A key milestone in the LH2CRAFT project has been the development of the prototype tank that will be used to validate the constructability and installation characteristics of the membrane-type liquid hydrogen cargo containment system (CCS).
Building on the conceptual design developed in earlier project activities, the consortium completed the basic and detailed engineering design of a representative mock-up tank, with HD KSOE leading this task. Rather than constructing a full-scale cargo tank, a quarter-scale configuration was selected to efficiently reproduce the essential features of the future liquid hydrogen containment system while maintaining practical feasibility for fabrication, installation, and testing.
The prototype incorporates representative flat, chamfered, and corner regions of the cargo containment system, together with the associated insulation panels, membrane barriers, and interface details. This approach enables the project team to evaluate key installation and construction activities under realistic conditions while optimizing the use of project resources.
Particular attention was given to the development of representative installation sequences for both insulation panels and membrane barriers. The prototype has been designed to allow assessment of manufacturing, assembly, welding, dimensional control, and constructability aspects that are critical for future large-scale implementation of membrane-type liquid hydrogen cargo containment technology.
The detailed engineering package also establishes the foundation for the upcoming fabrication and testing activities within LH2CRAFT. The knowledge gained through the prototype will help validate installation procedures, improve fabrication practices, and provide valuable input for future commercial applications of liquid hydrogen cargo containment systems.
Through this work, LH2CRAFT continues to advance the development of safe, efficient, and scalable technologies for the future maritime transport of liquid hydrogen.
