Numerical simulation on the thermal dynamic behavior of liquid hydrogen in a storage tank for trailers

Abstract

In the present study, a numerical model was established to investigate the thermal dynamic behavior of liquid hydrogen in a 40-foot ISO tank. The volume of fluids (VOF) method was applied to capture the liquid surface, and a phase change model was used to describe the evaporation phenomenon of hydrogen. The mesh independence analysis and the experimental validation have been made. Under different filling levels, motion statuses, and heat leakage conditions, the variations in pressure and temperature of the tank were investigated. The pressure of 90% filling level case was reduced by 12.09%, compared to the 50% case. Besides, the pressure of the sloshing condition has increased twofold, contrasted with the stationary one, and thermal stratification disappeared. Additionally, 16.67 min were taken for the ullage pressure to reach around 1 MPa in emergencies of being extremely heated. Some valuable conclusions and suggestions for the transportation of liquid hydrogen arrived. Those could be the references to predict the release time of boil-off hydrogen, and primarily support for gas-releasing control strategies.

Keywords

• Liquid hydrogen tank
• Thermal dynamic
• Sloshing
• Heat leakage
• CFD simulation