Liquefaction of hydrogen using external magnetic fields

Abstract

Hydrogen liquefaction is a key technology for large-scale storage and transport, yet it is strongly limited by energy demand and boil-off losses. A central challenge arises from the ortho–para hydrogen conversion, which is exothermic and slow without catalysis. This work reviews existing kinetic models, compares their predictive capability, and develops an extended formulation based on the first-order model of Donaubauer et al., including a phenomenological representation of magnetic field effects. The model is integrated into a MATLAB simulation framework that discretizes the liquefaction process into unit cells, allowing systematic analysis of cooling strategies, catalyst placement, and external magnetic fields. Key performance indicators such as energy demand, conversion time, and final para fraction are evaluated to assess process efficiency and optimization potential. While the results remain model-based, they indicate that external magnetic fields can accelerate conversion within experimentally observed limits. The study thus provides both a theoretical framework and a research impulse for future experimental validation of catalyst–field interactions in hydrogen liquefaction.