Review on modern ways of insulation of reservoirs for liquid hydrogen storage

Abstract

Modern ways of developing hydrogen energy as an alternative energy source have been established. The description of hydrogen storage methods in various systems is given: in pressurized cylinders; in the adsorbed state using carbon nanotubes as an adsorbent; in the form of hydrides; in a chemically bound state in the form of methane and ammonia; in tanks at low temperatures. The last method of hydrogen storage is chosen as the most optimal one. The design of tanks for storing hydrogen at low temperatures has been studied. The use of spherical tanks with a heat-insulating layer makes it possible to store large reserves of hydrogen. The main insulation technologies for storing liquid hydrogen are considered: active thermal insulation and passive thermal insulation. Possible heat-insulating materials and operational requirements for them are given. The most promising heat-insulating materials for cryogenic tanks are porous inorganic fillers. The expediency of using foam glass as a heat-insulating material for hydrogen storage has been established. Foam glass has a number of advantages over similar insulating materials, such as water and vapor impermeability, frost resistance, chemical and thermal stability, and high mechanical properties. Methods for obtaining ultralight foam glasses with a density of not more than 150 kg/m3 are presented. To do this, it is advisable to use glass production waste, coal generation waste, broken glass for various industrial and domestic purposes, since the production of foam glass based on specially obtained glass significantly increases the cost of this heat-insulating material. The mechanisms of glass mass foaming with the use of solid and liquid foaming agents are considered.