Numerical study of the filling process of a liquid hydrogen storage tank under different sloshing conditions

Abstract

Cryogenic vessels are widely used in many areas, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), aerospace, and medical fields. A suitable filling method is one of the prerequisites for the effective use of cryogenic containers. In this study, the filling process for the sloshing condition of a liquid hydrogen storage tank is numerically simulated and analyzed by coupling the sloshing model and the phase-change model. The effects of different sloshing conditions during the filling process are investigated by changing the amplitude and frequency of the sloshing. Within the scope of this study, there is a critical value for the effect of sloshing conditions on the pressure curve during the filling process. The critical value corresponds to a frequency f equal to 3 Hz and an amplitude A equal to 0.03 m. According to the simulation results, when the sloshing exceeds the critical value, the internal pressure curve of the storage tank increases significantly. Under microgravity conditions, within the scope of this study, the pressure curve changes less than the normal gravity, even if the amplitude and frequency increase. The sloshing makes it easier for the liquid to spread along the wall during the filling process. This also further weakens the temperature stratification in the storage tank.