• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.3 s.62
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• pp.241-250
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• 2006

Ice ring formation, one of the core techniques in LNG storage in a lined rock cavern, is investigated through hydro-thermal coupled analysis. An ice ring acts as a secondary barrier in case of leakage of cryogenic liquid and as a primary barrier for groundwater intrusion into an LNG cavern. Therefore, the thickness and location of the ice ring are crucial factors for the safe operation of an LNG storage cavern, especially for maintaining the integrity of a primary barrier composed of concrete, PU foam, and steel membrane. Through numerical analyses, the position and thickness of the ice ring are estimated, and the temperature and groundwater level are compared with measured values. The temperature md groundwater level by numerical analyses show good agreement with the field measurements when temperature-dependent properties and phase change are taken into account. The schemes used in this paper can be applied for estimation of ice ring formation in designing a full-scale LNG cavern.