ABSTRACT
Since China is leading a significant energy transition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, vigorously developing renewable energy is imperative. Hydrogen, a clean and renewable energy, characterized by hydrogen-electricity interchange, will play an important role during the energy transition. However, the development of hydrogen is restricted in China for the limited storage capacity. Compared with ground storage, underground hydrogen storage (UHS) provides a large-scale of capacity without occupying land source. Storing hydrogen in salt caverns is a preferred option for large-scale storage, since rock salt has a high ability of damage healing and characteristics of extremely low permeability, gas tight and inertia with hydrogen. In this paper, the feasibility of UHS storing hydrogen for steelmaking in thin-bedded rock salt Anning was studied. A THM coupled simulator FLAC3D-TOUGH2MP was used to investigate the complex thermodynamic and mechanical behavior of rock salt during the operation. Stability and tightness of salt cavern were studied to evaluate the feasibility. Evaluation criterions of cavern volume convergence, long-term stress to strength ratio at reference depth and gas tightness were applicated. After 30 years’ simulation, the stability and tightness analysis showed that the geological conditions of the thin-bedded rock salt Anning are favorable for the UHS in salt cavern.
