Dynamic condensation blocking in cryogenic refueling

We demonstrate that a negative feedback between vapor pressure and condensation rate may be established in two-phase systems during vapor compression with rates of practical importance. As a result, dynamic condensation blocking occurs. The effect is studied numerically in the case of filling a no-vent insulated tank by liquid hydrogen. It is shown that the filling dynamics quite sensitively depends on the filling rate, and for sufficiently fast filling rates consist of a fast stage dominated by gas compression and a slow stage governed by heat conduction in the liquid.