The Korean Register (KR) has released the “Guide on Selecting Thermal Properties of Cryogenic Insulation Materials for Safe Storage of Cryogenic Fuels”, including LNG and liquid hydrogen.
The programme aims to reduce GHG emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2030, 70 per cent by 2040, and net-zero emissions by about 2050.
In response to these increasingly rigorous environmental laws, the marine sector is prioritising not just the commonly utilised LNG, but also the long-term usage of alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia. KR defines cryogenic fuels as LNG and liquid hydrogen.
As liquefied hydrogen reduces its volume by about 800 times when compared to its gaseous state, securing stable storage technology on ships would reportedly enable the affordable import and utilisation of hydrogen via marine transport, while also facilitating the implementation of the Republic of Korea’s Hydrogen Economy Roadmap (2019).
READ: KR grants approval to Hanwha Ocean’s Onboard CO2 Capture System
KR collaborated with researchers from the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM), Pusan National University (PNU), and Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SEOULTECH) to develop insulation system technology required for the use of cryogenic low- and zero-carbon fuels.
The report explains the insulation system used in ships for liquid hydrogen at -253°C and -162°C, as well as environmental considerations that influence the system’s heat transfer processes and other design features.
KIM Daeheon, Executive Vice President of KR’s R&D Division, said: “This technical guide is expected to serve as the standard for material selection during the design of insulation systems in cryogenic environments or the development of innovative insulation systems.”
In October 2023, KR, in collaboration with the Marshall Islands Registry, granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an Onboard CO2 Capture System (OCCS) developed by Hanwha Ocean.
