Thermo-mechanical analysis of a novel insulation concept for liquid hydrogen tanks

Hydrogen (H2) is a promising energy carrier for achieving carbon-neutral solutions in various industries, with cryogenic Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) offering high volumetric energy density for storage and transport. This thesis investigates two innovative insulation concepts for largescale LH2 storage systems, aiming to reduce Boil-Off Gas (BOG) rates to below 0.1% mass while addressing challenges such as extended production times, low failure tolerance, and complex maintenance procedures, that hinder the widespread rollout of the state-of-the-art technologies. The study explores the use of Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) combined with Polyurethane (PU) foam, supported by either a metal or polymer frame. Thermo-mechanical analyses, including Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and heat transfer modeling, assess the structural integrity and thermal performance of these concepts. The results reveal that the metal frame concept does not meet the performance requirements due to structural failure and thermal bridging. In contrast, the polymer frame concept successfully achieves the target BOG rate while maintaining structural integrity. Further optimization is recommended, including exploring alternative materials for the frame and VIP envelope to reduce thermal bridging and improve efficiency. This study offers insights into the feasibility of advanced insulation solutions for large-scale LH2 storage, contributing to the development of more efficient and cost-effective hydrogen infrastructure.