Studies on Thermal Stratification Phenomenon in LH2 Storage Vessel

A study of convective heat transfer in a cryogenic storage vessel is carried out numerically and experimentally. A scaled down model study is performed using water as the model fluid in a rectangular glass tank heated from the sides. The convective flow and the resulting thermal stratification phenomenon in the rectangular tank are studied through flow visualization, temperature measurement, and corresponding numerical simulations. It is found that a vortex-like flow near the top surface leads to a well-mixed region there, below which the fluid is thermally stratified. In addition, in an attempt to simulate the actual conditions, a numerical study is performed on a cylindrical cavity filled with liquid hydrogen (LH₂) and heated from the sides. The results are compared with our model study with water, and the qualitative agreement is found to be good.