Abstract:
Compressed hydrogen gas can be stored and transferred in hollow structures with walls that include at least one layer or interlayer of at least one porous metal, the purpose of the latter being to protect one or more surrounding layers from the damage that can be caused by diffusive flux of hydrogen gas. The masses of hydrogen gas that enter the layer(s)/interlayer(s) of the porous metal(s) are continuously or periodically removed from the interconnected pore space in the layer(s)/interlayer(s) of the porous metal(s) to ensure that the pressure(s) of the hydrogen gas remain(s) low—generally less than or equal to one atmosphere. When the structure that holds compressed hydrogen gas is a cylindrical pressure vessel, pipe or pipeline, a manufacturing technique known as “C-forming” can be used to create a wall that contains at least one layer or interlayer of at least one porous metal.
Abstract:
A cryogenic propellant storage tank system and method are disclosed that thermally couple LO2 and LCH4 tanks together by using either a single tank compartmentalized by a common tank wall or two separate tanks that are coupled together with one or more thermal couplers having high thermal conductivity. Cryogenic cooling equipment may be located only in the LO2 tank while the LCH4 is cooled by the LO2 tank interface. Embodiments of the invention may employ both LO2 and LCH4 liquid acquisition devices (LADs) for low-gravity use. In further embodiments, only the LO2 LADs may be integrated with thermal cooling equipment.
Abstract:
Reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides can be achieved if engines are fuelled with mixtures of gaseous fuels such as hydrogen and natural gas. Storing the gaseous fuels separately is desirable so that the fuel mixture ratio can be changed responsive to engine operating conditions. The present apparatus increases the storage density of gaseous fuels such as hydrogen by storing them in gaseous form at high pressures and at sub-ambient temperatures. A first thermally insulated space for holding a first gaseous fuel in a liquefied form is separated from a second thermally insulated space for holding a second gaseous fuel by a thermally conductive fluid barrier. The second gaseous fuel liquefies at a lower temperature than the first gaseous fuel such that the second gaseous fuel can be stored within the second thermally insulated space in a gaseous form at a sub-ambient temperature.
Abstract:
An electrochemically active hydrogen diffusion barrier which comprises an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an intermediate electrolyte layer, which is conductive to protons and substantially impermeable to hydrogen. A catalytic metal present in or adjacent to the anode layer catalyzes an electrochemical reaction that converts any hydrogen that diffuses through the electrolyte layer to protons and electrons. The protons and electrons are transported to the cathode layer and reacted to form hydrogen. The hydrogen diffusion barrier is applied to a polymeric substrate used in a storage tank to store hydrogen under high pressure. A storage tank equipped with the electrochemically active hydrogen diffusion barrier, a method of fabricating the storage tank, and a method of preventing hydrogen from diffusing out of a storage tank are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A vacuum chamber with an innovative wall structure. Instead of a conventional homogenous wall structure, the invention uses an array of internally-pressurized, thin-walled cells to contain an enclosed volume. The walls are arranged so that when a vacuum is present in the enclosed volume, the cell walls are placed primarily in tension. In this way the likelihood of buckling instability is substantially reduced. The result is a much lighter vessel compared to a conventional homogenous wall vessel of similar strength.
Abstract:
A pressure vessel arranging and integrating a plurality of vessel structures each including a cylindrical liner opened at both ends and a fiber reinforced resin layer covering the outer periphery of the peripheral wall of the liner. Dome-shaped communicating members bulging outward are fixed across both respective ends of the liners of the vessel structures, thereby making the interiors of these liners communicate with each other and closing the open ends of these liners. This pressure vessel can be installed with no wasted space, and also allows an increase in capacity.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a fibre-reinforced pressure vessel (1, 6) comprising a rigid gas- of fluid-tight body (2, 7, 13, 19) overwound with fibre filaments (3, 10,11, 18), whereby the fibre filaments are wound such that at least a number of fibre filaments can freely move with respect to one another and when the pressure vessel is under internal pressure the fibre filaments are loaded exactly in their longitudinal direction.The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a fibre-reinforced pressure vessel whereby no matrix material (for example, resin) is used so that at least a number of fibre filaments would be incorporated in a matrix for that section of the pressure vessel in which the fibre filaments can freely move with respect to one another.
Abstract:
The structural platform (11) of the vehicle comprises two tanks (T1) and (T2) for the storage on a vehicle of fluids under pressure. Each tank comprises at least one network of cells (2) connected to one another via orifices (3), the orifices being conformed so that the flow of fluid caused by the consumption of fluid necessary for the use of the vehicle exhibits only pressure drops which do not affect the use, and being conformed so that, in the event of rupture of one or more cells (2), the leakage flow causes sufficiently large pressure drops to limit the flow thereof.
Abstract:
A compressed gas tank for a motor vehicle includes a metallic gas container having opposite container walls which are constructed with a profiling to increase rigidity, and at least one tie element extending across the gas container. The profiling is realized by stamping a plurality of wall portions from the plane of the container walls to assume a convex and/or concave configuration.
Abstract:
The structural platform (11) of the vehicle comprises two tanks (T1) and (T2) for the storage on a vehicle of fluids under pressure. Each tank comprises at least one network of cells (2) connected to one another via orifices (3), the orifices being conformed so that the flow of fluid caused by the consumption of fluid necessary for the use of the vehicle exhibits only pressure drops which do not affect the said use, and being conformed so that, in the event of rupture of one or more cells (2), the leakage flow causes sufficiently large pressure drops to limit the flow thereof.