Experimental study on sloshing mechanical characteristics in a partially filled storage tank

Abstract Due to excellent performance, hydrogen is treated as the most promising energy carrier. However, during the storage of liquid hydrogen, there are still some thorny issues that need to be addressed urgently, such as fluid thermal stratification and sloshing phenomenon. To efficiently grasp fluid sloshing mechanical characteristics, a simple visual sloshing experiment rig was established by using a rectangle transparent water vessel. The variations of the interface shape and the impact force during sloshing were monitored and analyzed. The effects of sloshing frequency, horizontal acceleration, and initial liquid height on fluid sloshing mechanical mechanism were investigated. The results show that when the external sloshing excitation is close to the first order natural frequency, obvious interface fluctuation and large amplitude sloshing force variation are observed. The present work is of significance to strengthen the understanding of fluid sloshing mechanical performance and may lay a solid foundation for fluid sloshing suppression and long‐term storage of cryogenic fuels.