The first 3D Printed Cryogenic Tank for Storing Liquid Hydrogen

The AIMEN technology center recently completed the manufacture of a 3D printed cryogenic tank for storing liquid hydrogen, a world first. This innovation marks a key milestone for the aeronautical industry, which is faced with an ever-more urgent need to reduce its carbon footprint. Indeed, according to Our World in Data, aviation accounts for around 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions – a worrying figure, all the more so as this sector is among the most difficult to decarbonize, while experiencing constant growth in demand.

This tank is part of the European OVERLEAF project, led by the Spanish company ACITURRI. The aim: to develop sustainable, high-performance solutions for tomorrow’s aviation. The project aims to design a low-pressure liquid hydrogen (LH₂) storage system, based on state-of-the-art materials, leak detection sensors and manufacturing processes. Research and technology centers in France, Italy, Norway, Romania and Spain are collaborating on this initiative, with the ambition of rethinking aircraft architecture to incorporate clean, high-performance technologies.

Photo Credits: AIMEN

AIMEN has succeeded in manufacturing a prototype cryogenic tank capable of storing liquid hydrogen at temperatures below -250°C, thus overcoming a considerable technical challenge. This type of tank is essential if hydrogen is to become a credible alternative to fossil fuels in the aeronautical sector, where storage conditions are particularly extreme. The main challenge was to design a structure that was both resistant to very low temperatures and light enough to meet the constraints of the aeronautical industry.