Solution mined cavity system
AssigneeHans Gude Gudesen
InventorsHans Gude Gudesen, Per-Erik Nordal
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Abstract
A solution mined cavity system and method are disclosed. The system comprises an underground cavity created by solution mining in salt deposits, an upper water reservoir, tubing structure adapted to lead water from the upper water reservoir into the underground cavity and out of the underground cavity, and a pumping device adapted to contribute to pumping water from the upper water reservoir via the tubing structure out of the cavity.
Claims8
An underground hydroelectric energy production and storage system, wherein the system comprises:
- an underground cavity created by solution mining in salt deposits;
- an upper water reservoir with an upper water reservoir surface;
- tubing structure configured to lead water from the upper water reservoir into the underground cavity via an inlet tube and out of the underground cavity via an outlet tube, wherein the tubing structure comprises a closed hydraulic loop including a communicating system configured to preserve hydraulic head provided by the upper water reservoir;
- a pumping device configured to contribute to pumping water from the upper water reservoir via the tubing structure out of the cavity;
- an energy generator configured to generate energy based on water flowing through the tubing structure,
- wherein the closed hydraulic loop is arranged to allow for density differential pumping, wherein the density differential pumping is dissolved gas driven, wherein the pumping device includes a gas provision device arranged to saturate water in the inlet tube with a gas and a gas nucleation structure arranged in the outlet tube to assist in nucleating gas bubbles out of the water, and the energy generator includes a turbine arranged at a bottom part of the closed hydraulic loop.
A method for producing and storing energy by operating an underground hydroelectric energy production and storage system the method comprising:
- creating an underground cavity by solution mining in salt deposits;
- providing an upper water reservoir with an upper water reservoir surface;
- providing tubing structure to lead water from the upper water reservoir into the underground cavity via an inlet tube and out of the underground cavity via an outlet tube, wherein the tubing structure comprises a closed hydraulic loop including a communicating system configured to preserve hydraulic head provided by the upper water reservoir;
- providing a pumping device to contribute to pumping water from the upper water reservoir via the tubing structure out of the cavity;
- providing an energy generator to generate energy based on water flowing through the tubing structure, and
- arranging the closed hydraulic loop to allow for density differential pumping, wherein the density differential pumping is dissolved gas driven, wherein the pumping device includes a gas provision device arranged to saturate water in the inlet tube with a gas and a gas nucleation structure arranged in the outlet tube to assist in nucleating gas bubbles out of the water, and the energy generator includes a turbine arranged at a bottom part of the closed hydraulic loop.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.