High Pressure Tank

Abstract

To provide a high-pressure tank which can suppress detachment of a protector from a tank body.SOLUTION: A high-pressure tank comprises: a tank body which has dome parts at opposite ends of a cylindrical cylinder part and has an internal space formed for sealing liquid therein; and a protector which is constituted of a plurality of divided protectors divided and arranged in a circumferential direction of the dome parts, the protector covering outer surfaces of the dome parts. A linear clearance which is continuous in a radial direction of the dome parts when the outer surfaces of the dome parts are viewed in an axial direction of the cylinder part is formed between divided protectors adjacent each other in the circumferential direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to high pressure tanks. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, as described in Patent Document 1, a high-pressure tank for storing gas such as hydrogen gas at high pressure is known. This high-pressure tank includes a tank body and a protector. The tank body has a hemispherical dome portion at both ends of a cylindrical cylinder portion, and an internal space for sealing the fluid is formed. The protector is provided on the outer surface of the dome portion. The protector is for protecting the tank body from external impacts in order to ensure impact resistance when the tank is dropped during handling. The protector goes around the outer diameter of the hemispherical dome portion and covers the outer surface except for the vicinity of the apex of the dome portion where the nozzle is formed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-8148 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the high-pressure tank having the above configuration, the protector is assembled by pushing it into the tank body, so the protector is pulled outward in the radial direction. A compressive force inward in the radial direction is generated as a reaction force, and a force is generated that pushes the protector back toward the apex of the dome portion. As a result, the protector falls off the tank body. In other words, there is a problem that the protector is easily detached from the tank body due to the reaction force caused by the force of pushing the protector into the tank body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a high-pressure tank, comprising: a tank body having dome portions at both ends of a cylindrical cylinder portion to form an internal space for sealing a fluid; and a protector configured by a plurality of split protectors divided in the circumferential direction of the dome portion and covering an outer surface of the dome portion, wherein, when the outer surface of the dome portion is viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder portion, between the split protectors adjacent in the circumferential direction, a linear gap is formed that is continuous in the radial direction of the dome portion, and chamfered portions that are surfaces along a direction perpendicular to the radial direction are formed on the outer surfaces of both ends of the circumferential direction of each of the split protectors, and the width of the gap gradually increases toward the outside in the radial direction.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a high-pressure tank comprising: a tank body having dome portions at both ends of a cylindrical cylinder portion to form an internal space for sealing a fluid, and a protector configured by a plurality of split protectors that are split in the circumferential direction of the dome portion and cover an outer surface of the dome portion, wherein linear gaps that are continuous in the radial direction of the dome portion are formed between the split protectors adjacent in the circumferential direction when the outer surface of the dome portion is viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder portion. According to this embodiment, the outer surface of the dome portion is covered by a plurality of split protectors that are divided in the circumferential direction of the dome portion. A linear gap that is continuous in the radial direction of the dome portion is formed between the split protectors that are adjacent in the circumferential direction. In this manner, the protector that covers the outer surface of the dome portion is not provided continuously over the entire circumference, but is divided in the circumferential direction by the split protectors. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the entire outer surface of the dome portion is covered by a single protector that is continuous in an annular shape so as to cover the entire circumference, it is possible to suppress the generation of a reaction force that occurs in the split protector due to a force pushing it into the tank body, i.e., a force that pushes the split protector back to the outside of the tank body. This makes it possible to suppress the split protector from coming off the tank body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing an entire high-pressure tank according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the high-pressure tank. [Diagram 3] 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the high-pressure tank, taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] A. First embodiment: A1. Overall tank configuration: A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. Fig. 1 is a side view showing an entire high-pressure tank 1 in the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the high-pressure tank 1, as seen from a valve-side nozzle 26 side described below. In Fig. 1, a central axis C of the high-pressure tank 1 is indicated by a dashed dotted line. The high-pressure tank 1 of this embodiment is used to store a gas such as hydrogen gas at a high pressure of about 70 to 80 MPa.

[0009] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the high-pressure tank 1 includes a tank body 2 and protectors 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 1, the tank body 2 can be divided into a hollow cylindrical cylinder portion 21 and two dome portions 22 and 23 continuing on either side of the cylinder portion 21. The dome portions 22 and 23 have a circular base with the same diameter as the cylinder portion 21, and are shaped like parts of a substantially hemispherical surface that bulges out laterally from the base in a dome shape.

[0010] Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the high-pressure tank 1, taken along line III-III in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the tank body 2 includes a liner 24, a reinforcing layer 25, a valve-side nozzle 26, and an end-side nozzle 27 (see Fig. 1). The liner 24 defines an internal space 28 for sealing a fluid therein. The liner 24 is formed, for example, by joining two liner parts that are divided into two at the center in the longitudinal direction of the high-pressure tank 1. The liner 24 can be formed, for example, from synthetic resin such as nylon resin (polyamide resin) or polyethylene resin, or from metal such as aluminum alloy, and is formed from nylon in this embodiment.

[0011] The reinforcing layer 25 covers the outer peripheral surface of the liner 24. The reinforcing layer 25 is a layer formed of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and covers the entire outer surface of the liner 24. Specifically, the reinforcing layer 25 is formed by winding a fiber bundle impregnated with resin onto the surface of the liner 24 by a filament winding method (hereinafter referred to as the "FW method"), and then curing the resin. A typical FW method uses hoop winding to cover the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder portion 21 of the liner 24, and helical winding to cover the outer peripheral surfaces of the dome portions 22, 23.

[0012] The resin of the reinforcing layer 25 may be a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, or a polyamide resin. The fibers constituting the reinforcing layer 25 may be carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, or the like. The reinforcing layer 25 may also be formed by laminating layers having different fibers by sequentially winding a plurality of types of fibers (for example, glass fibers and carbon fibers) by the FW method. In this embodiment, the reinforcing layer 25 is formed by sequentially laminating a layer made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and a layer made of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).

[0013] The valve side nozzle 26 is disposed at the apex of the dome portion 22 on one end side (left side in FIG. 1) of the liner 24. The valve side nozzle 26 has a through hole 29 that communicates with the internal space 28 of the high-pressure tank 1. The valve side nozzle 26 is equipped with a valve (not shown) that opens and closes the opening of the valve side nozzle 26. Please refer to FIG. 1 again. The end side nozzle 27 is disposed at the apex of the dome portion 23 on the other end side (right side in FIG. 1) of the liner 24. The end side nozzle 27 has a bottomed hole (not shown). The valve side nozzle 26 and the end side nozzle 27 are joined to the liner part by insert molding, for example, when the liner part is molded.

[0014] A2. Protector configuration: Next, the configuration of the protectors 3, 4 will be described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The protectors 3, 4 are intended to protect the tank body 2 from external impacts in order to ensure impact resistance when the high-pressure tank 1 is dropped during handling of the high-pressure tank 1. The protectors 3, 4 can be formed, for example, from elastic resin such as polyurethane foam. The protectors 3, 4 are provided on both ends of the high-pressure tank 1 with approximately the same configuration. Therefore, the protector 3 on the valve-side nozzle 26 side will be mainly described here as an example.

[0015] 2, the protector 3 is composed of a plurality of (four in this embodiment) divided protectors 31 provided in a circumferential direction of the dome portion 22. In this embodiment, four divided protectors 31 having the same shape are radially arranged approximately evenly in the circumferential direction for each dome portion 22, 23. These four divided protectors 31 cover most of the outer surfaces of the dome portions 22, 23 from above the reinforcing layer 25, except for the areas near the apexes of the dome portions 22, 23 where the caps 26, 27 are formed.

[0016] The protector 3, which is formed by combining the four split protectors 31, has a shape similar to that of a semi-spherical shape that follows the shape of the outer surface of the dome portion 22, with the apex removed. Each split protector 31 has a shape obtained by dividing the above-mentioned overall shape of the protector 3 into approximately four in the circumferential direction. The split protector 31 has a shape corresponding to a portion of the outer surface of the dome portion 22 that corresponds to a sector shape with a central angle of approximately 80 degrees in a plan view, excluding the apex. A chamfered portion 34 is formed on the outer surface of both ends in the circumferential direction of the split protector 31. The chamfered portion 34 is a surface formed to extend in the direction of the central axis C of the tank body 2.

[0017] 3, the inner surface 32 of the split protector 31 that contacts the outer surface of the dome portion 22 has a gently curved shape so as to generally follow the outer surface of the dome portion 22. The split protector 31 is assembled and fixed via an adhesive to a predetermined position on the outer surface of the reinforcing layer 25 of the dome portion 22. Since the split protector 31 has elasticity, it is assembled such that its overall shape is slightly stretched.

[0018] Referring again to FIG. 2, a gap 33 is formed between the divided protectors 31. When the outer surface of the dome portion 22 is viewed in the direction of the central axis C, the gap 33 continues linearly along the radial direction of the dome portion 22. The width of the gap 33 gradually increases toward the outside in the radial direction, and the width t2 of the gap 33 on the outer diameter side is larger than the width t1 of the gap 33 on the inner diameter side. In a plan view, the gap 33 has a shape of a part of a circular ring with a central angle of about 10 degrees. The diameter R1 of the tank 1 at the positions of the gap 33 and the chamfered portion 34 is smaller than the diameter R2 of the outermost diameter of the tank 1.

[0019] (1) In the high-pressure tank 1 of the first embodiment, the entire outer surface of the dome portions 22, 23 is not covered with a single protector that is continuous in an annular shape, but is covered with a plurality of divided protectors 31 that are divided approximately equally at predetermined angles in the circumferential direction. In the case of a configuration in which the entire outer surface of the dome portions 22, 23 is covered with a single protector that is continuous in an annular shape, the protector needs to be assembled by being pushed into the tank body 2, and the protector is pulled radially outward. As a reaction force to this, a compressive force is generated radially inward, and further, a force is generated that pushes the protector back toward the apex of the dome portions 22, 23. As a result, there was a concern that the protector would easily fall off the tank body 2.

[0020] In this regard, in the high-pressure tank 1 of the first embodiment, compared to a single protector that is continuous in an annular shape, the high-pressure tank 1 is divided in the circumferential direction, so that it is possible to reduce the reaction force generated in the divided protector 31 due to the force pressing it into the tank body 2, i.e., the force pushing the divided protector 31 back to the outside of the tank body 2. This makes it possible to prevent the divided protector 31 from coming off the tank body 2.

[0021] (2) In the high-pressure tank 1 of the first embodiment, the multiple split protectors 31 have the same configuration, so that it is easy to manufacture the split protectors 31. In addition, the multiple split protectors 31 can be easily assembled to the tank body 2.

[0022] (3) In the high-pressure tank 1 of the first embodiment, the protectors 3, 4 are formed of a plurality of split protectors 31, and have a gap 33 and a chamfered portion 34. A diameter R1 of the tank 1 at the positions of the gap 33 and the chamfered portion 34 can be made smaller than a diameter R2 of the outermost diameter of the tank 1. For this reason, for example, by configuring the portion where the gap 33 and the chamfered portion 34 are formed to coincide with a phase that may interfere with surrounding components when the high-pressure tank 1 is mounted on a vehicle, the mountability of the high-pressure tank 1 can be improved.

[0023] (4) In the high-pressure tank 1 of the first embodiment, when the high-pressure tank 1 is dropped and hits the ground near the gap 33, the impact can be absorbed by, for example, the two adjacent divided protectors 31. This allows the input of the impact to the tank body 2 to be dispersed compared to the case where the tank hits the ground with a single protector. According to the results of an analytical test conducted by the present applicant when the tank is dropped, it has been confirmed that in the high-pressure tank 1 of the first embodiment, the compressive strain acting on the tank body 2 due to the impact when dropped is reduced to about half compared to a tank having a protector with an integral structure.

[0024] B. Other embodiments: (B1) Although the protectors 3, 4 provided in the high-pressure tank 1 of the first embodiment are configured with four split protectors 31, the number of split protectors 31 does not have to be four. The number of split protectors 31 may be any integer equal to or greater than two, for example, 2 to 8, or 9 or more.

[0025] (B2) Furthermore, the shapes of the split protector 31 and the gap 33 are not limited to the above. For example, the split protectors 31 do not have to have the same shape. Furthermore, the width of the gap 33 may be constant, and as long as it is continuous in the radial direction, it may be curved rather than linear.

[0026] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the technical features in each embodiment corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the Summary of the Invention column can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the above-mentioned effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1...High pressure tank, 2...Tank body, 3, 4...Protector, 21...Cylinder portion, 22, 23...Dome portion, 24...Liner, 25...Reinforcing layer, 26...Valve side nozzle, 27...End side nozzle, 28...Internal space, 29...Through hole, 31...Split protector, 32...Inner surface, 33...Gap, C...Central axis, R1, R2...Outer diameter

Claims

[Claim 1] A high-pressure tank, a tank body having a cylindrical cylinder portion and a dome portion at both ends thereof, and an internal space for sealing a fluid therein; a protector including a plurality of divided protectors disposed in a circumferential direction of the dome portion and covering an outer surface of the dome portion; Equipped with When the outer surface of the dome portion is viewed in the axial direction of the cylinder portion, a linear gap is formed between the split protectors adjacent in the circumferential direction, the linear gap being continuous in a radial direction of the dome portion, A chamfered portion is formed on the outer surface of each of the divided protectors at both ends in the circumferential direction, the chamfered portion being a surface along a direction perpendicular to the radial direction, The width of the gap gradually increases toward the outside in the radial direction. High pressure tank.

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