Abstract
To investigate the hazards emanating from cryogenic LH2 storage Vessels in a fire, experiments have been performed at the Test Site Technical Safety of the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung (BAM), Germany. Three double-walled vacuum insulated vessels of 1 m3 volume, filled to approximately 35-40 Vol.% with LH2 were put in a fire. The cylindrical Vessels differed in orientation (horizontal or vertical) and the insulation material used (perlite or multi-layer insulation (MLI)). The fire load was provided by a propane fed burner-system positioned under the storage vessel and designed to give a homogeneous fire load. During the tests the conditions in the vessel (temperatures and pressure) as well as external effects (heat radiation, blast waves, flame ball development and fragmentation) were measured. Two of these vessels, a horizontal and a vertical vessel both insulated with perlite withstood the fire loading for 1 hour 20 minutes and 4 hours respectively without catastrophic failure, but partly showing leakages. The horizontal vessel insulated with MLI failed by bursting after 1 hour and 6 minutes resulting in a fireball, fragments, and blast wave. The test results as well as the detailed examination of the non-destroyed vessels rose some interesting questions which type of insulation might be better to protect a vessel not only during its normal operation but also under fire loading against a heat flux from the surroundings, as well as to the suitability of cryogenic (safety) equipment under fire loading.
