SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A HYDROGEN STORAGE SALT CAVERN

摘要

A novel system for operating a hydrogen storage cavern is provided. Particularly, the system involves storing high purity hydrogen into a salt cavern without seepage or leakage of the stored hydrogen through the salt cavern walls, by confining the high purity hydrogen gas within the storage cavern under certain pressure conditions.

主权项

1. A system for operating a high purity hydrogen cavern comprising:
a salt cavern defined by salt walls characterized by a halite structure having a minimum purity of at least about 75% of sodium chloride and containing a high purity hydrogen product at a pressure of greater than 0.2 psi per linear foot of depth of the cavern and less than 1.0 psi per linear foot of depth of the cavern; a high purity hydrogen pipeline for transporting the high purity hydrogen product to a customer; a flow network extending between the high purity hydrogen pipeline and the salt cavern comprising a first leg and a second leg; the first leg in flow communication with the high purity hydrogen pipeline and the salt cavern and for introducing the high purity hydrogen product from the high purity hydrogen pipeline into the salt cavern; a compressor positioned in flow communication with the first leg to pressurize the high purity hydrogen product received from the high purity hydrogen pipeline, and the second leg in flow communication with the salt cavern and the high purity hydrogen pipeline for discharging the stored high purity hydrogen product from the salt cavern to the high purity hydrogen pipeline.