger than that of concrete block by the order scale of $10^1{\sim}10^4$, so that it would be very important to control the quality of construction joints in-situ in order to secure air tightness of storage system. And the permeability of construction joint could be decreased as low as that of the concrete block by pasting an acryl-type adhesive on bonding surfaces. Higher degrees of water saturation of the concrete block resulted in the lower permeability, which is more preferable in the viewpoint of air tightness of storage cavern.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.3 s.62
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• pp.241-250
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• 2006

Ice ring formation, one of the core techniques in LNG storage in a lined rock cavern, is investigated through hydro-thermal coupled analysis. An ice ring acts as a secondary barrier in case of leakage of cryogenic liquid and as a primary barrier for groundwater intrusion into an LNG cavern. Therefore, the thickness and location of the ice ring are crucial factors for the safe operation of an LNG storage cavern, especially for maintaining the integrity of a primary barrier composed of concrete, PU foam, and steel membrane. Through numerical analyses, the position and thickness of the ice ring are estimated, and the temperature and groundwater level are compared with measured values. The temperature md groundwater level by numerical analyses show good agreement with the field measurements when temperature-dependent properties and phase change are taken into account. The schemes used in this paper can be applied for estimation of ice ring formation in designing a full-scale LNG cavern.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.4 s.63
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• pp.296-306
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• 2006

It is difficult to solve problems regarding the adjustment on demand and supply of LNG due to seasonal variations of domestic demand of LNG, a discordance among import pattern and limits of storage facilities and so on. Also, there may be instability in LNG supply due to chances of accidents at LNG producing areas. Therefore, it is very important to secure large LNG storage facilities and to stabilize LNG supply management on a long term basis. The objective of this study is to examine the real-scale applicability of a lined underground rock storage system, which have been verified by a successful operation of the Daejeon LNG pilot plant. The new technology has many advantages of better economy, safety and environment protection, for above-ground and in-ground storage systems. The results of this study may promote the first ever real scale underground LNG storage system in a rock cavern.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2012

In a material, micro-cracks can be progressively occurred, propagated and finally lead to failure when it is subjected to cyclic or periodic loading less than its ultimate strength. This phenomenon, fatigue, is usually considered in a metal, alloy and structures under repeated loading conditions. In underground structures, a static creep behavior rather than a dynamic fatigue behavior is mostly considered. However, when compressed air is stored in a rock cavern, an inner pressure is periodically changed due to repeated in- and-out process of compressed air. Therefore mechanical properties of surrounding rock mass and an inner lining system under cyclic loading/unloading conditions should be investigated. In this study, considering an underground lined rock cavern for compressed air energy storage (CAES), the mechanical properties of a lining system, that is, concrete lining and plug under periodic loading/unloading conditions were characterized through cyclic bending tests and shear tests. From these tests, the stability of the plug was evaluated and the S-N line of the concrete lining was obtained.