Fluid sloshing dynamic performance in a fuel storage tank under sinusoidal excitations

Abstract

Fluid sloshing can cause undesired effects on cryogenic fuel storage tanks. To reduce the safety risk, it is necessary to conduct in-depth investigations on fluid sloshing. In this paper, a numerical model is established to study the sloshing dynamic characteristic in a liquid oxygen tank under a sinusoidal excitation, including the sloshing force and moment, fluid pressure variation and dynamic response of free interface. Volume of fluid method is used to capture the interface fluctuation, coupled with the mesh motion treatment. Different from previous research, the external heat leak and the interfacial phase change are considered. The results show that the sloshing force decreases with time due to the damping effect. The sloshing moments of the horizontal monitors at the same level are approaching, while there are different values for monitors with different heights. Generally, the sloshing moment decreases with time. As fluid sloshing promotes the heat transfer from the vapor to liquid, the tank pressure presents a decrease profile. Due to the dynamic response of free interface, the fluid close to the tank wall has obvious elevation variations. Some preventive measures, including the anti-slosh baffle and the floated foam, should be adopted to reduce the harmful effects induced by fluid sloshing.