Structure Design of a Novel Corrugated Membrane for Large-scale Liquid Hydrogen Cargo Containment System

Abstract The large-scale storage of liquid hydrogen allows efficient and inexpensive hydrogen energy utilization. Conventional liquid hydrogen storage tanks commonly adopt a high vacuum double-shell spherical configuration, as observed in the tanks used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Port of Kobe. However, this kind of tank faces load distribution challenges, affecting the strength and stiffness of the support system, especially as tank volumes increase. This study proposes a novel corrugated membrane structure for large-scale liquid hydrogen storage. The corrugated membrane, featuring orthogonal symmetry with corrugations that merge at intersections to form a natural cruciform curvature, can reduce the thermal stress induced by extremely low-temperature environments. Finite element analysis reveals that the structure with specific configurations effectively maintains a relatively low-stress level under harsh conditions, fulfilling material strength criteria. This innovative approach promises improved low-temperature performance and simplifies manufacturing, potentially reducing construction costs and time frames for large-capacity liquid hydrogen storage solutions.