Cryogenic hydrogen fuel tanks for large hypersonic cruise vehicles

摘要: The design of light yet highly insulated cryogenic tanks is a key enabling technology for hydrogen-fuelled flights, especially when operation in the harsh thermal environment associated with hypersonic speeds envisaged. This paper examines use different insulation systems tanks. investigation Mach 5 flight shows that combination foam and fully load-bearing aerogel blanket leads to lightest tank, gravimetric efficiency 73%. If cannot be strengthened sufficiently so it can bear full load, then fibrous materials gives best solution 70.3%. around 10% better than (non-load-bearing) or multi-layer insulations. However, performance foam-fibrous more sensitive external skin temperature other foam-multilayer system becomes efficient at beyond 9. demonstrates critical make each material proper combinations considerably improve system.