Insulation Materials Used in Tanks for the Storage of Cryogenic Fluids in Fire Scenarios

Abstract Cryogenic gases such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or Liquefied Hydrogen (LH2) establish themselves as important energy carriers in the transport sector. Its storage requires tanks with Thermal Super Insulations (TSI) to keep the transported fluid cold. TSI has already proven itself in various applications over a long time, but not in the land transport sector, where accidents involving collisions, fires, and their combination are to be expected. The focus of this study was to investigate the behavior of a TSI exposed to a heat source that represents a fire. For this purpose, a High-Temperature Thermal Vacuum Chamber (HTTVC) has been developed that allows the thermal loading of a TSI and simultaneous measurement of heat flow through this TSI. The HTTVC was applied to investigate TSI based on Multilayer Insulations (MLI) and vacuum. The thermal exposure caused permanent damage to the sample. In practice, this can lead to a rapid release of flammable gas as well as a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE). The results are relevant for the evaluation of accident scenarios, the improvement of TSI, and the development of emergency measures.