A simulation method for the dissolution construction of salt cavern energy storage with the interface angle considered

The solution mining of a salt cavern for energy storage is highly affected by the interface angle, especially in a horizontal cavern, which has drawn much attention recently. Current empirical models assume the dissolution rates at different angles relate to that of a vertical interface. At the same time, the actual salt cavern design practice has found different conclusions. In this paper, a coupled convection-mass transfer model of rock salt dissolution is developed employing COMSOL software, and the dissolution of salt surfaces with 9 different angles is simulated. In the simulation, the quantitative dissolution rates are consistent with the indoor tests in the literature. The interface angle indirectly influences the dissolution rate through the flow pattern and rate. With larger interface angles, the gravity-driven natural convection gets more intense (no flow at 0 degrees, stream at 45 degrees, waterfall at 90 degrees, raindrop mixing with stream above 90 degrees, totally raindrop at 1801, which means the mass transfer near the boundary gets faster. Thus, the concentration near the boundary decreases, the concentration gradient increases, and the dissolution rate increases. Accordingly, we believe that the angle effect on the dissolution rate is not fixed, possibly being affected by other dissolution convection or the injection-discharge flow cycle. Take the ratio of the upward dissolution rate (alpha = 180 degrees) and the lateral dissolution rate (alpha = 90 degrees) (R) as an example, in the previous individual simulations, R is 2. While in the cases of simultaneous upward and lateral dissolution simulation & experiments, the lateral dissolution is accelerated by the global convection flow driven by the upward dissolution, and R is 1.5 & 1.6. In the case of simultaneous multi-angle dissolution, R is 1.3. Therefore, we suggest using the proposed simulation method to help determine the actual dissolution rate in different stages during the design for actual engineering.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effect of interface angle on the solution mining of a salt cavern for energy storage. A coupled convection-mass transfer model is developed to simulate the dissolution of salt surfaces with different angles. The results show that the interface angle indirectly influences the dissolution rate through the flow pattern and rate, with larger interface angles leading to faster dissolution rates. The research suggests using the proposed simulation method to determine the actual dissolution rate in different stages of engineering design.