US3276213A - Reservoir for the underground storage of liquefied gases - Google Patents

Reservoir for the underground storage of liquefied gases Download PDF

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Publication number
US3276213A
US3276213A US424078A US42407865A US3276213A US 3276213 A US3276213 A US 3276213A US 424078 A US424078 A US 424078A US 42407865 A US42407865 A US 42407865A US 3276213 A US3276213 A US 3276213A
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roof
cavern
shaft
reservoir
rock
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US424078A
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Joseph M Soesan
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Conch International Methane Ltd
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Conch International Methane Ltd
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
    • F17C3/005—Underground or underwater containers or vessels
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
    • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
    • F17C2203/0329—Foam
    • F17C2203/0333—Polyurethane
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
    • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
    • F17C2203/0337—Granular
    • F17C2203/0341—Perlite
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
    • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
    • F17C2203/0345—Fibres
    • F17C2203/035—Glass wool
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/03—Thermal insulations
    • F17C2203/0304—Thermal insulations by solid means
    • F17C2203/0354—Wood
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
    • F17C2203/0604—Liners
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
    • F17C2203/0636—Metals
    • F17C2203/0639—Steels
    • F17C2203/0643—Stainless steels
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/0634—Materials for walls or layers thereof
    • F17C2203/0636—Metals
    • F17C2203/0646—Aluminium
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/011—Oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/012—Hydrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/014—Nitrogen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/016—Noble gases (Ar, Kr, Xe)
    • F17C2221/017—Helium
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
    • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
    • F17C2221/033—Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/03—Mixtures
    • F17C2221/032—Hydrocarbons
    • F17C2221/035—Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
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    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/03—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the pressure level
    • F17C2223/033—Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/04—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by other properties of handled fluid before transfer
    • F17C2223/042—Localisation of the removal point
    • F17C2223/046—Localisation of the removal point in the liquid
    • F17C2223/047—Localisation of the removal point in the liquid with a dip tube
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/04—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by other properties of handled fluid after transfer
    • F17C2225/042—Localisation of the filling point
    • F17C2225/046—Localisation of the filling point in the liquid
    • F17C2225/047—Localisation of the filling point in the liquid with a dip tube
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
    • F17C2227/0128—Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
    • F17C2227/0135—Pumps
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
    • F17C2227/0128—Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
    • F17C2227/0171—Arrangement
    • F17C2227/0178—Arrangement in the vessel
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/01—Propulsion of the fluid
    • F17C2227/0128—Propulsion of the fluid with pumps or compressors
    • F17C2227/0171—Arrangement
    • F17C2227/0185—Arrangement comprising several pumps or compressors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0302—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating
    • F17C2227/0306—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating using the same fluid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0302—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating
    • F17C2227/0309—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating using another fluid
    • F17C2227/0311—Air heating
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/0302—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating
    • F17C2227/0309—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating using another fluid
    • F17C2227/0316—Water heating
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
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    • F17C2227/00—Transfer of fluids, i.e. method or means for transferring the fluid; Heat exchange with the fluid
    • F17C2227/03—Heat exchange with the fluid
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    • F17C2227/0309—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating using another fluid
    • F17C2227/0323—Heat exchange with the fluid by heating using another fluid in a closed loop
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    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/03—Treating the boil-off
    • F17C2265/031—Treating the boil-off by discharge
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
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    • F17C2270/00—Applications
    • F17C2270/01—Applications for fluid transport or storage
    • F17C2270/0142—Applications for fluid transport or storage placed underground
    • F17C2270/0144—Type of cavity
    • F17C2270/0149—Type of cavity by digging cavities
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/32—Hydrogen storage

Definitions

  • Certain earth formations such as limestone, shales and granite and rock-salt are substantially impermeable to liquids and, if they contain cracks, these cracks can be sealed before the reservoir is put into use and so produce a perfectly impermeable natural cavern.
  • fissures and cracks open up in the side walls or base of a cavern they are not normally serious because they do not result in any substantial spalling of the rock, and the fissures and cracks themselves are normally sealed by freezing of the ground water that enters them.
  • a preferred form of the present invention provides a reservoir for the storage of liquefied gases at temperatures below -20 C. comprising an underground cavern in a rock formation, a shaft extending from said cavern to the surface of the earth, a thermally insulated false roof extending over the cavern below the rock roof of the cavern and heating means for maintaining a temperature of above -20 C. in the space between said false roof and said rock roof.
  • the shaft Since the shaft normally forms part of the vapor space above the cavern reservoir, it will be subjected to these low temperatures and, owing to differential expansion and contraction between the shaft lining and the surrounding earth formations, gaps will open up which will permit leakage of gas from the reservoir.
  • the present invention also meets this difliculty since the heating means used for maintaining a substantially atmospheric temperature in the space between the false roof and the rock roof of the cavern may, at the same time, be used [for maintaining such a temperature throughout the length of the shaft.
  • the present invention is particularly suitable for the storage of the following gases, stored at their boiling point at about atmospheric pressure, the temperature of which boiling point is given after each of the materials listed:
  • the underground cavern used in this invention may be either a naturally occurring one or may be excavated from living rock. Any local permeabilitics in the rock can be sealed off by concrete or other suitable sealing compounds or, if the flow of ground water into the cavern is not a great quantity, one can rely on the cold product to be stored in the reservoir to freeze the water in local permeabilities and so automatically seal the cavern.
  • a lined cavern will not generally be necessary unless the product to be stored therein has to be subjected to rigorous exclusion of contaminants, for example liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. In such cases a cheap lining of metal or a suitable plastic may be used. This lining need have no structural strength for its sole purpose is to prevent contamination of the stored products.
  • the shaft extending from the cavern to the surface of the earth is sealed at the top by a metal head through which pass the various pipes necessary for the operation of the storage reservoir, such as the charging line, discharging line and a vapor relief line for the gases boiling off from the stored product.
  • a metal head through which pass the various pipes necessary for the operation of the storage reservoir, such as the charging line, discharging line and a vapor relief line for the gases boiling off from the stored product.
  • the thermally insulated false roof extending over the cavern below the rock roof of the cavern is sealed into the rock wall by suitable means and can be supported by hangers from the rock roof.
  • the thermal insulation may be hung below the false roof or may rest on the top of it.
  • the roof will be made of sheet metal capable of standing up to the low temperatures :3 involved without embrittlement, such as stainless steel or aluminum sheet. If necessary, it can be provided with suitable expansion means, such as corrugations, in order that it can be subjected to a wide temperature range without permanent deformation.
  • the heating means for maintaining a temperature of above 20 C. in the space between the false roof and the rock roof and also, where desired, throughout the length of the shaft is conveniently a flow of comparatively warm gas of the same type as is to be stored in liquefied condition in the reservoir.
  • a number of advantages arise. Firstly, small leakages through the false roof do not become important if the nature of the gas on both sides of the false roof is the same.
  • the natural boil-off of the liquefied gas from the stored product in the reservoir can be used as a source of the warm gas.
  • the product stored in the reservoir is a combustible gas, such as a liquefied hydrocarbon or liquefied hydrogen, the use of the same gas above the false roof minimizes the danger of the formation of explosive mixtures.
  • the flow of warm gas in the space between the false roof and the rock roof, and where desired the shaft may operate in a closed system of pipes or in free flow.
  • the latter system is to be preferred since it ensures maximum heat transfer and also that the spaces are swept continuously by the gas, and the leakage of contaminated gases, such as air, into the spaces is avoided.
  • free flow it is possible to control the pressure above the false roof so that it is always slightly higher than the pressure below the false roof, thus ensuring that any flow of gas across the false roof is a flow of warm gas into the reservoir rather than one of cold gas out of the reservoir, which might have adverse effects on the rock roof and the shaft.
  • gas flow be used as a heating means.
  • Suitable liquid flow such as warm water, flowing through suitable heat exchanger pipes can be employed. Also, where there is no danger of the formation of explosive mixtures, such as in the storage of liquefied oxygen, nitrogen and liquefied helium, ambient air can be blown through the space between the false roof and the rock roof and through the shaft to keep these spaces warm.
  • FIGURES I, II and III represent cross sections through typical reservoirs constructed in accordance with this invention, FIGURE I representing a reservoir involving the use of free gas flow as the heating means; FIGURE II involving the use of a closed gas flow cycle for said heating; and FIGURE III showing direct heating of the cavern roof.
  • l is the ground level and 2 represents the level at which the sub-strata of rock are found.
  • the ground between l and 2 is water permeable.
  • the rock below level 2 is impermeable to liquids except in local fissures and cracks, which can readily be sealed off.
  • a cavern 3 exists in the solid rock and is connected to the earths surface by a shaft 4.
  • the cavern has been made liquid-tight by sealing off all local cracks by suitable concrete grouting.
  • the upper part of the shaft 4 is lined by a metal liner 5, which extends down into the rock formation and is sealed into the rock at 6.
  • the shaft is covered by a detachable head 7.
  • a charging line 8 passes through the head to the foot of the reservoir and a discharging line 9 passes from the submerged electric motor pump 10 up through the shaft and out of the shaft head.
  • a vapor discharge line 11 also passes down the shaft and stops short of the highest level to which it is intended to fill the reservoir with liquid.
  • a plate metal roof 12 covers the reservoir above the highest intended liquid level and below the rock roof of the reservoir 13.
  • This 5 ⁇ false roof 12 is suitably sealed into the rock at its perimeter as at 14 and may be provided with corrugations 15 to allow it to expand and contract without any permanent deformation.
  • This roof can be supported from the rock roof 13 by suitable hangers 14a.
  • the false roof 12 carries a suitable thermal insulating 16.
  • This layer may be formed of any appropriate thermal insulating material, such as fibre glass, rock wool, balsa wood, perlite and foamed plastic, such as foamed polyurethane or foamed polyvinyl chloride.
  • the charging line 8, discharging line 9 and vapor relief line 11 all pass through the said roof, the last line terminating just below the roof.
  • this heating means comprises a gas blower 17, a line 19, which line passes through the head of the shaft and down to the space between the false roof l2 and the rock roof 13.
  • the gas in line 19 can be heated, if necessary, in heater 18 to a suitable temperature for maintaining the desired temperature above -20 C. in the space between the false roof l2 and the rock roof 13, and the shaft 4.
  • Heater 18 may operate on a cheap source of heat, such as ambient air, or river water or waste gases.
  • the line 19 at its lower end, connects with a distribution pipe 20 provided with suitable holes 21 for distributing the warm gas throughout the space to be maintained above 20 C.
  • the gas flowing through this space exits through the head of the shaft by line 22 and hence returns to blower 17.
  • gas may be directed from the vapor relief pipe Ill carrying vapor from the liquefied gas reservoir via branch line 23 and control valve 24-.
  • the heating system comprises the blower 17, line 19 and heater 18, as in FIGURE I, but line 19 in this case is extended into an arrangement of the heat exchange pipes distributed around the space to be heated, shown diagrammatically at 25, 26, and 27.
  • the Warm gas After the Warm gas has circulated through this heat exchange system, it exits through the head of the shaft via line 21; and so returns to the blower 17. Any losses are made up from the vapor relief line 11 Via branch line 23 and valve 24, as in FIGURE I.
  • the pipes 8, 9 and 11 may be thermally insulated above the false roof to prevent cooling of the space above the false roof by the cold fluids passing through them.
  • the temperature in the space between the false roof and the rock roof and in the shaft will be maintained at substantially ambient temperature, i.e. between 0 C. and 20 C. These spaces will not normally be kept at temperatures below 0 C. unless it is necessary, owing to the absence of a shaft lining to freeze the ground water surrounding the shaft. In these cases, the temperature can go down to 20 C. but it is not wise to take the temperature any further than this since, otherwise, rock spalling may occur.
  • the cavern roof may be maintained at the desired temperature or temperature range, as by embedding the heating pipes in the rock roof or very close to it, without using the thermally insulated false roof.
  • FIGURE III shows such an arrangement in which the lines 19 and 28 of FIGURE II are connected to line 29, which are set directly against or very close to the roof, and may have projections 3511 imbedded in the roof for more efiicient transfer of heat.
  • a reservoir for the storage of liquefied gases at temperatures below 20 C. comprising an underground cavern in a rock formation, a shaft extending from said cavern to the surface of the earth, a thermally insulated false roof extending over the cavern before the rock roof of the cavern and heating means supplied through said shaft for maintaining a temperature of above 20 C. in the space between said false :roof and said rock roof.
  • a reservoir as claimed in claim 7 in which make up for the circulating warm gas is provided from a vapor relief line from the reservoir.
  • a reservoir for the storage of liquefied gases at temperatures below 20 C. comprising an underground cavern in a rock formation, the roof of said cavern being formed by a part of the rock formation and being subject to spalling at the low temperature of the stored liquefied gases, a shaft extending from said cavern to the surface of the earth, heating means for maintaining the temperature of the rock roof of the cavern at above 20 C., and means extending through said shaft for supplying said heating means with heat.
  • said false roof comprising a metal plate roof suspended from the rock roof of the cavern by hangers, a layer of insulation supported on said plate roof, said heating means being between the insulation and the rock roof, filling and discharge pipes for stored liquid extending from the surface of the earth through said shaft and through said false roof, means for circulating heat exchange fluid through said heating means and means at the surface for heating said fluid.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
US424078A 1964-03-02 1965-01-07 Reservoir for the underground storage of liquefied gases Expired - Lifetime US3276213A (en)

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US (1) US3276213A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES307369A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
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Cited By (10)

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US3372550A (en) * 1966-05-03 1968-03-12 Carl E. Schroeder Method of and apparatus for freezing water-bearing materials
US3416325A (en) * 1967-06-09 1968-12-17 Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Low temperature storage tank
US3421328A (en) * 1965-06-28 1969-01-14 Dow Chemical Co Insulated utility constructions
US3527379A (en) * 1968-05-09 1970-09-08 Gen Am Transport Systems and tanks therefor for storing products in the liquid phase that are normally in the gas phase
US20090175685A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-07-09 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Water alteration structure movement method and system
US20090177569A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-07-09 Bowers Jeffrey A Water alteration structure risk management or ecological alteration management systems and methods
US20090173801A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-07-09 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Water alteration structure and system having below surface valves or wave reflectors
US20100300560A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2010-12-02 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Water alteration structure and system having heat transfer conduit
WO2024177510A1 (en) * 2023-02-24 2024-08-29 Ammonia As System and method for storing and delivering ammonia
WO2024232758A1 (en) * 2023-05-05 2024-11-14 Ammonia As System and method for storing ammonia

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WO1985003922A1 (en) * 1984-03-06 1985-09-12 Neste Oy Procedure for preventing hydrocarbon emission from rock cisterns

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US2437909A (en) * 1945-11-27 1948-03-16 Howell C Cooper Storage means for liquefied gas
US2707377A (en) * 1952-02-02 1955-05-03 Union Stock Yards & Transit Co Storage and shipping container for cold liquefied gas
GB807969A (en) * 1956-06-26 1959-01-28 Ici Ltd Improvements in and relating to the storage of liquefied gases
US2932170A (en) * 1954-03-24 1960-04-12 Patterson Morton Kingsley Refrigerated underground storage system
US3083537A (en) * 1961-01-23 1963-04-02 Sun Oil Co Storage of normally gaseous material in underground caverns
US3089309A (en) * 1960-03-25 1963-05-14 Sun Oil Co Subterranean storage of fluids
GB969890A (en) * 1960-04-20 1964-09-16 Conch Int Methane Ltd Ground reservoir for the storage of liquefied gases
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2437909A (en) * 1945-11-27 1948-03-16 Howell C Cooper Storage means for liquefied gas
US2707377A (en) * 1952-02-02 1955-05-03 Union Stock Yards & Transit Co Storage and shipping container for cold liquefied gas
US2932170A (en) * 1954-03-24 1960-04-12 Patterson Morton Kingsley Refrigerated underground storage system
GB807969A (en) * 1956-06-26 1959-01-28 Ici Ltd Improvements in and relating to the storage of liquefied gases
US3089309A (en) * 1960-03-25 1963-05-14 Sun Oil Co Subterranean storage of fluids
GB969890A (en) * 1960-04-20 1964-09-16 Conch Int Methane Ltd Ground reservoir for the storage of liquefied gases
US3083537A (en) * 1961-01-23 1963-04-02 Sun Oil Co Storage of normally gaseous material in underground caverns
US3205665A (en) * 1962-01-16 1965-09-14 Morse F Van Horn Underground storage of liquefied gases

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3421328A (en) * 1965-06-28 1969-01-14 Dow Chemical Co Insulated utility constructions
US3372550A (en) * 1966-05-03 1968-03-12 Carl E. Schroeder Method of and apparatus for freezing water-bearing materials
US3416325A (en) * 1967-06-09 1968-12-17 Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Low temperature storage tank
US3527379A (en) * 1968-05-09 1970-09-08 Gen Am Transport Systems and tanks therefor for storing products in the liquid phase that are normally in the gas phase
US20090173386A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-07-09 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Water alteration structure applications and methods
US20090177569A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-07-09 Bowers Jeffrey A Water alteration structure risk management or ecological alteration management systems and methods
US20090173801A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-07-09 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Water alteration structure and system having below surface valves or wave reflectors
US20090173404A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-07-09 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Water alteration structure and system
US20090175685A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2009-07-09 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Water alteration structure movement method and system
US20100300560A1 (en) * 2008-01-03 2010-12-02 Searete Llc, A Limited Liability Corporation Of The State Of Delaware Water alteration structure and system having heat transfer conduit
US8348550B2 (en) * 2008-01-03 2013-01-08 The Invention Science Fund I Llc Water alteration structure and system having heat transfer conduit
US8679331B2 (en) 2008-01-03 2014-03-25 The Invention Science Fund I Llc Water alteration structure movement method and system
US8685254B2 (en) 2008-01-03 2014-04-01 The Invention Science Fund I Llc Water alteration structure applications and methods
US8702982B2 (en) 2008-01-03 2014-04-22 The Invention Science Fund I Llc Water alteration structure and system
US8715496B2 (en) 2008-01-03 2014-05-06 The Invention Science Fund I Llc Water alteration structure and system having below surface valves or wave reflectors
WO2024177510A1 (en) * 2023-02-24 2024-08-29 Ammonia As System and method for storing and delivering ammonia
WO2024232758A1 (en) * 2023-05-05 2024-11-14 Ammonia As System and method for storing ammonia

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES307369A1 (es) 1965-04-16
SE302141B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1968-07-08
GB989218A (en) 1965-04-14

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