Study on the operating pressure for the first lined rock hydrogen storage cavern in China

Focusing on the operation pressure of the first lined rock hydrogen storage cavern in China (Daye hydrogen storage cavern), this study experimentally investigates the mechanical behaviours of the surrounding rock mass and the ultra-high performance concrete lining firstly. Then, numerical analysis consisting surrounding rock–concrete lining–sliding layer–steel plate is conducted. Comprehensive failure and deformation modes, including the tensile breakage of the rock mass, cracking mechanism of the concrete lining and hyperelastic behaviour of the sliding layer are considered. Results show that tensile failure of surrounding rock mass precedes shear failure and propagates to a wider range. According to the lining design, the tensile damage starts at 6 MPa in the concrete lining, reaches full-section damage at 7·3 MPa, and the damage accelerates after that. The crack width of lining and stress in steel plate are also checked to control stress concentration and hydrogen embrittlement of the steel plate. The recommended operating pressure for the Daye hydrogen storage cavern is 7·3 MPa.