Fluid dynamics of underground hydrogen storage

R&D Focus Areas:
Computational modelling, Underground storage

Lead Organisation:
The University of Melbourne

Partners:
Not Applicable

Status:
Active

Start date:
November 2024

Completion date:
October 2027

Key contacts:
Dr Edward Hinton – edward.hinton@unimelb.edu.au

Funding:
Australian Research Council (DE240100755): AUD$430,788

Project total cost:
AUD$709,324

Project summary description:
The project seeks to understand the flow of hydrogen in underground porous layers. This will be achieved through mathematical models of the continuum mechanics governing the injection and withdrawal of hydrogen. The framework will account for a variety of physical and biological mechanisms.

Underground storage of zero-carbon hydrogen provides an ideal route to overcome the intermittency of renewable energy. The project outcomes include a mathematical description of the response of two-phase flow instabilities to injection and withdrawal, and dynamical insights into the role of microbial growth on flow in porous media. Expected benefits are increased efficiency of hydrogen recovery and the reduced cost of site selection.

Related publications and key links:
None at this stage.
https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/Web/Grant/Grant/DE240100755

Higher degree studies supported:
One PhD student based at the University of Melbourne.

 

Reviewed: August 2024