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Contenuto archiviato il 2022-12-27

LNG STORAGE IN SALT CAVITIES

Obiettivo

Investigation of LNG storage in salt caverns.

In 1974 the possibility in principle of storing low temperature liquids has been experimentally proven in a test cavern of about 1 m3. In the framework of the project the thermodynamic working properties of LNG in the cavern and the unstable 3-dimensional temperature field in the neighbour-hood of the cavern has been established. Conformity with experimental results was satisfactory. Between calculated and observed rock displacement a qualitative conformity has been obtained.
The forming of cracks orthogonal to the cavern surface in salt rock has been clarified by extrapolating the known geophysical data of the salt. It has been shown that because of the insufficient knowledge of the material properties of the rock salt at low temperature and the complex mathematical boundary and starting conditions utilising the available computational method no precise predictions regarding thermodynamic and rock mechanical behaviour in large caverns can be without intensive experimental research.
The unstable temperature in the neighbourhood of the cavern for the storage of LNG has been calculated with a model cavern of 5,000 m3. The basis was a quasi-stationary storage at high pressure without discharge of boil off gas.
Some larger cracks in the cavern wall which developed during the tests did not influence the operational ability of the cavern. In practice it is important that crack forming should stop at a certain time and distance from the cavern wall.
Because of the high material streams involved in the rapid loading of LNG tankers it is necessary that LNG will be charged in the same time using a greater number of tubes. A storage system with 7 caverns has been developed, flow diagrams have been prepared and working procedures developed. A detailed economic investigation has been commenced to yield a qualitative indication of the comparison between salt cavern, LNG storage and a conventional one with storage tanks. Salt caverns at the coast and distant from the coast have been taken into consideration.

Argomento(i)

Invito a presentare proposte

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Meccanismo di finanziamento

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinatore

KBB-RUHRGAS
Contributo UE
Nessun dato
Indirizzo
POSTFACH 28 MUTTOPSTRASSE 60
4300 Essen
Germania

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Costo totale
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