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CryoVac

Prismatic and spherical LH2 containment

Applications

The CryoVac architecture applied to a prismatic LH2 carrier, and its extension to spherical, Moss-type LH2 tanks.

CryoVac prismatic LH2 carrier

The established CryoVac architecture at prismatic LH2 carrier scale.

Render of the CryoVac prismatic LH₂ carrier at sea, with the hull cut open to show the insulated prismatic tanks

Prismatic LH2 containment – ship and tank geometry

The built arrangement the CryoVac system would be applied to: primary tank, hold, inner hull and double-hull structure.

Where the dual CryoVac system would be applied

3D model of a ship section showing the prismatic primary tank inside its hold, the inner hull and the double-hull structure
Reference geometry only. The dual CryoVac arrangement is not part of this model; it is set out below.

What this establishes

Primary tank geometry
Prismatic tank form, including the knuckles the panel system must follow.
Tank hold
The space the tank sits in, dry or inerted as applicable.
Inner hull
The welded structural boundary of the double hull.
Double-hull structure
Web frames and stiffening between inner hull and outer shell.

Prismatic LH2 containment – dual-layer CryoVac architecture

Two identical CryoVac panel systems facing each other across the interbarrier space.

  1. Welded aluminiumtank
  2. Inner CryoPanon the tank
  3. ≈600 mminterbarrier space
  4. Outer CryoPanon the inner hull
  5. Inner hull /double hull
  1. LH2 cargo
  2. Aluminium tank, welded · inner CryoPan fixed to it
  3. Inner CryoPan
  4. ≈ 600 mmInterbarrier spaceno temperature assigned
  5. Outer CryoPan
  6. Inner hull
  7. Double-hull structure
  8. Outer shell
  9. Outer CryoPan fixed to the inner hull · hull welded
  • stainless skin
  • evacuated void
  • radiation barrier
Schematic – not to scale

Both CryoVac layers are the same panel technology, differing only in what they are fixed to.

The inner layer follows the tank geometry, the outer layer follows the inner hull, knuckles included.

The inner hull is the welded structural boundary of the double hull, not a separate wall.

Spherical LH2 tank – CryoVac concept design

Concept design – early phase

Applying CryoVac vacuum-insulation principles to spherical LH2 containment, building on established Moss-type tank architecture.

Open cross-section · Moss-type arrangement (indicative)

Dashed circle indicates the conventional full outer structural vacuum sphere the concept potentially eliminates

  1. 1. Primary LH2 containment sphere

    Cryogenic aluminium alloy or other qualified LH2-compatible material

  2. 2. CryoVac modular vacuum-insulation envelope

  3. 3. Moss-type support / hull integration

    Established skirt-support principle – CryoVac/LH2 interface to be developed

  4. 4. Conventional steel tank shield and inerted hold

The concept retains established spherical tank integration while potentially replacing the conventional full outer structural vacuum sphere with a modular CryoVac vacuum-insulation envelope integrated around the primary sphere, with a potential structural-weight opportunity and reduced fabrication complexity.

Spherical LH2 – structural architecture opportunity

The same primary containment volume, reached two ways.

Conventional

double-wall vacuum sphere

  • Full structural outer shell
  • Large vacuum annulus
  • Inter-shell supports
vacuum annulus

The outer shell resists external atmospheric pressure under vacuum, so buckling and stiffness govern it.

CryoVac concept

single primary sphere + panel envelope

  • Single primary sphere
  • Modular vacuum-panel envelope
  • No structural outer sphere
dashed: outer structural shell not part of the concept

Conventional above-deck shield and hold integration retained as required.

Potential value driver: elimination of the full structural outer vacuum sphere.

Architectural comparison only. No mass or cost benchmark has been established.

Preliminary concept

Quantitative mass benchmark to be developed

Spherical CryoVac – panel & vacuum architecture

Concept design – early phase

From modular CryoPan panels to a continuous spherical vacuum-insulation envelope

Spherical CryoVac envelope

Stainless CryoPan panels

forming a continuous vacuum envelope

pentagonal transition

Predominantly hexagonal panels with pentagonal transitions where the spherical geometry requires them. Panel geometry and tessellation to be developed during detailed design.

  • CryoPan module

    Stainless plates and a radiation barrier enclosing two evacuated voids, joined by welded connecting wedges.

  • Localized vacuum

    Panels grouped on a common manifold. A local section can be isolated and monitored while neighbouring panels stay in service.

  • Key development interface – structural support / thermal bridge

    Structural load path and potential heat-flow path where the skirt crosses the insulation envelope.

CryoVac spherical LH2 carrier – concept

Concept design – early phase

A potential four-tank LH2 carrier combining established Moss-type vessel architecture with CryoVac modular vacuum insulation.

Concept render of a four-tank spherical LH₂ carrier with Moss-type tanks on deck

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Foundational technology value exists. The right partner can now help convert it into qualified, industrial and commercial value.

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