Numerical Simulation of Pool Flashing in the Pressurized Liquid Nitrogen Vessel during Venting

Abstract Safe and economical liquid hydrogen storage and transportation are highly sensitive to the pressure control inside the tank. During pressure relief and transfer operations, sudden pressure drop can trigger pool flashing, leading to transient overheating and excessive evaporation loss. However, most existing studies focus on 1D bubble nucleation mechanisms, while the complex thermodynamic behaviour of the bulk liquid during pool flashing remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we developed a simplified model based on the Volume of Fluid method by a modified Lee’s model. Owing to the lack of reliable experimental data for liquid hydrogen, liquid nitrogen with comparable thermophysical properties was employed as the surrogate medium. The empirical model parameters are calibrated with the experimental data of liquid nitrogen, improving the prediction accuracy of the model. In future work, this model provides a validated simulation tool for optimizing the pressure relief and transfer strategies of liquid hydrogen to reduce excessive evaporation loss.