• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.154-166
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• 2004

A numerical stability analysis was conducted on the large oil storage caverns excavated in a rock mass under high initial horizonal stress. The behaviors of the surrounding rock mass, rockbolts, and shotcrete were analyzedr and stability of the support members were assessed. For a proper support system design, the effect of the modelling technique, cavern shape and rockbolt length on the stability of the cavern was investigated. Results show that installation timing of supports and the change in cavern shape due to stepwise excavation affect the stress induced in support members. Also found was desperate need for a numerical technique which can properly reflect the behavior of the steel fiber reinforced shotcrete.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.243-256
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• 2012

Developing efficient and reliable energy storage system is as important as exploring new energy resources. Energy storage system can balance the periodic and quantitative mismatch between energy supply and energy demand and increase the energy efficiency. Industrial waster heat and renewable energy such as solar energy can be stored by the thermal energy storage (TES) system at high and low temperatures. TES system using underground rock carven is considered as an attractive alternative for large-scale storage, because of low thermal conductivity and chemical safety of surrounding rock mass. In this report, the development of available thermal energy storage methods and the characteristics of storage media were introduced. Based on some successful applications of cavern storage and high-temperature storage reported in the literature, the applicabilities and practicabilities of storage media and technologies for large-scale cavern thermal energy storage (CTES) were reviewed.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.4 s.63
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• pp.296-306
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• 2006

It is difficult to solve problems regarding the adjustment on demand and supply of LNG due to seasonal variations of domestic demand of LNG, a discordance among import pattern and limits of storage facilities and so on. Also, there may be instability in LNG supply due to chances of accidents at LNG producing areas. Therefore, it is very important to secure large LNG storage facilities and to stabilize LNG supply management on a long term basis. The objective of this study is to examine the real-scale applicability of a lined underground rock storage system, which have been verified by a successful operation of the Daejeon LNG pilot plant. The new technology has many advantages of better economy, safety and environment protection, for above-ground and in-ground storage systems. The results of this study may promote the first ever real scale underground LNG storage system in a rock cavern.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 1992

Norwegian technology related to preinvestigations, planning, design and construction of large underground caverns is wellknown worldwide. However, so far this technology is only slightly verified through scientiffic reports and documentation. The "Rock cavern stadium" research program is an interdisciplinary program related to the ongoing building and future use of Gjovik Olympic Subsite which is the largest cavern in the world for public purposes with a span of 61 meters and a height of 25 meters. The estimated budget for this program is about USD 4 million which is made possible through grants from The Royal Norwegian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research as well as through contributions from Norwegian and Swedish companies that are participating. The program is carried out in collaboration with The Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research at the Norwegian Institute of Technology. The Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and The Eastern Norway Research Center. The research program will continue until the end of 1994 to ensure that input comes from a full period of use in this stadium with different activities like exhibitions, conferences, concerts etc being included as verification through full-scale measurements and observations. The research program has five subtasks. Three of these are related to subjects like Energy consumption. HVAC installations. Fire safety design, Engineering geology and Rock mechanics, Environmental aspects. The fourth subtask is concerned with the collection of basic data, results and experience from these three subtasks to provide a basis for national Norwegian guidelines related to this interdisciplinary subject area. The guidelines will first be presented as a manual for planning and engineering purposes. The realization of this research program is a unique opportunity to enhance the expertise that has been acquired from this cavern stadium. By involving research in this extraordinary project from the excavation and building phase to its subsequent use. this will give the participants know-how and expertise which is very much in demand internationally. The coordination of the international activities between the participants as well as preparation of participations and presentations in international conferences and symposium are included in the fifth task of this national research program.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 1994

This study Is to summarize the contents for the investigation and design of the construction for oil storage. Since underground caverns are large scale, in their construction one should consider the mechanical stability of cave·rns and the economic view of construction. On the basis of them, cavern's section and layout were determined and water curtains were designed to maintain hydraulic equilibrium so that gases were sealed tightly. Also the supporting criteria for rock bolt and stotcrete were determined by means of the classification of rock masses and the results of finite element method. The criteria of grouting reinforcement were presented according to the results of injection test in the pilot holes of working face.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.23 no.A
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• pp.69-81
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• 2003

Numerical analysis is important for the design, construction and maintenance of large caverns. The rock mass contains generally discontinuities such as faults, joints and fissures. The mechanical behavior and geometric characteristics of these discontinuities would have a significant impact on the stability of the caverns. In this research the Distinct Element Method(DEM) was used to analyze the structural stability of the large cavern. The Barton-Bandis Joint Model (B-B J.M) was used as a constitutive model for the joint. In addition, two different cases 1) analysis with a support system and 2) analysis with no support system, were analyzed to optimize a support system and to investigate reinforcing effects of a support system. The most significant parameters of in-situ stress, JRC of in-situ natural joints, and spatial distribution characteristics of discontinuities were acquired through field investigation. Displacement (horizontal, joint shear), maximum joint opening, maximum and minimum principal stresses, range of relaxed zone, rockbolt axial forces and shotcrete stresses were calculated at each excavation stage. As a result of analysis the calculated values proved to be under the allowable value Rockbolts also proved to be an efficient support measure to control joint shear displacement which had significant effects on extending the relaxed zone. As a consequence, the structural stability of the cavern was assured with an appropriate support system.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.188-195
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• 2012

Using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT, the present study investigated the thermal stratification behavior of Lyckebo storage in Sweden, which is the very first large-scale rock cavern for underground thermal energy storage. Heat transfer analysis was carried out for numerical cases with different temperatures of the surrounding rock mass in order to examine the effect of rock mass heating due to periodic storage and production of thermal energy on thermal stratification and heat loss. The change of thermal stratification with respect to time was quantitatively examined based on an index of the degree of stratification. The results of numerical simulation showed that in the early operational stage where the surrounding rock mass was less heated, the stratification of stored thermal energy was rapidly degraded over time, but the degradation and heat loss tended to reduce as the surrounding rock mass was heated during a long period of operation.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.553-564
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• 1998

For the proper design and management of underground storage cavern, groundwater flow around cavern should be analyzed. Since this flow is influenced by spatial nonuniformity of hudraulic conductivity, the two-dimensional finite element flow model incorporating stochastic concepts was developed to analyze influences due to this nonuniformity. Monte Carlo technique was applied to obtain an approximate solution for two-dimensional, steady flow in a stochastically defined nonuniform medisu. For this purpose, the values of hydraulic conductivity were generated for each element with known mean and standard deviations. The uncertainty in model prediction depends on both the nonuniformity in hydraulic conductivity and the natures of the flow system such as water curtain and boundary condition. Therefore the uncertainties in predicted hydraulic head and gradient are the greatest where the mean hydraulic gradients are relatively large and far from the boundaries. Especially, we relate these uncertainties with well known gas tightness condition.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.434-445
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• 2010

Underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) system in a lined rock cavern is considered one of the promising large-scale energy storage technologies. In this study, permeabilities of concrete lining block and its construction joint, which are the major components of an air tightness system of the undeground CAES, were measured from a model experiment. From the experiment, it was found that intrinsic permeability of construction joint was larger than that of concrete block by the order scale of $10^1{\sim}10^4$, so that it would be very important to control the quality of construction joints in-situ in order to secure air tightness of storage system. And the permeability of construction joint could be decreased as low as that of the concrete block by pasting an acryl-type adhesive on bonding surfaces. Higher degrees of water saturation of the concrete block resulted in the lower permeability, which is more preferable in the viewpoint of air tightness of storage cavern.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 1998

This paper presents the results of deformation measurement and numerical analysis carried out to study the behaviour of the rock mass around large underground oil storage caverns. Displacements during excavation have been monitored using borehole extensometers which had been installed before the excavation of caverns proceeded. Numerical analysis has been carried out to examine the three-dimensional behaviour of rock and the face advance effect. The input parameters for this analysis were determined from the results of laboratory and field tests. The deformation modulus of the rock mass was determined from plate loading test at the site and in-situ stresses were measured from the overcoring method with USBM deformation gauge. The results from this study gave a clear picture for three-dimensional behaviour of the rock mass, hence would be used for the optimum design.