Hydraulic and earth engineering – Fluid control – treatment – or containment – Fluid storage in earthen cavity
Patent
1987-11-02
1990-01-02
Taylor, Dennis L.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Fluid control, treatment, or containment
Fluid storage in earthen cavity
405259, 405150, B65G 500, E21D 2100
Patent
active
048909564
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an arrangement for sealed lining of a rock chamber for storing liquid or gas under very high pressures. More particularly, the invention relates to such an arrangement whereby storage may be accomplished at significantly less depth than with unlined rock chamber structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To summarize briefly, the present invention provides a structure for storing liquid or gas at high pressure, which may comprise a storage space surrounded by rock, and multi-layer lining means lining the storage space for transmitting pressure of the stored liquid or gas to the surrounding rock while preventing external water pressure build-up on the lining means. In a preferred form, the lining means includes a concrete layer enclosing the storage space, a compressible drainage layer of loose granules (e.g., gravel) disposed between the concrete layer and the surrounding rock and enclosing the concrete layer, and a layer of thin-sheet sealing material (e.g., sheet metal) mounted to the concrete layer on a side thereof that faces the storage space and sealingly enclosing the storage space. The concrete layer is anchored to the surrounding rock by expandible bolt means movable relative to the surrounding rock so as to permit displacement of the concrete layer toward the surrounding rock under pressure of the stored liquid or gas.
By sealingly lining the rock chamber and by using the rock itself as the pressure absorbing medium, the invention makes it possible to store high pressure fluids at considerably less depth than with unlined rock chamber structures where the pressure of the stored fluid is counteracted by water pressure in the overlying rock. For example, natural gas having an excess pressure of 80 bars may be stored in accordance with the invention under a rock cover of only about 70 to 80 meters, whereas an unlined chamber would require a storage depth of 800 meters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rock chamber structure in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the construction of the lining in detail;
FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the junction region between the base and a sidewall of the rock chamber structure;
FIG. 4 shows element 7 of FIG. 3 on a larger scale, as viewed from inside the storage chamber; and
FIG. 5 shows a preferred manner of assembling a sheet-metal lining layer and of securing the same to the concrete lining layer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the form shown, a storage space or chamber C is surrounded by rock 1 and layers 2, 3, 4 of a pressure transmitting lining means. The lining means comprises a sealing membrane 4, as of stainless sheet metal, sealingly enclosing the storage space and mounted to an adjacent concrete layer 3, also enclosing the storage space. The manner in which the membrane 4 is mounted to the concrete layer will be addressed later. Between concrete layer 3 and the surrounding rock 1, there is a compressible layer 2 of drainage material, such as gravel. The drainage material, which is formed with channels 9, performs a drainage function such that the concrete layer 3 and sealing layer 4 are not subjected to external water pressure build up.
As shown in FIG. 2, concrete layer 3, which serves as a base for the metal lining sheet 4, is movably anchored to the surrounding rock 1 by expandible bolts 5 received within corresponding holes in the rock. The expandible bolts are movable relative to rock 1 and thus allow movement of the concrete layer 3 under the influence of the pressure of the fluid stored in storage space C, while avoiding penetration of the concrete around the bolts.
With the foregoing lining arrangement, pressure from the stored fluid medium is transmitted through the metal sealing layer 4, the concrete layer 3, and
REFERENCES:
patent: 1966244 (1934-07-01), Hansen
patent: 4459064 (1984-07-01), Berest
patent: 4591297 (1986-05-01), Horimatsu
patent: 4618283 (1986-10-01), Hilfiker
patent: 4695188 (1987-09-01), Pulkkinen
Olsen Arlen L.
Taylor Dennis L.
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