Cryogenic Ice Barrier for Liquid Hydrogen Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containment systems for liquid hydrogen face challenges in maintaining low temperatures, preventing thermal cracking, and managing Boil Off Gas (BOG) due to heat ingress and outgassing issues.
Innovation Solution
A containment system with walls comprising an inner and outer barrier layer made of cryogenic ice, separated by spacer elements to create a vacuum layer, which reduces outgassing and enhances insulation, thereby maintaining low temperatures and managing BOG effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional insulation materials are used in containment systems, then heat ingress is reduced to some extent, but outgassing occurs and vacuum maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the ice barrier layer to below -150°C, which fundamentally alters the vapor pressure characteristics of ice. At this cryogenic temperature range, the outgassing rate of ice becomes negligible, allowing vacuum maintenance while preserving the insulation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite insulation system combining vacuum and cryogenic ice. The vacuum layer provides primary insulation while the cryogenic ice layer serves as both thermal barrier and vacuum-maintaining barrier, eliminating the outgassing problem of conventional vacuum insulation materials.
2Loss of energy
If the containment system is well insulated to reduce heat ingress, then BOG generation is minimized, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cryogenic ice barrier layer performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thermal insulation, maintains vacuum conditions by suppressing outgassing, and structurally separates the inner and outer walls. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate insulation components, thereby simplifying the overall system despite the advanced cooling requirement.
3Reliability
If the outer barrier layer is kept at very low temperature, then vacuum maintenance is improved, but cooling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The containment system uses the cold liquid hydrogen being stored as the cooling medium for the ice barrier layer. The liquid hydrogen naturally at -253°C absorbs heat from the ice barrier layer, maintaining it below -150°C without requiring external power input for cooling. This self-service approach leverages the stored cryogenic fuel to maintain vacuum conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of cryogenic ice barrier layers and a vacuum insulation system significantly reduces heat ingress, minimizes Boil Off Gas generation, and maintains structural integrity at cryogenic temperatures, providing an efficient and cost-effective solution for storing liquid hydrogen.
Implementation Method 1
the vacuum layer (13) has a pressure of below 0.01 Pa
Implementation Method 2
one or more spacer elements (14) disposed between the inner barrier layer (11) and the outer barrier layer (12) to separate the inner and outer barrier layers (11, 12), thereby creating space for a vacuum layer (13)
Implementation Method 3
the outer barrier layer (12) is made of cryogenic ice having a temperature of below minus 150°C
Implementation Method 4
the outer barrier layer (12) is made of cryogenic ice
Implementation Method 5
The use of cryogenic ice barrier layers and a vacuum insulation system significantly reduces heat ingress
Implementation Method 6
Heat ingress into the containment system will lead to boiling off of liquid hydrogen
Implementation Method 7
the vacuum layer (13) has a pressure of below 0.01 Pa
Implementation Method 8
Means to manage BOG may include means for re-liquefying BOG
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
This invention relates to a containment system for storing liquid hydrogen (3), comprising one or more walls forming a containment space (2). At least one of the one or more walls comprises an inner barrier layer (11), an outer barrier layer (12) and one or more spacer elements (14) disposed between the inner barrier layer (11) and the outer barrier layer (12) to separate the first and second barrier layers (11, 12), thereby creating space for a vacuum layer (13) in between the inner and outer barrier layers (11, 12). The outer barrier layer (12) is made of cryogenic ice having a temperature of below minus 150°C.