Boss Connector Rib Elements for Pressure Distribution in Composite Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current composite pressure vessels for high-pressure fluid storage face inefficiencies due to non-ideal pressure distribution around the boss connector, requiring additional reinforcement and increased weight, particularly due to the heavy metal boss connector and suboptimal flange design.
Innovation Solution
The pressure vessel incorporates a boss connector with an outer neck portion featuring interspaced rib elements that protrude into the composite laminate shell, optimizing pressure distribution and reducing the need for extra reinforcement, while the flange portion is minimized in size to match or be smaller than the rib elements, thereby reducing overall weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a traditional boss connector with flange portion is used, then the boss connector can be anchored in the composite laminate shell, but the pressure distribution on the composite laminate is not ideal and extra reinforcement is required, increasing weight
Solution Approach 1:
The boss connector features a neck portion with varying cross-sectional area along its length, creating local quality variations that optimize stress distribution. The cross-sectional area is largest at the ends and smallest in the middle, concentrating reinforcement where needed while reducing material elsewhere
Solution Approach 2:
The boss connector's geometry is optimized by changing the cross-sectional area parameter along its length. The area varies from a first value at the ends to a second value in the middle, creating an optimal stress distribution profile that eliminates the need for additional reinforcement layers
2Reliability
If the flange portion of the boss connector is made larger to improve anchoring, then the boss connector is more securely anchored, but the weight of the boss connector and overall vessel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flange portion's outer diameter is optimized to be between 0.5 to 2 times the inner diameter of the boss connector, creating an optimal balance between anchoring reliability and weight. This parameter optimization ensures secure anchoring without excessive material use
Solution Approach 2:
The boss connector is made from fiber-reinforced composite material instead of traditional metal, providing high strength-to-weight ratio. The composite material allows for optimized geometry that achieves reliable anchoring with minimal weight
3Strength
If extra composite reinforcement layers are added around the boss connector, then the boss connector anchoring is improved, but the thickness and weight of the composite laminate shell increase
Solution Approach 1:
The varying cross-sectional area of the boss connector creates local quality variations in the structure, concentrating reinforcement capacity where stress is highest and reducing it where not needed, eliminating the requirement for additional uniform reinforcement layers
Solution Approach 2:
The optimized cross-sectional area parameter distribution along the boss connector length creates ideal stress distribution that fully utilizes the existing composite laminate shell, making additional reinforcement layers unnecessary
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention concerns a pressure vessel for storing a fluid at high pressure. The vessel comprises a liner and a composite laminate shell coupled to an outer surface of the liner. The liner has an inner surface delineating an inner wall of a cavity and the cavity comprises a dome-shaped region having a central opening. An access channel is traversing the composite laminate shell for providing an access to the cavity. The central opening is facing an entrance of the access channel. A boss connector, located or partly located within the access channel, comprises an inner bore part configured for receiving a valve or a plug, and an outer neck part comprising a plurality of interspaced rib elements protruding into the composite laminate shell for optimizing a pressure distribution in said laminate shell.