Valve design considerations in liquid hydrogen systems to prevent failure

Abstract

Hydrogen has potential as an alternative source of energy (energy carrier) because it can be converted, stored, and used efficiently, with a wide range of applications. It can be created from renewable energy sources and can thus serve as storage of renewable energy like wind- and sun-power. It shall be noted that Hydrogen liquefies at -252.9 °C, so cryogenic systems and sophisticated insulation techniques are necessary. Control of the flow has always been carried out by valve assemblies in processing plants. The proper design of industrial valves in every industry, including hydrogen systems, can significantly improve the safety and reliability of the valves specifically, as well as the plant as a whole. An overview of various previous studies is presented in this paper, discussing important design concepts for cryogenic valves. The main research question is to determine what are the main design considerations for valves used in liquid hydrogen systems, to minimize the risk of leakage from the valves to ensure required safety. In this study, different aspects of valve design for liquid hydrogen are examined, such as selection of steel materials, steel wall thickness calculations, stem design, sealing material selection, fire-safe design, cavity over-pressure protection, and body and bonnet extension.