Clamped Hydrogen Vessel Structure for Pressure Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-pressure hydrogen containers for fuel cell vehicles require complex manufacturing processes and increased labor due to thick cylinder designs, leading to high manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A high-pressure hydrogen container design featuring a metal cylinder with a pair of lid parts clamped by fastening parts, utilizing a simple configuration that reduces manufacturing labor and costs while ensuring pressure resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a thick cylinder portion is used to reduce stress level and ensure pressure resistance, then strength is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining a metal cylinder with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) wrapping. The metal cylinder provides base strength while the CFRP layers add additional pressure resistance without significantly increasing overall thickness. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by achieving high strength through material composition rather than simply increasing geometric thickness, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
2Strength
If a dome-shaped portion is formed at one end portion of the cylinder to ensure pressure resistance, then strength is improved, but manufacturing labor and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pressure vessel into separate components: a standard cylindrical body and separate end caps (closure members). This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured using simple, standardized processes without requiring complex dome-forming operations. The end caps are attached to the cylinder through joining processes that are easier and less labor-intensive than forming integrated dome shapes, thereby resolving the manufacturing labor contradiction while maintaining pressure resistance.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple configuration is used to reduce manufacturing labor and cost, then ease of manufacture is improved, but pressure resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials (metal cylinder combined with CFRP wrapping) to achieve high pressure resistance in a relatively simple structural configuration. The CFRP layers are applied in a straightforward wrapping process rather than requiring complex integrated forming operations. This allows the vessel to maintain high strength while being manufactured with simpler processes, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and pressure resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies CFRP wrapping to the metal cylinder before final assembly and testing. This preliminary reinforcement ensures that the pressure resistance is built into the structure during manufacturing rather than requiring post-manufacturing modifications or complex integrated designs. By preparing the reinforcement in advance through a simple wrapping process, the patent achieves high strength without compromising manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A high-pressure hydrogen container is provided that has a simple configuration, requiring less labor for manufacture, achieving reduced manufacturing costs, and ensuring pressure resistance. The high-pressure hydrogen container includes a metal cylinder configured to store high-pressure hydrogen, a pair of lid parts configured to cover both end portions of the metal cylinder, and a plurality of fastening parts configured to fix the pair of lid parts in a state where the metal cylinder is clamped between the pair of lid parts.