Hydrogen storage vessel having a laminated outer protective layer, manufacturing apparatus therefor, and manufacturing method therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydrogen storage container having a laminated external protective layer, an apparatus for manufacturing the same, and a method for manufacturing the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a hydrogen storage container having a laminated external protective layer characterized by comprising: a polymer inner liner formed in the shape of a container using a polymer material; and an external protective layer formed by lamination molding on the outer surface of the inner liner using a 3D printing method and composed of a carbon fiber composite material.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrogen storage container having a laminated external protective layer, an apparatus for manufacturing the same, and a method for manufacturing the same. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, automobiles obtain the power required for driving using internal combustion engines; however, with the recent research and development of electric vehicles using storage batteries (referred to as 'secondary batteries'; hereinafter the same) and fuel cell vehicles using fuel cells, storage batteries and fuel cells are emerging as power sources to replace internal combustion engines.

[0003] Automobiles are mechanical devices that operate regardless of region or weather conditions, serving as a core means of transportation, transport, and leisure in modern industrial society. However, internal combustion engines, which serve as the primary power source for automobiles, not only have low energy efficiency but also cause pollution such as exhaust gases and noise. In contrast, while batteries are free from pollution and noise, they offer a short driving range on a single charge (40-60 km) and require a long time (about 6-8 hours) to recharge after driving. Furthermore, their lifespan is shortened by the repeated charging and discharging cycles, requiring replacement with a new battery after about two years of use, which incurs high costs.

[0004] Recently, active research and development of vehicles equipped with fuel cells has been conducted to overcome the shortcomings of internal combustion engine vehicles, which use internal combustion engines as their primary power source, and electric vehicles, which use batteries as their primary power source. A fuel cell is a generator that directly converts the chemical energy contained in fuel into electricity through an electrochemical reaction. Although there are some differences depending on the type and fuel used, fuel cells are environmentally friendly power generation systems that have high thermal efficiency and do not cause pollution.

[0005] In order for a fuel cell to become the primary power source for a vehicle, the fuel supply device that supplies fuel to the fuel cell must be safe, easy to handle, inexpensive, and readily available anywhere and anytime, even when the fuel is charged, and must be equipped with a system capable of driving a long distance (more than 300 km) on a single fuel supply.

[0006] In addition, one of the essential requirements for the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles is achieving a driving range per charge equivalent to that of internal combustion engine vehicles. For example, to achieve a driving range of 500 km, technology capable of carrying approximately 5 kg or more of hydrogen in the vehicle is required.

[0007] Currently, high-pressure hydrogen storage systems of 350 bar or 700 bar are applied to fuel cell vehicles, but there are limitations in increasing the hydrogen storage capacity.

[0008] The 350 bar hydrogen storage system has limitations in achieving the driving range per charge, which is essential for the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles, due to the low volumetric storage density of hydrogen gas, and also has disadvantages in terms of packaging.

[0009] The 700 bar hydrogen storage system has increased pressure and is advantageous in terms of packaging compared to the 350 bar hydrogen storage system, but it has many disadvantages in terms of price, weight, stability, and efficiency of building hydrogen refueling station infrastructure.

[0010] Figure 1 illustrates a hydrogen storage container inside a hydrogen storage case of a hydrogen vehicle.

[0011] Generally, when general metal hydrogen storage containers used to store high-pressure hydrogen gas are filled to over 700 bar, corrosion occurs on the inner surface in direct contact with the gas, making it difficult to use them as storage containers for fuel cell vehicles for a long period.

[0012] To solve these problems, a liner mounted inside the storage container is manufactured separately using synthetic resin (plastic), and the exterior is reinforced with glass or carbon fiber using methods such as filament winding to withstand high pressure. In particular, by using a plastic liner in such composite high-pressure containers, it becomes possible to cope with extreme changes in pressure and temperature caused by repeated gas filling and discharging.

[0013] However, the boss that is joined to the plastic liner is made of metal because it must be directly connected to devices such as gas pressure gauges, pressure regulators, and receptacles (gas injectors). When joining a metal boss to a plastic liner, separation occurs over time due to the unique physical and chemical properties of each material. In addition, the size of the plastic liner is determined by the high-pressure gas storage capacity, and generally, due to its external shape and volume, direct joining of the plastic liner and the boss becomes practically difficult.

[0014] Therefore, a plastic film of arbitrary thickness is first formed on the outer surface of the boss using the same material as the plastic liner by an insert injection molding method, and then the plastic liner is completed by finally joining the lower surface of the boss and the upper surface of the plastic liner, which was manufactured separately, by a heat fusion method.

[0015] Figures 2a and 2b show photographs of the fabrication of a hydrogen container. First, an inner liner is molded from a polymer material.

[0016] Then, carbon fibers and epoxy resin are wound around the outside of the liner to reinforce strength (Carbon Fiber Winding). At this stage, the filament winding (Helical, Hoop) technique is applied.

[0017] Then, the wound composite material is cured in an oven or autoclave. Next, unnecessary parts are processed and surface treatment is performed. Finally, high-pressure tests (leak test, burst test) are conducted. Non-destructive testing (NDI) and durability evaluation are performed, valves for hydrogen charging and discharging are installed, and the process is completed through quality inspection after final assembly.

[0018] However, these conventional methods have the disadvantage of excessive production time and investment costs during the filament winding and curing processes. Prior art literature

[0019] Republic of Korea Registered Patent KR 2444788 Republic of Korea Registered Patent KR 2613690 Republic of Korea Registered Patent KR 2536814 The problem to be solved

[0020] Accordingly, the present invention has been devised to solve the aforementioned conventional problems. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the purpose is to provide a hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of an additive method, a manufacturing apparatus thereof, and a manufacturing method thereof, which can economically produce a hydrogen storage container by applying an additive method of 3D printing techniques to the existing winding and braiding methods.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the purpose is to provide a hydrogen storage container having a laminated outer protective layer, a manufacturing apparatus, and a manufacturing method thereof, which can save manufacturing time and investment costs, and have lightweight and high strength by utilizing an inner polymer liner and a PCCF material printed on the outside thereof to manufacture the hydrogen storage container.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the purpose is to provide a hydrogen storage container having a laminated outer protective layer, a manufacturing apparatus, and a manufacturing method thereof, which can be applied to next-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, drones, and the space industry by applying an inner polymer (plastic) liner and a carbon fiber composite (PCCF) laminated on the outer surface thereof by a printing method, so that it is very lightweight, does not corrode, can withstand high pressure, has a pressure range of 700 bar or more, and can be applied to next-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, drones, the space industry, etc.

[0023] Meanwhile, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0024] The first objective of the present invention can be achieved as a hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer formed by a lamination method, characterized by comprising: a polymer inner liner formed in the shape of a container using a polymer material; and an external protective layer formed by lamination molding on the outer surface of the inner liner using a 3D printing method and composed of a carbon fiber composite.

[0025] And the above carbon fiber composite material may be characterized as being PCCF (Pitch-based Carbon Fiber).

[0026] The second objective of the present invention can be achieved by a hydrogen storage container manufacturing device having an external protective layer of a lamination method, characterized by comprising: an inner liner molding device that molds a polymer inner liner formed into a container shape using a polymer material; and a lamination unit that molds and manufactures an external protective layer by laminating a carbon fiber composite material onto the outer surface of the inner liner using a 3D printing method.

[0027] And the above-mentioned stacking unit may be characterized by comprising: a robot arm having a multi-joint portion and an arm portion provided at the end of the multi-joint portion; a pellet storage dryer in which carbon fiber composite pellets are stored and dried; a stacking nozzle fixed to the arm portion of the robot arm and melting the carbon fiber composite material to discharge the carbon fiber composite material onto the outer surface of the inner liner for stacking; a material supply unit that supplies the carbon fiber composite material to the stacking nozzle; and a transfer unit that moves the robot arm.

[0028] In addition, it may be characterized by including: a removal device provided on one side of the material supply unit for removing chemical substances from the carbon fiber composite; and a control unit that controls the multi-joint unit to control the transfer unit to move the roller arm according to the coordinates so that the carbon fiber composite is laminated on the outer surface of the inner liner by a 3D printing method to form an outer protective layer. Effects of the invention

[0029] According to the hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of the additive method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturing apparatus and the manufacturing method thereof, the hydrogen storage container can be manufactured economically by applying the additive method of 3D printing techniques to the existing winding and braiding methods.

[0030] According to the hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of a lamination method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturing apparatus and the manufacturing method thereof, by utilizing an internal polymer liner and a PCCF material printed on the outside of the same in a lamination method, the hydrogen storage container is manufactured, thereby having the effect of saving manufacturing time and investment costs, as well as being lightweight and having high strength.

[0031] In addition, according to the hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of a lamination method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the manufacturing apparatus and method thereof, by applying an internal polymer (plastic) liner and a carbon fiber composite (PCCF) laminated on the outer surface thereof by a printing method, it has the advantages of being very lightweight, non-corrosive, capable of withstanding high pressure, having a pressure range of 700 bar or more, and applicable to next-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, drones, the space industry, etc.

[0032] Meanwhile, the effects obtainable from the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0033] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to further enhance understanding of the technical concept of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention; therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to the matters described in such drawings. FIG. 1 shows a hydrogen storage container inside a hydrogen storage case of a hydrogen vehicle, Figures 2a and 2b are photographs of the hydrogen container fabrication. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of a stacking method according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a stacking unit. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a hydrogen storage container having a laminated external protective layer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hydrogen storage container having a laminated external protection layer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a hydrogen storage container having a laminated external protection layer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 7 and FIGS. 8 illustrate photographs of a stacking unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0034] The above objects, other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be easily understood through the following preferred embodiments associated with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments introduced herein are provided to ensure that the disclosed content is thorough and complete and to ensure that the spirit of the invention is sufficiently conveyed to a person skilled in the art.

[0035] In this specification, when a component is described as being on another component, it means that it may be formed directly on the other component or that a third component may be interposed between them. Also, in the drawings, the thicknesses of the components are exaggerated for the effective description of the technical content.

[0036] The embodiments described herein will be explained with reference to cross-sectional and / or plan views, which are exemplary illustrations of the invention. In the drawings, the thicknesses of films and regions are exaggerated for effective explanation of the technical content. Accordingly, the shapes of the exemplary drawings may be modified by manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances, etc. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention are not limited to the specific shapes depicted but include variations in shape produced according to the manufacturing process. For example, a region depicted as a right angle may be rounded or have a certain curvature. Accordingly, the regions illustrated in the drawings have properties, and the shapes of the regions illustrated in the drawings are intended to illustrate specific shapes of the regions of the device and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although terms such as first, second, etc., have been used to describe various components in the various embodiments of this specification, these components should not be limited by such terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another. The embodiments described and illustrated herein also include their complementary embodiments.

[0037] The terms used herein are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise in the text. As used herein, 'comprises' and / or 'comprising' do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components to the mentioned components.

[0038] In describing the specific embodiments below, various specific details have been included to explain the invention more specifically and to aid understanding. However, a reader with sufficient knowledge in the art to understand the invention will recognize that it can be used without these various specific details. In some cases, it is noted in advance that commonly known aspects that are not significantly related to the invention have been omitted to prevent unnecessary confusion in describing the invention.

[0040] Hereinafter, the configuration, function, and manufacturing method of a hydrogen storage container having a laminated external protective layer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0041] First, FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of a stacking method according to an embodiment of the present invention and a stacking unit.

[0042] And FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a hydrogen storage container having a laminated external protection layer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hydrogen storage container having a laminated external protection layer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] In addition, FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of a stacking method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of a stacking method according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a polymer inner liner formed in the shape of a container using a polymer material, and an external protective layer formed by stacking molding on the outer surface of the inner liner using a 3D printing method and composed of a carbon fiber composite.

[0045] The carbon fiber composite according to an embodiment of the present invention may be composed of PCCF (Pitch-based Carbon Fiber).

[0046] Accordingly, according to the hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of the additive method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the hydrogen storage container can be manufactured economically by applying the additive method of 3D printing to the existing winding and braiding methods.

[0047] According to a hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of a lamination method according to an embodiment of the present invention, by utilizing an internal polymer liner and a PCCF material printed on the outside of the same in a lamination method, the hydrogen storage container can be manufactured, thereby saving manufacturing time and investment costs, as well as having lightweight properties and high strength.

[0048] In addition, according to the hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer of a laminated type according to an embodiment of the present invention, by applying an internal polymer (plastic) liner and a carbon fiber composite (PCCF) laminated on the outer surface of the same by a printing method, it is very lightweight, does not corrode, can withstand high pressure, can have a pressure range of 700 bar or more, and can be applied to next-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, drones, the space industry, etc.

[0050] FIGS. 7 and FIGS. 8 illustrate photographs of a stacking unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] A hydrogen storage container manufacturing device having an external protective layer of a stacking method may be configured to include: an internal liner molding device that molds a polymer internal liner formed into a container shape using a polymer material; and a stacking unit that molds and manufactures an external protective layer by stacking a carbon fiber composite material on the outer surface of the internal liner using a 3D printing method.

[0052] Inner liner molding is performed using polymer materials such as HDPE and PA, employing blow molding or rotary molding methods.

[0053] And the lamination unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to produce a protective layer by melting a pellet-type material (carbon fiber composite) and laminating it onto the outer surface of an inner liner through an extruder.

[0054] Specifically, the stacking unit according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a robot arm, a pellet storage dryer, a stacking nozzle, a conveying unit, a material supply unit, etc.

[0055] The roller arm includes a multi-joint section connected by multiple joint sections, capable of operating with multiple degrees of freedom. An arm section is provided at the end of the multi-joint section.

[0056] The pellet storage dryer is configured to store carbon fiber composite pellets and dry the pellets.

[0057] The extruder is fixed to the arm portion of the robot arm and is configured to melt the carbon fiber composite and extrude it onto the outer surface of the inner liner for lamination.

[0058] The material supply unit is configured to supply carbon fiber composite material stored in a pellet storage dryer to a lamination nozzle.

[0059] And the transfer unit is configured to move the rotary arm on the rail.

[0060] In addition, a removal device is provided on one side of the material supply unit to remove chemical substances from the carbon fiber composite.

[0061] It is configured to include a user interface or dashboard that enables interaction between systems or devices.

[0062] Accordingly, the control unit controls the multi-joint unit and the transfer unit to move the roller arm according to the coordinates, thereby controlling the formation of an outer protective layer by depositing a carbon fiber composite material on the outer surface of the inner liner using a 3D printing method.

[0064] In addition, the apparatus and method described above are not limited to the configurations and methods of the embodiments described above; rather, all or part of each embodiment may be selectively combined to allow for various modifications to be made.

Claims

Claim 1 A hydrogen storage container having an external protective layer formed by a lamination method, characterized by comprising: a polymer inner liner formed in the shape of a container using a polymer material; and an external protective layer formed by lamination molding on the outer surface of the inner liner using a 3D printing method and composed of a carbon fiber composite. Claim 2 A hydrogen storage container having a laminated external protective layer, characterized in that, in claim 1, the carbon fiber composite is PCCF (Pitch-based Carbon Fiber). Claim 3 A hydrogen storage container manufacturing device having an external protective layer of a lamination method, characterized by comprising: an inner liner molding device for molding a polymer inner liner formed into a container shape using a polymer material; and a lamination unit for molding and manufacturing an external protective layer by laminating a carbon fiber composite material onto the outer surface of the inner liner using a 3D printing method. Claim 4 In claim 3, the stacking unit comprises: a robot arm having a multi-joint portion and an arm portion provided at the end of the multi-joint portion; a pellet storage dryer in which carbon fiber composite pellets are stored and dried; a stacking nozzle fixed to the arm portion of the robot arm and melting the carbon fiber composite to discharge the carbon fiber composite onto the outer surface of the inner liner for stacking; a material supply unit supplying the carbon fiber composite to the stacking nozzle; and a transfer unit moving the robot arm; characterized in that it comprises a hydrogen storage container manufacturing apparatus having an external protective layer of a stacking method. Claim 5 A hydrogen storage container manufacturing apparatus having an external protective layer of a lamination method, characterized in that, in claim 4, it comprises: a removal device provided on one side of the material supply unit for removing chemical substances from the carbon fiber composite; and a control unit that controls the multi-joint unit to control the transfer unit to move the roller arm according to coordinates so that the carbon fiber composite is laminated on the outer surface of the inner liner by a 3D printing method to form an external protective layer.

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