Ask A Scientist© Engineering Archive

Index Key:   ENG042
Author:      grant w gearhart
Subject:     Storing liquid hydrogen and other gasses.
I am curious about storage methods for liquid hydrogen.  Are they similar to
methods used for storing LP gas?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      david r munoz
Hydrogen is a liquid at very low (critical temp 33K, or -400 F and critical
pressure 1.3 MPa about 13 atmospheres) temperature.  Therefore, your would
need to have a very well insulated tank and utilize materials that would not
crack from thermal stresses (due to the large variations in temperature
between the cold fuel and the normal atmospheric temperatures.  By the way
the critical temperature and pressure represent the maximum temperature and
pressure that you can have and still be in a liquid form.