Hydrogen tank filling simulation using a zero-dimensional model: Validation and effect of some key parameters

During the tank filling process with gaseous hydrogen, gas and tank temperatures rise due to the significant pressure surge (up to 700–800 bar) and the short duration (i.e. around 3 min) of the filling. These high temperatures pose a risk to the structural integrity of the storage system and may damage the material of the tank and the valves. One effective strategy to mitigate this temperature rise is pre-cooling the hydrogen prior to its injection into the tank. A zero-dimensional model has been validated in order to predict the average tank temperature during the filling for two different types of tank. The model has been then used to study the effect of different hydrogen inlet temperature and of the tank aspect ratio (L/D).