Thermodynamic evolution and semi-empirical correlations of underground compressed air energy storage caverns

Liu, Xueyan, Zhang, Chengyu, Zhao, Yu, Wang, Jiaming, Li, Peng, Rezgui, Yacine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5711-8400, Luo, Zhiwen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2082-3958, de Nardi, Cristina, Jiang, Ben and Zhao, Tianyi 2026. Thermodynamic evolution and semi-empirical correlations of underground compressed air energy storage caverns. Renewable Energy 276 , 126406. 10.1016/j.renene.2026.126406

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Abstract

Compressed air energy storage is a large-scale energy storage technology that bridges intermittent renewable energy and conventional power grids. The safety and operational efficiency of storage caverns are strongly governed by the coupled effects of geometric configuration, operating conditions, and material properties. In this study, a coupled Thermal-Hydro-Mechanical-Damage numerical framework is adopted and adapted to simulate turbulent flow, heat transfer, and gas behavior in the air domain, as well as heat conduction, mechanical deformation, and Darcy seepage in the surrounding rock. The multiphysical responses of the cavern system under a full charge-storage-discharge-storage cycle are systematically analyzed. Compared with linear caverns, full-circular caverns reduce the peak temperature and pressure by 13.85% and 6.46%, and exhibit a lower temperature change rate from 8.07 to 2.75 K/h, effectively alleviating thermal concentration. While the length diameter ratio decreases from 36.64 to 7.38, the peak wall temperature is reduced by about 7.12%, and the stress distribution becomes more uniform. Increasing the charging temperature significantly enhances thermal accumulation and enlarges the high-temperature zone, whereas increasing the convective heat transfer coefficient suppresses heat buildup. Improving the damage resistance of the surrounding rock reduces the extent of the damaged zone. Furthermore, temperature and pressure changing rates are introduced as dynamic indicators, and statistically evaluated semi-empirical correlations are established to describe the relative thermodynamic responses under varying geometric, operating, and material conditions. The proposed correlations are applicable within the investigated parameter ranges and can provide a rapid reference for preliminary cavern design screening and operating-condition assessment.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Architecture Schools > Engineering
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0960-1481
Date of Acceptance:	2 September 2026
Last Modified:	08 Sep 2026 15:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189457

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