Ultra-High-Performance Concrete for Compressed Air Energy Storage

This study investigates the viability of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) as a structural material for above-ground Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) tanks. Given its superior compressive and tensile strength, enhanced durability, and resistance to environmental degradation, UHPC presents significant advantages over conventional concrete in high-pressure storage applications. A scaled UHPC prototype tank was designed and experimentally evaluated under pressures up to 4 MPa (580 psi). Strain data collected from the model was analyzed to assess structural behavior and validate computational models developed in ANSYS Workbench. The experimental and numerical results demonstrated strong agreement in strain values for the steel with relative percentage errors of 3.45% without UHPC and 0.57% with UHPC. Differences in strain values for the physical and numerical UHPC were greater, at slightly more than 18%. However, the measured values confirmed the structural integrity and feasibility of UHPC for CAES applications. Additionally, the study explored the role of an integrated rubber liner in optimizing strain distribution, revealing its potential to mitigate localized stress concentrations and enhance the tank’s mechanical performance. These findings highlight UHPC’s suitability for next-generation CAES infrastructure, offering a resilient and efficient alternative to traditional storage materials.