Pressure vessel

Abstract

A pressure vessel capable of storing a fluid comprises several main body sections, each with an interior, and one or more connecting sections linking the main body sections together. The main body section and the connecting section are alternately linked in series, and the connecting sections are curved. A cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the main body section has an outer shape comprising a straight section and an arcuate section. Each of the main body sections is arranged such that an outer circumferential surface located on the straight section is in contact with an outer circumferential surface located on the straight section of an adjacent main body section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention

[0001] The technology disclosed in the present description relates to a pressure vessel. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] The Japanese patent application (translation of the PCT application) JP 2018-519480A discloses a pressure vessel for storing a fluid. The pressure vessel of JP 2018-519480A comprises alternating cylindrical tubes as lining cavities and flexible connecting pieces and can be folded within a casing by bending a portion of the flexible connecting pieces. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Since pressure vessels are conventionally cylindrical in shape, it is difficult to say that the volume required for storing fluid is efficiently secured.

[0004] The present description discloses a pressure vessel capable of storing a fluid. The pressure vessel comprises a plurality of main body sections, each with an interior space, and one or more connecting sections linking the main body sections together. The main body section and the connecting section are alternately linked in series, and the connecting sections are curved. A cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the main body section has an outer shape comprising a straight section and an arcuate section.

[0005] According to this configuration, the cross-section of the main body section of the pressure vessel, which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, has an outer shape that includes the straight section and the arc-shaped section. Therefore, a larger volume can be secured compared to the conventional case where the cross-section is circular. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The features and advantages as well as the technical and economic significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same elements, showing: Fig. 1 a sectional view showing a pressure vessel; Fig. 2 a sectional view along line II-II in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a sectional view of the pressure vessel from the same perspective as Fig. 2, after a reinforcing element has been wrapped around the pressure vessel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXECUTION FORMS

[0007] The present embodiment is described with reference to the drawings. Each figure is merely an example, and the present embodiment is not limited to the content shown in the figures. Since each figure is merely an example, some parts may have been omitted.

[0008] Fig. Figure 1 is a simplified sectional view of a pressure vessel 10 according to the present embodiment. The pressure vessel 10 can store a fluid. The fluid is, for example, a fuel gas such as hydrogen. In each figure, the X and Y directions are indicated accordingly for ease of explanation. The X and Y directions are orthogonal to each other. The pressure vessel 10 comprises a plurality of main body sections 20, which are provided with an interior space, and one or more connecting sections 30 that connect the main body sections 20 to one another. Since the connecting section 30 is connected to the main body sections 20, an interior space is naturally present.

[0009] According to Fig. 1 The main body section 20 is extended in the Y-direction, and both ends in the Y-direction are provided with an opening 23. According to Fig. The Y-direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the main body section 20. The main body section 20 comprises a body section 21, which has a substantially uniform cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and tapered sections 22, which are both ends of the body section 21 in the longitudinal direction. The tapered section 22 gradually or stepwise narrows the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal direction from the body section 21 to the opening 23. Hereinafter, a cross-section of the main body section 20 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is referred to as the "first cross-section".

[0010] According to Fig. The main body sections 20 are arranged side by side along the X-direction (one direction). Furthermore, the main body sections 20 are arranged in essentially the same position in the Y-direction. Considering the pressure vessel 10 as a whole, the main body sections 20 and the connecting sections 30 are alternately connected in series. The connecting section 30 is bent between the opening 23 of one main body section 20 and the opening 23 of another main body section 20. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the connecting section 30 is bent by 180 degrees into an essentially U-shape, thereby connecting the main body sections 20 that are adjacent in the X-direction. In such a pressure vessel 10, the main body sections 20 are continuously connected to each other, from the main body section 20 located at one end in the X-direction to the main body section 20 located at the other end.

[0011] Since the connecting section 30 is a tube that connects the opening 23 of one main body section 20 to the opening 23 of another main body section 20, its cross-section perpendicular to the flow path direction is generally narrower than the first cross-section of the body section 21. However, in the present embodiment, it is not strictly necessary for the cross-section of the connecting section 30 to be narrower than the first cross-section of the body section 21. In other words, the main body section 20 need not have the tapered section 22, and either of the two ends of the body section 21 can be the opening 23. In this case, the body section 21 and the connecting section 30 are directly connected to each other.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. Figure 2 shows the shape of the first cross-sections of the main body sections 20. The first cross-section has an outer shape that includes straight and arcuate sections. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a larger volume for storing fluid can be ensured compared to a conventional configuration where the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel is circular.

[0013] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the first cross-section of the main body section 20, located at both ends of the arrangement of main body sections 20 in the X-direction (hereinafter referred to as end main body section 20b), has a different shape than the first cross-section of the main body section 20 located in the middle of the arrangement (hereinafter referred to as intermediate main body section 20a). The first cross-section of the intermediate main body section 20a has an oval shape with two straight sections and two arcuate sections. On the other hand, the first cross-section of the end main body section 20b comprises a single straight section and a single arcuate section and has an outer shape that differs from the oval shape.

[0014] Each of the main body sections 20 is arranged such that the outer circumferential surface located on the straight section is in contact with the outer circumferential surface located on the straight section of the adjacent main body section 20. In other words, the straight sections of those main body sections 20 that are adjacent in the X direction are in contact with each other. By thus establishing contact between the straight sections, each main body section 20 can adequately suppress the expansion of body section 21 due to the expansion of the fluid.

[0015] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the first cross-section of the end main body section 20b can generally be semicircular or D-shaped. In other words, the first cross-section of the end main body section 20b has an arc shape on the side that does not border the adjacent main body section 20 in the X direction. This allows the end main body section 20b to maintain adequate strength against fluid pressure. The shape and extent of the tapered section 22 in the main body section 20 can differ between the intermediate main body section 20a and the end main body section 20b.

[0016] An example of a process for manufacturing the pressure vessel 10 is briefly described. Hereinafter, the pressure vessel 10 in a state prior to the bending of the connecting sections 30 will be referred to as the pressure vessel 10 before bending. First, a liner is prepared as a hollow body, which forms the base material of the pressure vessel 10 before bending. The liner is made, for example, of a plastic such as nylon. The liner is a hollow body in which main body components, each having a shape corresponding to the main body section 20, and connecting components, each having a shape corresponding to the connecting section 30 before bending, are integrally formed to be alternately and linearly connected.

[0017] For example, a wire is wound in a net or spiral pattern onto the outer surface of such a lining using a winding machine. The winding machine is also referred to as a braiding machine, braiding device, etc. The wire wound around the lining consists of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), in which carbon fibers are impregnated with resin. Winding the wire with the winding machine provides a fiber layer 27 of CFRP, so that the fiber layer 27 covers the outer surface of the lining.

[0018] The liner and the winding machine move relative to each other along the longitudinal direction of the liner. For example, the winding machine is fixed in position while the liner moves along its length. As the wire moves, the winding machine winds the wire. In this way, the pressure vessel 10 can be efficiently manufactured before bending. By using the integrally formed liner as the base material and performing the winding as described above to manufacture the entire pressure vessel 10 before bending, the number of parts required and the labor involved can be reduced compared to the conventional method of manufacturing pressure vessels by joining numerous parts of varying thickness and shape. Therefore, the pressure vessel 10 can be manufactured cost-effectively.

[0019] The manufactured pressure vessel 10, before bending, is then bent at the connecting sections 30 to obtain an essentially U-shape. Therefore, the pressure vessel 10 is formed with the in Fig. The form shown in Figure 1 is produced. When the connecting sections 30 are bent, the straight sections, i.e., the flat side surfaces of the main body sections 20 that adjoin each other in the X direction, are pressed against each other to come into contact. As can be seen from the description above, the pressure vessel 10 consists of an inner lining and an outer fiber layer 27 arranged on the lining. However, the lining is omitted in each figure.

[0020] After the connecting sections 30 have been bent, a reinforcing element 70 can be additionally wrapped around the pressure vessel 10. The reinforcing element 70 is also made of CFRP. The reinforcing element 70 is wrapped around the outer circumference of all main body sections 20 of the pressure vessel 10. Fig. Figure 3 shows a section through the pressure vessel 10 after the reinforcing element 70 has been wrapped around the pressure vessel 10. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken from the same perspective as Fig. 2 was recorded. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the pressure vessel 10 comprises the reinforcing element 70, which is wrapped around the outer circumference of the plurality of main body sections 20 and fastens the main body sections 20 together. Fig. Figure 1 is the area where the reinforcing element 70 is located, which is wrapped externally around the main body sections 20 and is represented by a dashed-dotted line. The reinforcing element 70 fixes the main body sections 20 to each other and improves the overall strength against fluid pressure.

[0021] The cross-section of the connecting section 30, perpendicular to the flow path direction, can have various shapes. It can be oval, like the main body section 20, circular, or essentially quadrilateral. The term "oval" can broadly encompass an ellipse. Regardless of its cross-sectional shape, the connecting section 30 can exhibit a bellows-like structure, characterized by repeating mountain and valley folds. This bellows-like structure allows the connecting section 30 to be easily bent.

[0022] In the pressure vessel 10, a base 40 is provided at one end of the main body section 20, which is located at one end of the series connection of the main body sections 20. Fig.The bases 40, as indicated by the dashed-dotted lines, are attached to one end of the main body section 20 located at one end in the X direction and to the other end of the main body section 20. The base 40 is made of metal and is ring-shaped. For example, an element (not shown) that seals the opening 23 is attached to the base 40. An element that connects the opening 23 to a flow path (not shown) outside the pressure vessel 10 may also be attached to the base 40.

[0023] Although specific examples of the technology disclosed in this description have been described in detail above, these examples are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims comprises various modifications and variations of the specific examples illustrated above. Furthermore, the technical elements described in this description or in the drawings, individually or in various combinations, have technical utility and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Moreover, the technology illustrated in this description or in the drawings achieves several objectives simultaneously, and the achievement of any one of these objectives is itself technically useful. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2018 - 519 480 A

[0002]

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