Norwegian company CryoVac has received approval in principle (AiP) from DNV for its new vacuum insulation system for liquid hydrogen (LH2) hydrogen tanks.
The system has been developed to solve problems of transporting LH2 by sea. CryoVac’s solution involves cooling hydrogen to about -253 deg C. It comprises an externally insulated self-supporting prismatic tank based on IMO Type B principles in an insulated hold. The company’s hexagonal CryoPan insulation panels are applied to the tank and the hold surfaces by welding. This avoids the difficulty of maintaining such low temperatures, as well as the embrittlement of steel which is normally used for tanks.
CryoVac CEO Aage Bjørn Andersen said: “Our hexagonal vacuum panels are welded together into continuous surfaces and configured to form a hybrid insulation system allowing simple prismatic tanks to be applied for LH2 carriage. This provides efficient insulation with very low boil-off rate, without challenging the integrity of the steel.”
Trond Berntzen, head of gas technology, piping and safety, DNV Maritime, added: “It is exciting to see solutions such as the one developed by CryoVac, which provides an innovative approach to storing and transporting liquid,” said . “As a knowledge organisation, there is nothing better than collaborating on such innovative development projects and helping to ensure these solutions can be safely implemented and applied.”
The CryoVac containment system can be used for ships with varying cargo capacities. According to CryoVac, the next step will be to develop a 45,000m3 LH2 carrier design with three cargo holds each holding a 15,000m3 tank, which will be developed in collaboration with DNV. The vessel will use hydrogen as fuel, enabling zero-emission operation.
Andersen said: “There is a lot of interest worldwide for a safe and cost-efficient solution for shipping of liquid hydrogen. This is the technology gap we are aiming to fill. We will going forward be entering into dialogue with shipowners and hydrogen producers that share the ambition of realising a global supply chain for liquid hydrogen.”
Image: CryoVac LH2 containment system (source: CryoVac)
