Composite Pressure Vessel End Plate Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current pressure vessel assemblies, particularly those made of fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composite materials, face challenges in reducing part count, weight, and cost while maintaining structural integrity and fluid communication between components.
Innovation Solution
The use of continuous longitudinal fibres in an outer reinforcement to secure end plates to vessel structures, eliminating the need for structural connections and allowing axial loads to be transmitted by these fibres, thereby optimizing the vessel for hoop stress and simplifying manufacturing, with additional hoop fibres providing further reinforcement for enhanced strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional structural connections and chemical joining techniques are used to assemble pressure vessels, then structural integrity is maintained, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of structural connection, sealing, and load transmission into a single integrated end plate design. The end plates directly connect vessel structures without separate fasteners or adhesives, eliminating multiple components and assembly steps while maintaining structural integrity through the composite material's inherent strength
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates chemical joining techniques (adhesives, sealants) from the assembly process. By using mechanical interlocking through the end plate geometry and direct compression, the patent removes harmful chemical substances while achieving reliable connections, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing cost
2Reliability
If multiple separate components are used to ensure structural integrity, then reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (structural support, sealing, load bearing) into the end plate itself, eliminating the need for separate components. This integration reduces total part count and weight while maintaining structural integrity through the composite material properties and optimized geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The end plates are designed with locally optimized geometry that concentrates material where needed for structural integrity and load bearing, rather than using uniform thick walls throughout. This allows weight reduction in non-critical areas while maintaining strength where required
3Strength
If axial loads are transmitted through vessel structures, then structural connection is maintained, but the vessel cannot be optimized for hoop stress alone
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the axial load transmission function from the vessel structures and assigns it to the end plates. By removing this load path requirement from the vessels, the composite material can be optimized exclusively for hoop stress resistance, simplifying the structural design and reducing material requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the weight and complexity of pressure vessels, enhances structural efficiency, and facilitates aerospace certification by eliminating the need for chemical joining techniques, while maintaining high-pressure resistance and fluid communication between vessel structures.
Implementation Method 1
an outer reinforcement comprising continuous longitudinal fibres to secure the front and rear end plates to the vessel structures... this can now be carried by the longitudinal fibre in the outer reinforcement instead
Implementation Method 2
a pressure vessel assembly that integrates a plurality of vessel structures, each including a cylindrical liner open at both ends and a fibre-reinforced resin layer around the peripheral walls of the liner
Implementation Method 3
The liner provides a barrier between the pressurised fluid and the composite material, preventing leaks (which can occur through matrix microcracks) and chemical degradation of the structure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pressure vessel 100 comprises front and rear end plates 1A, 1B and a plurality of open-ended vessel structures 2A, 2B constructed of fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composite material. The open-ended vessel structures 2A, 2B are positioned adjacent to one another so that their longitudinal axes are parallel to a longitudinal direction extending between the front and rear end plates 1A, 1B, and the open-ended vessel structures 2A, 2B are closed by the front and rear end plates 1A, 1B. An outer reinforcement 3 comprising polymer matrix composite material with continuous fibres extending longitudinally around the pressure vessel 100 secures the front and rear end plates 1A, 1B to the vessel structures 2A, 2B. At least one of the vessel structures 2A, 2B has a partially curved cross section in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, such that one or more crevices 4 are formed between the vessel structures 2A, 2B, running longitudinally between the front and rear end plates 1A, 1B. The front and rear end plates 1A, 1B are shaped to allow the outer reinforcement 3 to at least partially fill the one or more crevices 4 between the vessel structures 2A, 2B.