Liquid Hydrogen Tank Baffle Layout for Sloshing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid hydrogen sloshing in storage tanks, particularly in maritime applications, leads to pressure fluctuations in the gas phase, affecting the stability of hydrogen supply to fuel cells and causing unstable operation.
Innovation Solution
A vertically arranged storage tank with an intermediate wall inside the main tank, creating a gap between the base and the intermediate wall, allowing fluidic connection between two interior spaces, reduces sloshing effects by minimizing longitudinal and transverse movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a vertical storage tank configuration is used, then the sloshing effect is reduced compared to horizontal tanks, but longitudinal and transverse movements of liquid hydrogen still occur causing pressure fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The storage tank interior is divided into multiple compartments by vertical intermediate walls spaced at specific intervals. This segmentation restricts the movement of liquid hydrogen to smaller zones, preventing large-scale sloshing and stabilizing the gas phase pressure while maintaining vertical orientation for efficient gravity-driven supply
2Reliability
If intermediate walls are added to reduce sloshing, then pressure stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Intermediate walls are strategically positioned only at critical locations where sloshing would most significantly impact pressure stability. The walls have varying heights and spacing optimized for specific operational conditions, providing maximum pressure stabilization with minimal structural addition
Solution Approach 2:
The problem of pressure instability is solved by adding vertical dimensionality through intermediate walls rather than increasing horizontal complexity. The walls extend vertically to create stacked compartments that restrict liquid movement in the vertical dimension, stabilizing pressure without requiring complex horizontal arrangements
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 design significantly reduces sloshing, maintaining stable hydrogen supply pressure and ensuring consistent operation of fuel cells by minimizing pressure fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
the mass inertia of the liquid hydrogen and the existing curvature of the storage tank, both on its base section and on the end-cap sections, can result in the sloshing of the liquid hydrogen in a large area
Implementation Method 2
a gap is provided between a lower edge of the intermediate wall and the base, so that an interior space enclosed by the intermediate wall is in fluidic connection with an interior space enclosed by the wall
Implementation Method 3
After entering the storage tank, the helium thus has two phases with different aggregate states, namely, liquid and gaseous. The hydrogen can transition from the liquid phase into the gaseous phase and vice versa.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a storage tank for liquid hydrogen, comprising a wall, a base, which closes the wall at the end face on one side, a top, which closes the wall at the end face on the side facing away from the base, and an intermediate wall, which is arranged inside of the wall and at a distance therefrom, wherein a gap is provided between a lower edge of the intermediate wall and the base, so that an interior enclosed by the intermediate wall is fluidically connected to an interior enclosed by the wall.