Evaluation of hard-rock-cavern construction methods for compressed-air energy storage: Final report
Technical Report
·
OSTI ID:5157469
This report presents the results of construction cost and schedule estimates for caverns mined in hard rock for 100-MW and 220-MW compressed air energy storage (CAES) plants with 10 hours storage capacity and using either water-compensated cavern operation with constant turbine-inlet pressure operation on uncompensated cavern operation with sliding turbine-inlet pressure operation. The estimates are made for caverns mined by large-parallel-tunnel methods and by room-and-pillar methods. The results indicate that, for the cavern sizes involved, the room-and-pillar method is cost-competitive with the large-parallel-tunnel methods, but the method requires marginally more construction time. The largest cavern size in the estimates may, however, be approaching the size where the room-and-pillar method may no longer be competitive. The technical feasibility of water curtains for preventing or minimizing leakage of air from CAES hard-rock caverns is evaluated, and construction cost and schedule estimates are made for uncompensated caverns. It is concluded that the performance of water curtains is dependent upon the accuracy of the values of site specific variables and assumptions utilized in the design. A method is presented for assessing if a water curtain may be economical for a compensated CAES cavern. Such an assessment for a water curtain for an uncompensated CAES cavern is more complex and beyond the scope of this study. Also, a program for testing the operation of a water curtain in conjunction with an air-storage cavern operation is proposed. For the specific cavern sizes considered in this report, the estimated water-curtain construction costs and times for the uncompensated room-and-pillar caverns are found to be greater than for the uncompensated large-parallel-tunnel caverns. 11 refs., 18 figs., 19 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Fenix and Scisson, Inc., Tulsa, OK (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5157469
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-AP-5717; ON: TI88009228
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Low-porosity rock cavern design concepts for compressed-air energy storage: Final report
Conceptual design and engineering studies of adiabatic compressed air energy storage (CAES) with thermal energy storage
Preliminary design study of underground pumped-hydro and compressed-air energy storage in hard rock. Volume 9: design approaches - CAES, Appendix A: air-storage system. Final report
Technical Report
·
Mon Feb 29 23:00:00 EST 1988
·
OSTI ID:5318381
Conceptual design and engineering studies of adiabatic compressed air energy storage (CAES) with thermal energy storage
Technical Report
·
Sat Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1981
·
OSTI ID:5744345
Preliminary design study of underground pumped-hydro and compressed-air energy storage in hard rock. Volume 9: design approaches - CAES, Appendix A: air-storage system. Final report
Technical Report
·
Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981
·
OSTI ID:5336088