Abstract:

This study simulates a hydrogen storage tank assuming lumped hydrogen gas and one-dimensional heat transfer through the tank wall. The model was verified on reported data and then applied in a refueling simulation that investigated the effect of tank structure on the temperature rise of the enclosed hydrogen. During refueling of a Type III tank, most of the simulated hydrogen heat was passed into the tank wall, only 2% of the heat was dissipated from the tank into the environment. Owing to its higher thermal conductivity and significantly lower temperature gradient in the radial direction, the aluminum liner layer exchanged more hydrogen heat than the wrap layer. Reducing the liner layer thickness acceleratted the temperature rise. The hydrogen refueling temperature rise was 10 ℃ higher in the tank with a 3-mm-thick liner layer than in the same tank with a 7 mm-thick liner layer. In contrast, the warp layer thickness had an insignificant effect on hydrogen heat exchange owing to its relatively lower heat conductivity than the liner layer. The simulated temperature rise increased by only 1.8 ℃ when the tank wrap layer thickness was reduced from 12 to 8 mm. Therefore, when controlling the hydrogen refueling of a Type III tank, the effect of tank structure on the temperature rise cannot be ignored. To realize fast and safe refueling, the hydrogen fueling rate can be optimized considering the tank wall parameters, especially the thickness of the aluminum liner layer.

Key words: hydrogen storage tank, liner layer, wrap layer, hydrogen refueling, temperature rise