LIQUID FLOW AND EVAPORATION SIMULATION OF CRYOGENIC FLUID IN THE WALL OF CRYOGENIC FLUID CARGO CONTAINMENT SYSTEM

The cargo containment system (CCS) for ships carrying cryogenic fluid consists of at least two levels of barriers and insulation layers. It is because, even though there is a small amount of leak through the primary barrier, the liquid tight secondary barrier blocks further leakage of the cryogenic fluid. However, once the secondary barrier is damaged, it is highly possible that the leaked cryogenic fluid flows through the flat joint made of glass wool and reaches the inner hull of the ship. The primary objective of the present study is to investigate the influence of the damage extent in the secondary barrier on the amount of leaked cryogenic fluid reaching the inner hull and the temperature distribution there. Simulation results using a computational fluid dynamics tool were compared with the experimental data for the leaked cryogenic fluid flow and evaporation in the secondary insulation layer. The experimental and computational results suggest that, unless there is a massive leak, the cryogenic fluid mostly evaporates in the insulation layer and does not reach the inner hull in the state of liquid.