Integrated cryogenic hydrogen tank systems and methods for operating the same

An apparatus for integrating multiple cryogenic tanks on an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:

• a first cryogenic tank coupled to a second cryogenic tank via a liquid hydrogen (LH2) transfer flowline and a gaseous hydrogen (GH2) transfer flowline, wherein the LH2 transfer flowline includes a first isolation valve, and the GH2 transfer flowline includes a second isolation valve;
• a pressure safety system coupled to at least one of the first or second cryogenic tanks via a GH2 extraction flowline;
• and
• a controlling device including processor circuitry to execute machine-readable instructions to at least:
• monitor a first vapor pressure in the first cryogenic tank and a second vapor pressure in the second cryogenic tank;
• determine whether the first or second vapor pressure satisfies a threshold;
• and
• in response to determining that the first or second vapor pressure does not satisfy the threshold, close the first and second isolation valves.

A method comprising:

• opening a first isolation valve coupled to a liquid hydrogen (LH2) transfer flowline and a second isolation valve coupled to a gaseous hydrogen (GH2) transfer flowline, the LH2 and GH2 transfer flowlines interconnected between a first tank and a second tank;
• detecting a first vapor pressure of the first tank and a second vapor pressure of the second tank;
• determining whether the first and second vapor pressures satisfy a threshold;
• and
• closing the first and second isolation valves when the first vapor pressure or the second vapor pressure does not satisfy the threshold.