HySchool Webinar #9: Lucas Claussner (NTNU) & Alice Schiaroli (NTNU)

You will find powerpoints from the presentations under "Documents" after the webinar.

Lucas Claussner
PhD candidate at NTNU

Design and Operation of Liquid Hydrogen Storage Tanks

Liquid hydrogen (LH2) is a versatile and efficient energy carrier with numerous applications in space exploration, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, industrial processes, and the maritime sector. However, its extremely low boiling point and low density present unique challenges in handling, storage, and transportation, particularly in the prevention of loss of containment scenarios. At present, there is still limited knowledge available on the thermodynamics of liquid hydrogen contained in cryogenic storage tanks.

The presented work delves into an examination of insulation techniques and the operation of liquid hydrogen tanks. Also, self-pressurization is explained and set into context. Furthermore, modelling of specific parameters such as temperature distribution, pressure increase and liquid level play an important role in understanding the thermodynamics inside of LH2 tanks and enable to draw conclusions for the efficient operation when avoiding the loss of hydrogen by releasing boil off gas.

The ramifications of this study hold critical importance for industries reliant on hydrogen. The insights gained could be used to facilitate the development of prediction models to enhance operational directives, and the development of effective storage systems.

Alice Schiaroli
PhD candidate at NTNU

Numerical modelling of liquid hydrogen tanks performance during fire engulfment

The incumbent need to tackle global warming draws attention to potential zero-emission energy solutions, particularly for the hard-to-abate sectors. Given the environmental impact of the transportation sector, several decarbonization strategies that rely on liquid hydrogen (LH2) as a fuel were proposed. However, safety-related issues have not yet been deeply investigated, leaving many questions still unanswered.

In the context of safety, the worst-case scenario is the fire engulfment of the LH2 storage cryogenic storage tank. Mathematical models able to simulate such a scenario contribute to investigate the tank performance and the fluid behaviour during the fire attack, providing valuable information for optimising of the components and developing adequate safety barriers.

In this study, a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model is developed to analyse the phenomena occurring during the full fire engulfment of a liquid hydrogen tank. The experimental data available in the literature are used for the model validation. The results of the present analysis provide a valuable tool to enhance the knowledge about hydrogen safety and support the definition of safety codes and standards for the safe use and handling of the fuel.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 391 457 099 491
Passcode: ZVyAXQ

Download Teams | Join on the web
Learn More | Meeting options