Method and system for storing hydrogen in a salt cavern with a permeation barrier
AssigneePraxair Technology, Inc.
InventorRommel M. Oates
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A novel method and system for storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern is provided. Particularly, the storage process involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by creating a permeation barrier along the salt cavern walls. The cavern pressure is monitored and controlled to ensure formation and maintenance of the permeation barrier. Optional temperature treatments may also be incorporated as desired.
Claims22
A method for storing hydrogen product in a salt cavern, comprising:
- removing hydrogen product from a hydrogen pipeline;
- compressing the hydrogen product to produce a compressed hydrogen product;
- introducing the compressed product of hydrogen into the salt cavern to produce stored hydrogen within the salt cavern;
- maintaining the stored hydrogen at a pressure between a lower limit and an upper limit within the cavern, whereby the salt cavern forms a substantially impermeable barrier to the stored hydrogen therein between the lower limit and the upper limit, wherein the compressed hydrogen product introduced into the salt cavern comprise a purity of at least 95% or greater.
A method for forming and maintaining a permeation barrier of a salt cavern, comprising:
- compressing a fluid to produce a compressed fluid;
- introducing the compressed fluid into a salt cavern to produce stored fluid within the salt cavern;
- forming a permeation barrier at least along a portion of walls of the salt cavern, wherein the porosity of the walls of the salt cavern is partially reduced to a size substantially small so as to prevent substantially all of the stored hydrogen from passing therethrough;
- and
- regulating the pressure of the salt cavern above a lower limit and below an upper limit to maintain the permeation barrier wherein the fluid is hydrogen having a purity of at least 95% or greater.
A system for forming and maintaining a permeation barrier within a salt cavern, comprising:
- a compressor configured to pressurize hydrogen product within the salt cavern to form stored hydrogen wherein the compressed hydrogen product introduced into the salt cavern comprise a purity of at least 95% or greater;
- a flow network positioned between the compressor and the salt cavern, the flow network comprising a first leg, a second leg and a third leg;
- the first leg in flow communication with the salt cavern to introduce product hydrogen into the salt cavern to form stored hydrogen that is stored at a pressure above a lower limit and below an upper limit to form a permeation barrier;
- the second leg in flow communication with a hydrogen pipeline and the first leg to discharge the stored hydrogen formed from the salt cavern;
- and
- the third leg in flow communication with the salt cavern to introduce a fluid into the cavern to maintain the permeation barrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.