A novel cryogenic insulation system of hollow glass microspheres and self-evaporation vapor-cooled shield for liquid hydrogen storage

Liquid hydrogen(LH2)attracts widespread attention because of its highest energy storage density.However,evaporation loss is a serious problem in LH2 storage due to the low boiling point(20 K).Efficient insulation technology is an important issue in the study of LH2 storage.Hollow glass microspheres(HGMs)is a potential promising thermal insulation material because of its low apparent thermal conductivity,fast installation(Compared with multi-layer insulation,it can be injected in a short time.),and easy maintenance.A novel cryogenic insulation system consisting of HGMs and a selfevaporating vapor-cooled shield(VCS)is proposed for storage of LH2.A thermodynamic model has been established to analyze the coupled heat transfer characteristics of HGMs and VCS in the composite insulation system.The results show that the combination of HGMs and VCS can effectively reduce heat flux into the LH2 tank.With the increase of VCS number from 1 to 3,the minimum heat flux through HGMs decreases by 57.36%,65.29%,and 68.21%,respectively.Another significant advantage of HGMs is that their thermal insulation properties are not sensitive to ambient vacuum change.When ambient vacuum rises from 10^-3 Pa to 1 Pa,the heat flux into the LH2 tank increases by approximately 20%.When the vacuum rises from 10^-3 Pa to 100 Pa,the combination of VCS and HGMs reduces the heat flux into the tank by 58.08%-69.84% compared with pure HGMs.

Prospects of sea launches for Chinese cryogenic liquid-fueled medium-lift launch vehicles

This paper introduces the sea-launch technology of a cryogenic liquid-fueled medium-lift rocket.It first reviews the current state of sea launch technology,and then gives a brief introduction of China’s New Generation Medium-lift Launch Vehicle(NGMLV).The innovations in the NGMVL,such as responsive test and launch control,a H3 launch model,and unmanned operations,provide convenience for sea launches.Based on these innovations,this paper proposes a sea launch scheme,including the system configuration,test and launch processes,and an improved adaptive design for the rocket.Then,the launch platform is discussed in detail,which integrates the functions of sea transportation,assembly and test,as well as technical and launch areas.The layout and function divisions,fluid filling,gas supply and distribution systems,and lossless storage technology of LH2 are described in order.This breakthrough in sea launch technology will enable China to launch medium and large satellites and constellations‘both on land and sea’,especially into low-inclination Low-Earth Orbits(LEOs),and it allows China to remain competitive in the fast-paced space industry.

Study on critical technologies and development routes of coal-based hydrogen energy

Hydrogen is considered a secondary source of energy,commonly referred to as an energy carrier.It has the highest energy content when compared to other common fuels by weight,having great potential for further development.Hydrogen can be produced from various domestic resources but,based on the fossil resource conditions in China,coal-based hydrogen energy is considered to be the most valuable,because it is not only an effective way to develop clean energy,but also a proactive exploration of the clean usage of traditional coal resources.In this article,the sorption-enhanced water-gas shift technology in the coal-to-hydrogen section and the hydrogen-storage and transport technology with liquid aromatics are introduced and basic mechanisms,technical advantages,latest progress and future R&D focuses of hydrogen-production and storage processes are listed and discussed.As a conclusion,after considering the development frame and the business characteristics of CHN Energy Group,a conceptual architecture for developing coal-based hydrogen energy and the corresponding supply chain,is proposed.