| Title: |
Modelling the behaviour of cryogenic liquid hydrogen tanks engulfed in fire |
| Authors: |
Schiaroli, Alice; Camplese, Davide; Scarponi, Giordano Emrys; Eberwein, Robert; Ustolin, Federico; Cozzani, Valerio |
| Contributors: |
Schiaroli, Alice; Camplese, Davide; Scarponi, Giordano Emry; Eberwein, Robert; Ustolin, Federico; Cozzani, Valerio |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
IRIS Università degli Studi di Bologna (CRIS - Current Research Information System) |
| Subject Terms: |
CFD modelling; Cryogenic tank; Fire engulfment; Liquid hydrogen; Multi-layer insulation |
| Description: |
The safe use of liquid hydrogen as a clean fuel requires a deep understanding of its behaviour in accident scenarios. Among other scenarios, the possible involvement of cryogenic liquid hydrogen tanks in engulfing fires is of particular concern, due to the potentially severe consequences. This study proposes a computational fluid dynamic model suitable to simulate the behaviour of liquid hydrogen tanks equipped with multi-layer insulation (MLI) engulfed in fire. An original approach has been developed to assess the progressive degradation of the performance of the thermal insulation, that is crucial in determining the tank pressurization and failure. The model is validated against full-scale experimental fire tests. The outcomes of the model reproduce the progressive pressurization and the opening time of the pressure relief valve within 2 % error. The results demonstrate the importance of accounting for the dynamic evolution of the progressive degradation of the insulation when evaluating tank pressurization, and they highlight the limitations of empirical, simplified state-of-the-art approaches. Furthermore, the analysis evidences the key role of the fire temperature in governing tank response, stressing the need for proper fire characterization to support reliable modelling of fire scenarios and the development of emergency planning and mitigation strategies ensuring the structural integrity of liquid hydrogen tanks during fire attacks. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
STAMPA |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:001649452500001; volume:206; firstpage:1; lastpage:14; numberofpages:14; journal:PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; https://hdl.handle.net/11585/1043027; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0957582025015861 |
| DOI: |
10.1016/j.psep.2025.108319 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/11585/1043027; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2025.108319; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0957582025015861 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; license:Licenza per Accesso Aperto. Creative Commons Attribuzione (CCBY) ; license uri:iris.PUB15 |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.C616C2F5 |
| Database: |
BASE |