A liquid hydrogen tank is being developed by the Jules Verne Institute for Technological Research. The Nomade project, which would allow cryogenic hydrogen (-253°C) to be stored in onboard tanks, is of special interest to the aerospace, automotive, and marine industries.
“Liquid hydrogen is more suitable than gaseous hydrogen for applications that require significant autonomy: one liter of gasoline requires seven liters of gaseous hydrogen, whereas liquid hydrogen requires only four liters,” says Thomas Pannelier, head of the Nomade project at IRT Jules Verne, a technological research institute affiliated with the University of Nantes. As a result, an LH2 (liquid hydrogen) vehicle has 66 percent better autonomy than an H2 (gaseous hydrogen) truck. We have a greater understanding of the excitement that this technology generates in all mobility-related industries.
However, a big issue remains: how to securely keep a tank at -253°C in an onboard version. The Nomade project is focused on finding a solution to this issue. The project will be spread out over 36 months and will have a budget of 5 million euros. The IRT is funding 45 percent of it (especially through the future investment program (PIA)), with the rest coming from the program’s industry partners.
There are several uses
Among the stakeholders who might benefit from Nomade’s technical improvements are aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus and Daher, automotive supplier Faurecia, as well as shipbuilding Naval Group and airship producer Flying Whales.
