A novel system and method for storing hydrogen in a salt cavern and supplying therefrom is provided. Hydrogen product withdrawn from a hydrogen pipeline may be chilled prior to being introduced into a cavern in order to cool at least a portion of the walls of the salt cavern so that one or more layers of the localized portion of the walls attains a stabilized state whereby contaminant release from the walls is suppressed. The present invention anticipates and strategically plans for contaminant intrusion form a salt cavern in order to reduce the degree of contaminant intrusion from a salt cavern while also allowing the stored hydrogen to have more absorption capacity for water vapor by virtue of entering the salt cavern in a sufficiently drier state. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a crude hydrogen stream may be withdrawn from the cavern and chilled prior to introducing to the hydrogen pipeline.

A novel system and method for storing hydrogen in a salt cavern and supplying therefrom is provided. Hydrogen product withdrawn from a hydrogen pipeline may be chilled prior to being introduced into a cavern in order to cool at least a portion of the walls of the salt cavern so that one or more layers of the localized portion of the walls attains a stabilized state whereby contaminant release from the walls is suppressed. The present invention anticipates and strategically plans for contaminant intrusion form a salt cavern in order to reduce the degree of contaminant intrusion from a salt cavern while also allowing the stored hydrogen to have more absorption capacity for water vapor by virtue of entering the salt cavern in a sufficiently drier state. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, a crude hydrogen stream may be withdrawn from the cavern and chilled prior to introducing to the hydrogen pipeline.

A method of operating a hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system in a first charging mode including conveying the compressed air at a nearly constant first operating pressure which displaces a corresponding volume of compensation liquid from the layer of compensation liquid out of the accumulator, and a second charging mode including conveying additional compressed air into the accumulator while compensation liquid is not displaced from within the accumulator so that the pressure of the layer of compressed air increases to a second operating pressure that is greater than the first operating pressure.

A method of operating a hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system in a first charging mode including conveying the compressed air at a nearly constant first operating pressure which displaces a corresponding volume of compensation liquid from the layer of compensation liquid out of the accumulator, and a second charging mode including conveying additional compressed air into the accumulator while compensation liquid is not displaced from within the accumulator so that the pressure of the layer of compressed air increases to a second operating pressure that is greater than the first operating pressure.

A hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system may include an accumulator disposed underground and a compressor/expander subsystem in fluid communication. A compensation shaft may extend between an upper and a lower end and define a shaft depth. An upper end wall can cover the upper end of the shaft. A compensation liquid reservoir can be offset above the upper end wall by a reservoir elevation that is at least about 15% of the shaft depth. A compensation liquid flow path may extend between the compensation liquid reservoir and the accumulator and can include the compensation shaft and a liquid supply conduit extending between the compensation liquid reservoir and the upper end of the compensation shaft whereby a total hydrostatic pressure at the lower end of the shaft is greater than a hydrostatic pressure at a depth that is equal to the shaft depth.

A hydrostatically compensated compressed air energy storage system may include an accumulator disposed underground and a compressor/expander subsystem in fluid communication. A compensation shaft may extend between an upper and a lower end and define a shaft depth. An upper end wall can cover the upper end of the shaft. A compensation liquid reservoir can be offset above the upper end wall by a reservoir elevation that is at least about 15% of the shaft depth. A compensation liquid flow path may extend between the compensation liquid reservoir and the accumulator and can include the compensation shaft and a liquid supply conduit extending between the compensation liquid reservoir and the upper end of the compensation shaft whereby a total hydrostatic pressure at the lower end of the shaft is greater than a hydrostatic pressure at a depth that is equal to the shaft depth.

A method of temporarily storing thermal energy via a thermal storage subsystem in a compressed air energy storage system comprising an accumulator disposed at least 300 m underground and having an interior configured to contain compressed air at an accumulator pressure that is at least 20 bar and a gas compressor/expander subsystem in communication with the accumulator via an air flow path for conveying compressed air to the accumulator when in a charging mode and from the accumulator when in a discharging mode.

A method of temporarily storing thermal energy via a thermal storage subsystem in a compressed air energy storage system comprising an accumulator disposed at least 300 m underground and having an interior configured to contain compressed air at an accumulator pressure that is at least 20 bar and a gas compressor/expander subsystem in communication with the accumulator via an air flow path for conveying compressed air to the accumulator when in a charging mode and from the accumulator when in a discharging mode.

An underground water storage system has a system for preventing water invasion into the near surface soil layers, thereby preventing water intrusion which may be detrimental to desired surface uses for the land, such as agricultural, recreational, residential or commercial uses.

A method of filtering fluid for injection into an injection well comprises detecting a fluid pressure in a conduit upstream of an actuator valve, verifying that the fluid pressure is within an operating pressure range, opening an actuator valve based on the verifying, receiving a fluid having suspended solids within a filter assembly in response to opening the actuator valve, actuating a pump in fluid communication with the filter assembly based on receiving the fluid within the filter assembly, and separating at least a portion of the suspended solids in the fluid within the filter assembly.