Brine-particle two-phase flow of the low-level debrining well#br#
in sediment-type salt cavern storage
LI Peng1, 2, SHI Xilin1, 2*, LI Yinping1, 2, 3, YANG Kun4, MA Hongling1, 2, YANG Chunhe1, 2
(1. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Safety, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; 2. University of Chinese Academy and Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
3. Hubei Key Laboratory of Geo-environmental Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; 4. State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)
Abstract：Sediment-type salt cavern storage facilities are critical components of energy infrastructure that utilize the space within sediment voids to store gas. This is accomplished by injecting high-pressure natural gas or air into salt cavities, which displaces brine from the sediment voids. During the gas injection and brine displacement processes, the high-velocity flow of brine in low-level debrining wells carries sediment particles, leading to sand blockages that adversely affect brine expulsion efficiency. The forces acting on spherical particles during fall and horizontal movement were analyzed, resulting in the derivation of the terminal settling velocity formula for particles in free fall. Additionally, a terminal settling velocity formula that considers the morphologies of sediment particles and the sand concentration in brine was developed. Under identical conditions, brine with a higher sand concentration exhibits a greater capacity to carry sand. When the geometric mean diameter is constant, flatter-shaped particles are more readily transported by brine. Using a CFD-EDEM coupled simulation method, the distribution of the solid-liquid two-phase flow field in debrining wells was simulated over time, accounting for varying brine flow rates and sediment accumulation depths. When discharging brine at low flow rates, it is essential to promptly clear the debrining channel to prevent sediment accumulation at bends. The layering effect of brine flow rates results in particles in the lower section of the debrining channel accumulating more easily. At the same inlet flow rate, an increase in particle accumulation depth enhances the sand-carrying capacity of the brine. An analysis of the particle size distribution of returned sediment particles during the gas injection and brine displacement process in a specific salt cavern revealed a particle size range of 0.075 to 40 mm, which was consistent with the results obtained from simulation modeling. The primary sources of error and their corresponding solutions were also identified. The research findings provide valuable guidance for improving brine displacement efficiency and preventing sand entrainment and blockages in debrining wells associated with salt cavern void injection and brine displacement projects involving sediment-type salt caverns.
李 朋1，2，施锡林1，2*，李银平1，2，3，杨 昆4，马洪岭1，2，杨春和1，2. 沉渣型盐穴储库低位排卤井卤水颗粒两相运移规律研究[J]. 岩石力学与工程学报, 2026, 45(1): 218-235.
LI Peng1, 2, SHI Xilin1, 2*, LI Yinping1, 2, 3, YANG Kun4, MA Hongling1, 2, YANG Chunhe1, 2. Brine-particle two-phase flow of the low-level debrining well#br#
in sediment-type salt cavern storage. , 2026, 45(1): 218-235.
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