Influence of the Variability of Compressed Air Temperature on Selected Parameters of the Deformation-Stress State of the Rock Mass Around a CAES Salt Cavern

Abstract

The article presents the results of a numerical simulation of the deformation-stress state in the rock mass around a salt cavern which is a part of a CAES installation (Compressed Air Energy Storage). The model is based on the parameters of the Huntorf power plant installation. The influence of temperature and salt-creep speed on the stability of the storage cavern was determined on the basis of the three different stress criteria and the effort of the rock mass in three points of the cavern at different time intervals. The analysis includes two creep speeds, which represent two different types of salt. The solutions showed that the influence of temperature on the deformation-stress state around the CAES cavern is of importance when considering the stress state at a distance of less than 60 m from the cavern axis (at cavern diameter 30–35 m). With an increase in cavern diameter, it is possible that the impact range will be proportionately larger, but each case requires individual modeling that includes the shape of the cavern and the cavern working cycle.

Keywords

• salt cavern
• Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES)
• thermo-mechanical effects