Methods for storing hydrogen in a salt cavern with a permeation barrier
DCFirst Claim
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1. A method for storing high purity hydrogen product in a salt cavern, comprising:
- removing the high purity hydrogen product from a high purity hydrogen pipeline;
compressing the high purity hydrogen product to produce a compressed high purity hydrogen product;
introducing the compressed high purity hydrogen product comprising a purity of about 99% or greater into the salt cavern to produce stored high purity hydrogen within the salt cavern;
therebypressurizing at least a portion of the walls of the salt cavern walls characterized by a halite structure having a minimum purity of at least about 75% of sodium chloride, to substantially confine the stored high purity hydrogen within the salt cavern at a pressure, and measuring and adjusting the pressure to maintain the pressure between a predetermined lower limit and a predetermined upper limit.
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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 substantially impermeable permeation barrier along the salt cavern walls. The cavern pressure is monitored and controlled to ensure formation and maintenance of the substantially impermeable permeation barrier. Optional temperature treatments may also be incorporated as desired.
60 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for storing high purity hydrogen product in a salt cavern, comprising:
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removing the high purity hydrogen product from a high purity hydrogen pipeline; compressing the high purity hydrogen product to produce a compressed high purity hydrogen product; introducing the compressed high purity hydrogen product comprising a purity of about 99% or greater into the salt cavern to produce stored high purity hydrogen within the salt cavern;
therebypressurizing at least a portion of the walls of the salt cavern walls characterized by a halite structure having a minimum purity of at least about 75% of sodium chloride, to substantially confine the stored high purity hydrogen within the salt cavern at a pressure, and measuring and adjusting the pressure to maintain the pressure between a predetermined lower limit and a predetermined upper limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for confining stored high purity hydrogen gas in a salt cavern that is operated in a hydrogen depleted state, comprising:
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withdrawing a portion of the stored high purity hydrogen gas from the salt cavern to a level at which a pressure of the remaining portion of the stored high purity hydrogen gas is reduced below a predetermined lower limit; introducing a sufficient amount of compressed fluid into the salt cavern to reduce an effective volume of the salt cavern and thereby pressurize the remaining portion of the stored high purity hydrogen gas to increase the pressure in the cavern to at least the predetermined lower limit; and confining the stored high purity hydrogen gas at the pressure at or above the predetermined lower limit along at least a portion of the walls of the salt cavern. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for operating a salt cavern containing a high purity hydrogen product, the salt cavern connected to a high purity hydrogen product pipeline, said method for operating comprising:
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establishing a predetermined lower pressure limit and a predetermined upper pressure limit within the salt cavern comprising a high purity hydrogen product to establish pressure conditions within the salt cavern that substantially confines the high purity hydrogen product therewithin; monitoring at least the cavern pressure to provide a real-time pressure reading; comparing the pressure reading to the predetermined lower pressure limit and the upper pressure limit, adjusting the volume of the high purity hydrogen product in the salt cavern such that when the real-time pressure reading indicates that the pressure exceeds the predetermined upper pressure limit, at least a portion of the high purity hydrogen product is withdrawn to the high purity hydrogen product pipeline, and when the real-time pressure reading indicates that the pressure is below the predetermined lower pressure limit, at least a portion of high purity hydrogen product from the high purity hydrogen pipeline is introduced into the salt cavern from the hydrogen product pipeline; and wherein the stored high purity hydrogen product is substantially confined within the salt cavern between the predetermined lower pressure limit and the predetermined upper pressure limit during the operation of the salt cavern.
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26. A method for operating a salt cavern containing one of more fluids including at least a high purity hydrogen product and salt brine, the salt cavern connected to a high purity hydrogen product pipeline and a brine pond containing salt brine, comprising:
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establishing a predetermined lower pressure limit and predetermined upper pressure limit within the salt cavern comprising a stored high purity hydrogen product observed to establish pressure conditions within the salt cavern that substantially confines the high purity hydrogen product therewithin; monitoring at least the cavern pressure to provide a real-time pressure reading; comparing the pressure reading to the predetermined lower pressure limit and the upper pressure limit, adjusting the pressure reading of the salt cavern such that when the real-time pressure reading indicates that the pressure is trending upwards and approaching the predetermined upper pressure limit, at least one of the fluids is withdrawn and when the real-time pressure reading indicates that the pressure is trending downwards and approaching the predetermined lower pressure limit, at least one of the fluids is introduced into the salt cavern; and wherein the stored high purity hydrogen product is substantially confined within the salt cavern at a pressure that is maintained between the predetermined lower pressure limit and the predetermined upper pressure limit during the operation of the salt cavern.
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Specification