A system for compressed flue gas energy storage in aquifers is proposed, combining compressed gas energy storage with carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration. Transient simulations of the cyclic injection-production process in aquifers with anticlinal symmetric structures were conducted, incorporating the flow, phase, saturation, and chemical reaction equations. The dynamic characteristics of bottom-hole pressure, bottom-hole temperature, and the gas-phase saturation field under designed operating conditions were analysed. The total carbon dioxide storage capacity throughout the dynamic process was calculated. Energy and exergy efficiencies of the compressed flue gas in a single injection-production cycle were also evaluated. The results show that over time, bottom-hole pressure, temperature, and gas-phase saturation fields gradually stabilise into periodic patterns during the cyclic injection-production process. Carbon dioxide storage capacity increases continuously, while energy efficiency declines before stabilising, and exergy efficiency rises before stabilising. The effects of gas storage construction duration and injection-production rates on the dynamic characteristics of the cyclic process were also examined. Longer construction durations result in smaller bottom-hole pressure and temperature differences during injection-production, higher carbon dioxide sequestration, and improved exergy efficiency in the Huff-n-Puff operation. Conversely, higher injection-production rates lead to greater bottom-hole pressure and temperature differences and increased carbon dioxide sequestration, but lower exergy efficiency in the Huff-n-Puff operation.
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Research Article|
April 21 2026
Thermo-hydraulic behaviour of compressed flue gas storage in aquifers Available to Purchase
Songtao Pei;
Songtao Pei
College of Electromechanical Engineering,
Qingdao University of Science & Technology
, Qingdao, China
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Chengliang Qin;
Chengliang Qin
College of Electromechanical Engineering,
Qingdao University of Science & Technology
, Qingdao, China
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Wei Chen;
College of Electromechanical Engineering,
Qingdao University of Science & Technology
, Qingdao, China
Corresponding author Wei Chen (cw_19344616@aliyun.com)
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Shuangxing Liu;
Shuangxing Liu
CNPC Research Institute of Safety & Environment Technology
, Beijing, China
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Shugang Yang;
Shugang Yang
CNPC Research Institute of Safety & Environment Technology
, Beijing, China
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Mingyu Cai;
Mingyu Cai
CNPC Research Institute of Safety & Environment Technology
, Beijing, China
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Xuelin Zhang;
Xuelin Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Power System and Generation Equipment, Department of Electrical Engineering,
Tsinghua University
, Beijing, China
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Xiaodai Xue
Xiaodai Xue
State Key Laboratory of Power System and Generation Equipment, Department of Electrical Engineering,
Tsinghua University
, Beijing, China
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Corresponding author Wei Chen (cw_19344616@aliyun.com)
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Received:
November 18 2025
Accepted:
February 24 2026
Funding
Funding Group:
- Award Group:
- Funder(s): National Key Research and Development Program of China-National Quality Infrastructure System
- Award Id(s): 2023YFF0615000
- Funder(s):
- Award Group:
- Funder(s): Scientific Research and Technology Development Project of CNPC
- Award Id(s): 2023ZZ1301
- Funder(s):
- Funding Statement(s): This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China-National Quality Infrastructure System (2023YFF0615000) and the Scientific Research and Technology Development Project of CNPC (2023ZZ1301).
© 2026 Emerald Publishing Limited
2026
Emerald Publishing Limited
Licensed re-use rights only
Environmental Geotechnics 1–22.
Article history
Received:
November 18 2025
Accepted:
February 24 2026
Citation
Pei S, Qin C, Chen W, Liu S, Yang S, Cai M, Zhang X, Xue X (2026;), "Thermo-hydraulic behaviour of compressed flue gas storage in aquifers". Environmental Geotechnics, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1680/jenge.25.00214
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