Design and operation problems related to water curtain system forunderground water-sealed oil storage caverns

The underground water-sealed storage technique is critically important and generally accepted for the national energy strategy in China. Although several small underground water-sealed oil storage caverns have been built in China since the 1970s, there is still a lack of experience for large-volume underground storage in complicated geological conditions. The current design concept of water curtain system and the technical instruction for system operation have limitations in maintaining the stability of surrounding rock mass during the construction of the main storage caverns, as well as the long-term stability. Although several large-scale underground oil storage projects are under construction at present in China, the design concepts and construction methods, especially for the water curtain system, are mainly based on the ideal porosity medium flow theory and the experiences gained from the similar projects overseas. The storage projects currently constructed in China have the specific features such as huge scale, large depth, multiple-level arrangement, high seepage pressure, complicated geological conditions, and high in situ stresses, which are the challenging issues for the stability of the storage caverns. Based on years’ experiences obtained from the first large-scale （millions of cubic meters） underground water-sealed oil storage project in China, some design and operation problems related to water curtain system during project construction are discussed. The drawbacks and merits of the water curtain system are also presented. As an example, the conventional concept of “filling joints with water” is widely used in many cases, as a basic concept for the design of the water curtain system, but it is immature. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of the conventional concept are pointed out, with respect to the long-term stability as well as the safety of construction of storage caverns. Finally, new concepts and principles for design and construction of the underground water-sealed oil storage caverns are proposed.

Comprehensive Molten Salt Storage Shell and Supporting Structure Design and Analysis-Part I:A Conductive and Convective Theoretical Heat Transfer Analysis for Molten Salt Cylindrical Shells at 565℃ and 700℃

In this paper a full theoretical thermal analysis of a large molten salt container,80-foot in diameter and 46-foot high,including a four-foot elliptic shell roof,is presented for two temperatures,the standard 565℃ and a futuristic 700℃,which substantially improves the efficiency of the molten salt containers through the use of a highly stable chloride salt called SS700(SaltStream 700).The theoretical analysis includes conductive and convective heat transfer analysis in the steel container,elliptic roof shell,the fiberglass insulation,and firebrick insulation,and includes thermal insulation designs to safeguard against energy losses at high temperatures.The underlying soil and the high temperature concrete foundation were analyzed theoretically using conductive heat transfer,however the area surrounding the soil surface around the bottom of the molten salt storage tank had convective heat transfer analysis included.The final designs presented in this paper seek to limit heat losses to a maximum of 250 W/m^(2) while being able to operate at a minimum external ambient temperature of-10℃,which determines the thicknesses of the fiberglass and firebrick insulation.

Comprehensive Molten Salt Storage Shell and Supporting Structure Design and Analysis-Part II:A Conductive and Convective Numerical Finite Element Heat Transfer Analysis for Molten Salt Cylindrical Shells at 700℃,and Comparison with Theoretical Analysis

In this paper a finite element thermal analysis model-using COMSOL-of a large molten salt container,80-foot in diameter and 46-foot high that includes a four-foot elliptic shell roof,is presented for a futuristic 700℃ design,which uses a highly stable chloride salt called SS700(SaltStream 700)that improves the efficiency of the tank when compared to the traditional 565℃.The FEA(finite element analysis)includes conductive and convective heat transfer analysis in the steel container,elliptic roof shell,the fiberglass insulation,and firebrick insulation,and includes thermal insulation designs to safeguard against energy losses at high temperatures.The underlying soil and the high temperature concrete foundation were analyzed by finite element using conductive heat transfer,however the area surrounding the soil surface around the bottom of the MS storage tank had convective heat transfer analysis included.The finite elements analyses presented are to verify the final fiberglass and firebrick insulation designs,which seeks to limit heat losses to a maximum of 250 W/m^(2) while being able to operate at a minimum external ambient temperature of-10℃.These results are also compared to previously calculated theoretical results.

Thermo-physical properties of rubber seed useful in the design of storage structure

This study was carried out to determine the thermo-physical properties of rubber seed in the moisture range of 9.1%to 14.8%(w.b.).The length,width,thickness,measured surface area,bulk density and true density increased with increasing moisture content with high coefficients of determination(significant at p<0.05).Their optimum values at 14.8%moisture content were 17.00 mm,11.94 mm,8.26 mm,285.20 mm^(2),295.00 kg/m^(3) and 470.67 kg/m^(3),respectively.The angle of repose increased as moisture content increased with low coefficient of determination and has optimum value of 28.81°at 14.8%moisture content.The specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity decreased linearly while thermal diffusivity increased exponentially with an increase in moisture content(significant at p<0.05).The optimum values of specific heat capacity,thermal conductivity and diffusivity at 14.8%moisture content were 55.84 kJ/(kg.K),0.032 W/(m.K)and 1.93×10^(-9) m^(2)/s,respectively.The results are essential in the design of storage structure for rubber seed.