Research on the performance of high-efficiency composite insulation scheme for liquid hydrogen tank in orbit environment

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20240638

Abstract

Abstract:

A two-dimensional heat transfer model was established for the variable density multi-layer insulation (VDMLI) with vapor-cooled shield (VCS) and catalytic conversion of para-ortho hydrogen (P-O) of the liquid hydrogen tank. The influence of the hydrogen temperature gradient in VCS on the thermal insulation system was analyzed in detail. The comprehensive performances of VDMLI, VDMLI + single vapor-cooled shield (SVCS), VDMLI + double vapor-cooled shield (DVCS), VDMLI + SVCS + P-O, and VDMLI + DVCS + P-O were compared from the perspectives of thermal insulation performance and additional mass. The results show that the optimal layout interval of SVCS is 42%—58% of VDMLI thickness, and the optimal layout intervals of DVCS's inner and outer shield are 12%—28% and 55%—72% of VDMLI thickness, respectively. Compared with VDMLI, the application of SVCS and DVCS reduces the heat flux by 69.91% and 74.50%, and increases the additional mass by 68.98% and 137.97%, respectively. After the introduction of para-ortho hydrogen conversion, the optimal layout range of SVCS is closer to the cold end, and the optimal layout range of DVCS changes less. The addition of para-ortho hydrogen conversion improves the insulation performance and the additional mass increases very little, so the insulation scheme without para-ortho hydrogen conversion does not have performance advantages. Comparing the performance of different adiabatic schemes, the VDMLI adiabatic scheme is recommended for short-term on-orbit missions, the VDMLI/SVCS/P-O adiabatic scheme is advised for medium-term on-orbit missions, and the VDMLI/DVCS/P-O adiabatic scheme can be adopted for long-term on-orbit missions.

Key words: hydrogen, heat transfer, vapor-cooled shield, para-ortho hydrogen conversion, catalysis

摘要：

针对液氢贮箱建立了考虑仲-正氢催化转化（P-O）的变密度多层绝热/蒸气冷却屏（VDMLI/VCS）二维传热模型，详细分析VCS内氢气温度梯度对绝热系统的影响，从绝热性能和附加质量的角度对比VDMLI、VDMLI+单蒸气冷却屏（SVCS）、VDMLI+双蒸气冷却屏（DVCS）、VDMLI+SVCS+P-O和VDMLI+DVCS+P-O这5种绝热方案的综合性能。结果表明：SVCS的最佳布置区间为VDMLI厚度的42%~58%，DVCS内、外屏的最佳布置区间分别为VDMLI厚度的12%~28%和55%~72%；增加SVCS和DVCS结构，较VDMLI漏热热通量分别降低69.91%和74.50%，附加质量分别增加68.98%和137.97%；引入仲-正转化后，SVCS的最佳布置区间更靠近冷端，DVCS的最佳布置区间变化较小；仲-正转化的加入提高了绝热性能且附加质量增加极小，因此无仲-正转化的绝热方案不具有性能优势。短期、中期、长期在轨任务分别推荐采用VDMLI、VDMLI/SVCS/P-O、VDMLI/DVCS/P-O绝热方案。

关键词: 氢, 传热, 蒸气冷却屏, 仲-正转化, 催化

CLC Number:

TB 611

Jiajia LIANG, Cui LI, Yuan MA, Yining HUANG, Lei WANG, Yanzhong LI. Research on the performance of high-efficiency composite insulation scheme for liquid hydrogen tank in orbit environment[J]. CIESC Journal, 2024, 75(12): 4749-4760.

梁佳佳, 李翠, 马原, 黄奕宁, 王磊, 厉彦忠. 在轨环境液氢贮箱高效复合绝热方案性能研究[J]. 化工学报, 2024, 75(12): 4749-4760.

Figures/Tables 14

Table 1 Five composite insulation schemes for liquid hydrogen storage tanks

方案	结构形式
一	VDMLI
二	VDMLI+SVCS
三	VDMLI+DVCS
四	VDMLI+SVCS+P-O
五	VDMLI+DVCS+P-O

Fig.1 Arrangement form of liquid hydrogen tank insulation structure

Table 2 Geometric parameters of adiabatic structure［20-22］

结构	参数	数值
SOFI	厚度/mm	35
SOFI	密度/(kg/m³)	36.8
VDMLI	厚度/mm	37.5
	总层数	45
	层密度/(层/cm)	8,12,16
	密度/(kg/m²)	0.01515
VCS	冷屏面积/ m²	35.74
	冷屏厚度/mm	0.50
	管道数量	4
	管道长度/m	5.12
	管道内径/mm	11.70
	管道厚度/mm	0.50
	密度/(kg/m³)	2660
P-O	催化剂密度/(kg/m³)	5240
P-O	填料空隙率	0.5

Fig.2 Two-dimensional heat transfer model for VDMLI/VCS

Fig.3 Two-dimensional VDMLI/VCS solution flow chart

Fig.4 Heat leakage corresponding to different grid numbers

Fig.5 Comparison of temperature curves between experiments and calculations

Fig.6 Comparison of insulation parameters between 2D and 1D models for storage tanks

Fig.7 Heat leakage at different VCS positions

Fig.8 Heat leakage of VDMLI/DVCS at different VCS positions

Fig.9 VDMLI temperature contours of different adiabatic schemes

Fig.10 Variation law of axial area heat leakage rate for different insulation schemes

Fig.11 Comparison of heat leakage and additional mass of different insulation schemes

Fig.12 Variation of liquid hydrogen loss mass with time for different insulation schemes

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