Development of an intermediate fluid vaporizer enabling efficient the cold-heat utilization of liquid hydrogen

In this study, we have identified the Intermediate Fluid Vaporizer (IFV) as a viable option for large-scale liquefied hydrogen vaporization, given its ability to effectively utilize the cold-heat of the liquefied hydrogen and maintain continuous and stable vaporization. The ultimate goal of this research and development is to introduce hydrogen power generation in order to achieve carbon neutrality in the future and establish a stable supply system to meet the growing demand. To lay the groundwork for the development of a larger IFV, we manufactured and tested a small prototype of this cold-heat recovery type liquefied hydrogen vaporizer, with the aim of acquiring heat transfer performance and mechanical data. Our results demonstrate that the targeted performances, including the volume and temperature of vaporized gas, as well as the temperature of extracted circulating water, were stably achieved. These efforts represent an important step towards establishing a sustainable and efficient hydrogen power generation system.