A salt cavern energy storage cavity deformation real-time monitoring device
By designing a real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavities, which includes an outer casing, protective shell, main push rod, guide rod, and monitoring actuator, and using laser ranging radar and infrared monitoring head for multi-angle data acquisition, the device solves the problems of outdated monitoring methods, limited range, easy corrosion of devices, and unstable fixation in existing technologies. It achieves real-time, all-round, and accurate monitoring of salt cavern cavities, ensuring the safe operation of salt cavern energy storage systems.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- JIANGSU CHANGJIANG GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION INST
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-02
AI Technical Summary
Existing salt cavern energy storage cavity deformation monitoring technologies suffer from outdated monitoring methods, limited scope, easy corrosion of devices, unstable installation, and lack of multi-dimensional integrated monitoring methods, making it difficult to achieve continuous, real-time, comprehensive, and accurate deformation monitoring, thus leading to safety hazards.
Design a device comprising an outer casing, protective shell, main push rod, guide rod, and monitoring and actuator. Employ laser ranging radar and infrared monitoring head for multi-angle data acquisition, combined with pneumatic clamping for fixation, to achieve 360° scanning and real-time data upload, adapting to harsh underground environments.
It enables real-time, all-round, and precise monitoring of salt cavern cavities, eliminates monitoring blind spots, ensures data stability and accuracy, adapts to the high-temperature, high-pressure, and high-humidity downhole environment, and supports the safe and efficient operation of salt cavern energy storage systems.
Smart Images
Figure CN122130003A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of monitoring devices, and in particular to a real-time monitoring device for deformation of a salt cavern energy storage cavity. Background Technology
[0002] This invention relates to the technical field of safety monitoring equipment for salt cavern energy storage, specifically to a real-time monitoring device for deformation of salt cavern energy storage cavities. With the rapid promotion of underground energy storage technologies such as compressed air storage, hydrogen storage, and oil and gas storage in salt caverns, the long-term stability of salt cavern cavities has become a core indicator for the safe operation of these systems. Under the combined effects of gas injection and pressurization, depressurization and venting, groundwater migration, rock creep, and geological structural stress, salt cavern cavities are prone to deformations such as wall displacement, radial contraction, circumferential expansion, crack propagation, local spalling, and even collapse. If these deformations are not monitored in a timely, accurate, and comprehensive manner, they can easily lead to safety accidents such as gas leaks, cavity instability, and ground subsidence.
[0003] Currently, salt cavern cavity deformation monitoring primarily relies on manual periodic logging, single-point ranging, or simple probe detection, which has significant shortcomings: First, the monitoring methods are outdated, failing to achieve continuous real-time monitoring and making it difficult to capture dynamic creep processes; second, the monitoring range is limited, mostly involving fixed points or unidirectional measurements, resulting in numerous monitoring blind spots; third, the downhole environment is characterized by high temperature, high humidity, high salt spray, and high pressure, making ordinary sensors prone to corrosion, accuracy drift, and signal instability; fourth, the lack of a reliable fixing structure after the device is lowered makes it susceptible to shaking caused by water flow and air bubbles, leading to data distortion; and fifth, the lack of multi-dimensional integrated monitoring methods makes it impossible to simultaneously acquire information such as displacement, temperature, and cracks, hindering a comprehensive assessment of the cavity's safety status. Therefore, developing a real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavities that is height-adjustable, capable of 360° omnidirectional scanning, multi-radar collaborative monitoring, stable fixation, and adaptable to harsh downhole environments is of great significance for ensuring the long-term safe and efficient operation of salt cavern energy storage systems.
[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a real-time monitoring device for the deformation of salt cavern energy storage chambers, which can achieve the function of real-time monitoring. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavities to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.
[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a real-time deformation monitoring device for a salt cavern energy storage cavity, comprising an outer casing, a protective shell, a main push rod, a guide rod, and a monitoring execution mechanism. The outer casing is connected to the protective shell through the main push rod and the guide rod, and the main push rod drives the protective shell to rise and fall along the axial direction of the guide rod. The monitoring execution mechanism is located below the protective shell and includes a base plate, a rotating plate, and multiple sets of monitoring components. The rotating plate is rotatably connected to the base plate through a rotating shaft, and a cylinder drives the rotating plate to rotate around the rotating shaft.
[0007] In one embodiment, the monitoring component includes a laser ranging radar I, a laser ranging radar II, and an infrared monitoring head. The laser ranging radar I, laser ranging radar II, and infrared monitoring head are all fixed on a rotating plate and rotate synchronously with the rotating plate to realize the acquisition of deformation data of the salt cavern from multiple directions and angles.
[0008] In one embodiment, a groove is provided on the rotating plate, and the infrared monitoring head is fixed in the groove by a fixing plate. The infrared monitoring head is used to collect temperature and crack propagation data of the salt cavern wall to help determine the deformation trend of the cavity.
[0009] In one embodiment, the laser ranging radar one and the laser ranging radar two are respectively arranged at different positions on the rotating plate to collect wall displacement data of the salt cavern cavity in different directions, and calculate the cavity deformation by comparing the initial reference value and the real-time measurement value.
[0010] In one embodiment, a pneumatic clamp is provided on the base plate, which is used to fix the device to the inner wall of the salt cavern well during monitoring operations to ensure the stability of the monitoring process.
[0011] In one embodiment, the rotating plate is further provided with an illumination column, which is used to provide illumination in the dark environment of the salt cavern cavity, assisting the monitoring components in clearly collecting cavity wall data.
[0012] In one embodiment, the main push rod is an electric push rod or a hydraulic push rod, which, together with the guide rod, enables the device to be precisely lifted and lowered within the salt cavern wellbore, adapting to the monitoring needs of salt cavern cavities at different depths.
[0013] In one embodiment, the cylinder is fixed between the protective shell and the base plate, and the output end of the cylinder is hinged to the rotating plate. The rotating plate is driven by the extension and retraction of the cylinder to achieve a continuous rotation of -°.
[0014] In one embodiment, both the laser ranging radar one and the laser ranging radar two are high-pressure resistant and corrosion resistant radars, suitable for the harsh underground environment of salt caverns with high temperature, high humidity and high salt spray.
[0015] In one embodiment, the outer casing integrates a data processing and transmission module, which is used to receive data collected by laser ranging radar one, laser ranging radar two, and infrared monitoring head, calculate the salt cavern cavity contraction rate and displacement, and upload the data to the ground monitoring terminal in real time.
[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects achieved by the present invention are as follows: The present invention sets the outer casing as the main load-bearing structure of the device, and integrates a data processing module, a signal transmission module and a power supply module inside, which can upload the monitoring data to the ground monitoring terminal in real time. The main push rod and the guide rod are connected at the bottom of the outer casing. The main push rod is an electric push rod or a hydraulic push rod. The guide rod is symmetrically distributed on both sides of the main push rod for guidance and anti-torsion. The lower end of the main push rod is connected to the protective shell, which can drive the protective shell to move axially up and down along the guide rod, so that the monitoring mechanism can reach the target monitoring position at different depths and heights of the salt cave. Attached Figure Description
[0017] The technical solution and other beneficial effects of this application will become apparent from the following detailed description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0018] In the attached diagram: Fig. 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Fig. 2 This is a schematic diagram of the monitoring actuator of the present invention; Fig. 3 This is a schematic diagram of the monitoring actuator of the present invention; In the diagram: 1. Outer casing; 2. Protective shell; 3. Main push rod; 4. Guide rod; 5. Cylinder; 6. Rotating plate; 7. Base plate; 8. Tank; 9. Laser ranging radar one; 10. Fixing plate; 11. Laser ranging radar two; 12. Rotating shaft; 13. Pneumatic clamp; 14. Infrared monitoring head; 15. Lighting pole. Detailed Implementation
[0019] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, various specific examples of processes and materials are provided in this application, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.
[0020] Please see Figs. 1-3The present invention provides a technical solution: a real-time deformation monitoring device for a salt cavern energy storage cavity, comprising an outer casing 1, a protective shell 2, a main push rod 3, a guide rod 4, and a monitoring execution mechanism. The outer casing 1 is connected to the protective shell 2 via the main push rod 3 and the guide rod 4. The main push rod 3 drives the protective shell 2 to move up and down axially along the guide rod 4. The monitoring execution mechanism is located below the protective shell 2 and includes a base plate 7, a rotating plate 6, and multiple sets of monitoring components. The rotating plate 6 is rotatably connected to the base plate 7 via a rotating shaft 12. A cylinder 5 drives the rotating plate 6 to rotate around the rotating shaft 12.
[0021] Specifically, the outer casing 1 is the main load-bearing structure of the device, integrating a data processing module, a signal transmission module, and a power supply module. It can upload monitoring data to a ground monitoring terminal in real time. The outer casing 1 is connected to the main push rod 3 and guide rod 4 at its bottom. The main push rod 3 is either an electric or hydraulic push rod. The guide rods 4 are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the main push rod 3 for guidance and anti-torsion. The lower end of the main push rod 3 is connected to the protective shell 2, which can drive the protective shell 2 to move axially up and down along the guide rod 4, allowing the monitoring mechanism to reach target monitoring positions at different depths and heights within the salt cavern. The lower part of the protective shell 2 is fixed... The base plate 7 is rotatably connected to the rotating plate 6 via a rotating shaft 12. A cylinder 5 is fixedly installed between the protective shell 2 and the base plate 7. The output end of the cylinder 5 is hinged to the rotating plate 6. The cylinder extends and retracts to push the rotating plate 6 around the rotating shaft 12, achieving continuous rotation scanning from 0° to 360°, ensuring no blind spots on the inner wall of the cavity. A pneumatic clamp 13 is installed on the base plate 7. The pneumatic clamp 13 is a retractable locking structure. After reaching the monitoring position, the pneumatic clamp 13 expands outwards and presses against the inner wall of the well shaft, fixing the entire device and preventing swaying, displacement, or rotation during monitoring. To ensure stable and accurate data acquisition from the lidar and infrared monitoring head, the rotating plate 6 serves as the mounting carrier for the monitoring components. Lithium-based ranging radar 9 and laser ranging radar 11 are mounted on the rotating plate 6, arranged at different angles. This allows for simultaneous measurement of wall distances in different directions and sections of the cavity. By comparing the initial reference distance with the real-time measured distance, the radial deformation, contraction rate, expansion, and local protrusion / recession displacement of the cavity are calculated. A groove 8 is provided on the rotating plate 6, and the infrared monitoring head 14 is securely mounted within the groove 8 via a fixing plate 10. Head 14 can collect real-time temperature distribution, crack width, crack length and abnormal surface areas of the salt cavern wall to help judge the trend of cavity creep, stress concentration and damage propagation. The rotating plate 6 is also equipped with a lighting column 15. The lighting column 15 adopts explosion-proof, corrosion-resistant and high-brightness light source to provide illumination in the dark, low visibility and high turbidity environment of the well, improve the clarity of the monitoring image and ensure the accuracy of laser ranging and infrared detection. The whole device adopts a pressure-resistant, corrosion-resistant and sealed structure, which can adapt to the harsh environment of high temperature, high humidity, high salt spray and high air pressure in the salt cavern.
[0022] Example 1: Routine Deformation Monitoring of Shallow Salt Caverns This embodiment is applicable to shallow salt caves with a depth of ≤200m.
[0023] The device is lowered into the wellbore, the main push rod 3 extends, and the monitoring mechanism is sent to the middle of the salt cavern cavity; Activate the pneumatic clamp 13 to fix the device to the inner wall of the well shaft and prevent it from shaking. Cylinder component 5 drives rotating plate 6 to rotate slowly 360° at a speed of 0.5° / s; Laser ranging radar 19 and laser ranging radar 211 collect the distance to the wall in real time, while infrared monitoring head 14 collects information on wall temperature and cracks. The data is transmitted to the outer casing 1 processing module to calculate the cavity diameter change, deformation, and shrinkage rate; Data is uploaded to the ground terminal in real time, forming a complete cloud map of cavity cross-sectional deformation.
[0024] This embodiment enables daily inspection, periodic monitoring, and data archiving of shallow salt caverns.
[0025] Example 2: Real-time monitoring under high pressure in deep salt caverns This embodiment is applicable to deep high-pressure salt caves with depths of 300–800 m.
[0026] The device adopts a pressure-resistant, sealed, and reinforced structure. Both the laser ranging radar 19 and the laser ranging radar 211 are high-pressure models that can withstand pressures of 0.8MPa or higher. The main push rod 3 is a heavy-duty hydraulic push rod that sends the monitoring mechanism into the deep target layer of the salt cave. The pneumatic clamp 13 adopts a high clamping force structure and remains stable under high pressure airflow disturbance; The rotating plate 6 continuously rotates and scans, and the dual radars acquire data synchronously, eliminating errors caused by downhole interference. Infrared monitoring head 14 focuses on monitoring temperature and microcrack changes in stress concentration areas; The system refreshes a set of data every 5 seconds, enabling 24-hour uninterrupted real-time monitoring.
[0027] This embodiment is applicable to the full-cycle monitoring of salt cavern energy storage systems, including gas injection, pressure holding, and pressure release.
[0028] Example 3: Long-term online monitoring of salt cavern creep This embodiment is applicable to long-term creep monitoring and stability assessment of salt caverns.
[0029] The device is fixed at the key section of the salt cavern and the pneumatic clamp 13 is kept locked for a long time. The rotating plate 6 automatically rotates once every 30 minutes to complete a full-area scan. Laser ranging radar 1 (9) and laser ranging radar 2 (11) record minute changes in wall displacement; Infrared monitoring head 14 monitors wall temperature and whether cracks continue to expand; The outer casing 1 has a built-in storage module that can store more than 30 days of raw data and automatically generate creep curves; When the deformation exceeds the set threshold, the system will automatically issue an audible and visual alarm.
[0030] This embodiment can be used for long-term stability evaluation, lifespan prediction, and safety early warning of salt caverns.
[0031] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection, the internal communication between two components, or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.
[0032] The above provides a detailed description of a real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavity provided in the embodiments of this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the technical solutions and core ideas of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.
Claims
1. A real-time deformation monitoring device for a salt cavern energy storage cavity, comprising an outer casing (1), a protective shell (2), a main push rod (3), a guide rod (4), and a monitoring actuator, characterized in that, The outer casing (1) is connected to the protective shell (2) via the main push rod (3) and the guide rod (4). The main push rod (3) drives the protective shell (2) to rise and fall along the guide rod (4) axially. The monitoring actuator is located below the protective shell (2) and includes a base plate (7), a rotating plate (6) and multiple monitoring components. The rotating plate (6) is rotatably connected to the base plate (7) via a rotating shaft (12). The cylinder component (5) drives the rotating plate (6) to rotate around the rotating shaft (12).
2. The real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The monitoring components include a laser ranging radar one (9), a laser ranging radar two (11), and an infrared monitoring head (14). The laser ranging radar one (9), the laser ranging radar two (11), and the infrared monitoring head (14) are all fixed on the rotating plate (6) and rotate synchronously with the rotating plate (6) to realize the multi-directional and multi-angle deformation data acquisition of the salt cavern cavity.
3. The real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavity according to claim 2, characterized in that, The rotating plate (6) has a groove (8) and the infrared monitoring head (14) is fixed in the groove (8) by a fixing plate (10). The infrared monitoring head (14) is used to collect temperature and crack expansion data of the salt cavern wall to help determine the deformation trend of the cavity.
4. The real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavity according to claim 2, characterized in that, The laser ranging radar 1 (9) and laser ranging radar 2 (11) are respectively arranged in different positions on the rotating plate (6) to collect wall displacement data of the salt cave cavity in different directions, and calculate the cavity deformation by comparing the initial reference value and the real-time measurement value.
5. The real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavity according to claim 1, characterized in that, A pneumatic clamp (13) is provided on the base plate (7). The pneumatic clamp (13) is used to fix the device to the inner wall of the salt cavern well during monitoring operations to ensure the stability of the monitoring process.
6. The real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating plate (6) is also equipped with a lighting column (15), which is used to provide illumination in the dark environment of the salt cavern cavity, and to assist the monitoring components in clearly collecting cavity wall data.
7. The real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main push rod (3) is an electric push rod or a hydraulic push rod, which, together with the guide rod (4), enables the device to be accurately lifted and lowered in the salt cavern well, adapting to the monitoring needs of salt cavern cavities of different depths.
8. The real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cylinder component (5) is fixed between the protective shell (2) and the base plate (7). The output end of the cylinder component (5) is hinged to the rotating plate (6). The rotating plate (6) is driven by the cylinder extension and retraction to achieve continuous rotation from 0 to 360°.
9. The real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavity according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both the laser ranging radar 1 (9) and the laser ranging radar 2 (11) are high-pressure resistant and corrosion resistant radars, which are suitable for the harsh underground environment of high temperature, high humidity and high salt spray in the salt cavern cavity.
10. The real-time deformation monitoring device for salt cavern energy storage cavity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer casing (1) integrates a data processing and transmission module, which is used to receive the data collected by laser ranging radar one (9), laser ranging radar two (11) and infrared monitoring head (14), calculate the salt cavern shrinkage rate and displacement, and upload them to the ground monitoring terminal in real time.