Review on the key technologies and future development of insulation structure for liquid hydrogen storage tanks

Liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage holds considerable prominence due to its advantageous attributes in terms of hydrogen storage density and energy density. This study aims to comprehensively review the recent progresses in passive thermal protection technologies employed in the insulation structure of LH2 storage tanks. The realm of passive thermal protection primarily encompasses the utilization of composite materials, multilayer insulation materials (MLI) and vapor-cooled shields (VCS) with vacuum extraction. On the other hand, active thermal transfer technologies are predominantly applied for scenarios like zero boil-off (ZBO) or reduced boil-off storage of LH2, notably in the aerospace domain. Based on the materials selection and tank applications of LH2 storage tanks, the advantages, disadvantages, and applications of different insulation methods are summarized, as well as the stationary and mobile LH2 storage tanks in the existing industrial field. At the same time, potential avenues and challenges for the future development of LH2 storage tanks are also anticipated.