Numerical study of pressure build-up in vertical tanks for cryogenic flammables storage

•Volume Of Fluid model well predicts the pressurisation of cryogenic tanks.•Validation against low-scale experiment and extension to real scale geometry.•Liquefied natural gas pressurizes faster than liquefied ethylene.•Damaged insulation causes earlier pressure rise and higher energy accumulation.•Specific performance indexes to derive operational and safety indications.