CATCH
Climate Friendly Recovery of Hydrogen Boil-off
The cryogenic storage of hydrogen (H2) in liquid form (LH2) enables highest energy densities. However, the tranfer processes or any heat input into the tank inevitably lead to partial vaporization of the LH2. This so-called boil-off gas is usually released to the evironment (venting). As the venting of boil-off gas leads to propellant waste and implies a safety risk, means for capturing and re-using should be implemented.
The aim of the CATCH project is to develop, validate and evaluate solutions for recovering these boil-off losses. Re-liquefying the boil-off gas for recovery is an obvious option, but requires complex systems and infrastructure and is therefore unsuitable for mobile applications. Potential alternatives are intermediate storage in a metal hydride (MH) or compression and storage in a high-pressure storage tank (CgH2). However, such systems for boil-off recovery are not available on the market.
These two technologiacal approaches 'compression' and 'metal hydride' will be developed, validated and evaluated in CATCH. In a first step, different scenarios of boil-off generation will be identified and simulated. Based on the results, the two technological approaches of boil-off recovery, 'compression and 'metal hydride', are developed in a second step and corresponding demonstrators are set up. In a third step, the performance and operating limits of the demonstrators are verified by experimental tests. Finally, the applicability of the technology approaches in the aviation, aerospace, shipping and rail transport sectors will be assessed on the basis of the test results.
Project Duration
01.01.2026 - 31.12.2028
Project Management
Institute of Electrified Aero Engines
Participating Institutions
