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An Analytical Solution for Analyzing the Sealing-efficiency of Compressed Air Energy Storage Caverns

  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Published:
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Abstract

Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) is a commercial, utility-scale technology that is suitable for providing long-duration energy storage. Underground air storage caverns are an important part of CAES. In this paper, an analytical solution for calculating air leakage and energy loss within underground caverns were proposed. Using the proposed solution, the air leakage and energy loss under a typical CAES operation pressure were analyzed, and the influences of the permeability of the concrete lining and the lining thickness on the sealing efficiency of underground caverns were investigated. The results showed that under a typical CAES operation pressure, a concrete lining with a permeability of less than 6.36 × 10−18 m2 would result in an acceptable air leakage rate of less than 1%. Air leakage will increase linearly with increasing lining permeability. Increasing the thickness of the concrete lining could enhance the sealing efficiency of the storage cavern.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Geotechnical Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Bin Ye, Zirui Cheng & Weimin Ye

  2. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Bin Ye

  3. Dept. of Science and Technology Information, Shanghai Electric Power Design Institute, Shanghai, 200002, China

    Yicheng Peng

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  1. Bin Ye
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  2. Zirui Cheng
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  3. Weimin Ye
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  4. Yicheng Peng
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Correspondence to Bin Ye.

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Ye, B., Cheng, Z., Ye, W. et al. An Analytical Solution for Analyzing the Sealing-efficiency of Compressed Air Energy Storage Caverns. KSCE J Civ Eng 23, 2025–2035 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-019-0260-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-019-0260-6

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