Convection in underground oil caverns: The role of double diffusion

H. J.S. Fernando, C. Y. Ching, Z. Zhao, S. Pol, S. W. Webb

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) stores oil in large underground salt caverns. This oil has compositional and thermal gradients induced by geothermal heating from both the bottom surface and side walls. Temperature layering has been recorded in SPR oil caverns, which is hypothesized to be predominantly due to double-diffusive layering that occurs when a stable compositional gradient is heated from below. Initial results of a laboratory experimental program aimed at studying dynamics of such double-diffusive layers in the context of SPR are described in this paper. Of particular interest are the thickness of converting layers, layer evolution (migration/merging) and conditions for the formation/non-formation of double-diffusive layers.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2007 Proceedings of the ASME/JSME Thermal Engineering Summer Heat Transfer Conference - HT 2007
Pages141-147
Number of pages7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Event2007 ASME/JSME Thermal Engineering Summer Heat Transfer Conference, HT 2007 - Vancouver, BC, Canada
Duration: Jul 8 2007Jul 12 2007

Publication series

Name2007 Proceedings of the ASME/JSME Thermal Engineering Summer Heat Transfer Conference - HT 2007
Volume3

Conference

Conference2007 ASME/JSME Thermal Engineering Summer Heat Transfer Conference, HT 2007
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityVancouver, BC
Period07/8/0707/12/07

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