Conformable CNG Pressure Vessel with Flexible Liner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current compressed natural gas (CNG) storage systems for light vehicles are bulky and expensive, limiting their widespread adoption due to inefficient storage solutions.
Innovation Solution
A conformable pressure vessel system utilizing flexible end caps and tubing, made from materials like Nylon and HDPE, with a corrugated liner design that can be folded into various shapes to fit different vehicle cavities, providing high strength and durability while minimizing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional cylindrical CNG storage tanks are used, then storage capacity is achieved, but vehicle space utilization is reduced and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible composite liners made from layered materials including HDPE, Nylon, and EVOH that can be formed into various shapes to conform to vehicle cavities. These flexible shells replace traditional rigid cylindrical tanks, reducing weight while maintaining CNG storage capacity through optimized geometry that utilizes available vehicle space more efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The CNG storage system is divided into multiple separate tanks rather than using a single large cylindrical tank. This segmentation allows the tanks to be distributed throughout the vehicle's available cavity space, improving space utilization and reducing the weight of individual tank components while maintaining total storage capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional cylindrical CNG storage tanks are used, then storage capacity is achieved, but vehicle space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible composite liners can be formed into irregular shapes that conform to the contours of vehicle cavities, maximizing the use of available space. This eliminates the wasted space around traditional rigid cylindrical tanks and allows the storage system to occupy the minimum necessary volume while maintaining storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple smaller segmented tanks can be strategically positioned throughout the vehicle's cavity space, filling gaps and irregular spaces that a single large tank cannot utilize. This segmentation strategy increases overall space utilization efficiency.
3Strength
If rigid cylindrical tanks are used, then structural strength is maintained, but adaptability to different vehicle designs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible composite liners can be manufactured in various shapes and configurations to match different vehicle cavity geometries. This flexibility provides adaptability to different vehicle designs while maintaining structural strength through the multi-layer composite construction that provides both flexibility and mechanical integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static rigid tanks to dynamic flexible tanks that can adapt their shape to different vehicle configurations. The flexible material allows the tank to conform to various cavity shapes while maintaining structural integrity under pressure.
4Quantity of substance
If conventional CNG storage systems are used, then storage function is provided, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible composite liners can be manufactured using cost-effective processes such as extrusion and thermal forming of layered materials. This approach reduces manufacturing complexity and cost compared to traditional rigid tank fabrication, while maintaining storage capacity and structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vessel for storing fluid, the vessel including a liner having a liner body that defines: a liner cavity; a plurality of flexible connector portions that include a corrugated length that provides for flexibility of the respective connector portions, the connector portions having a first maximum diameter; a plurality of elongated tubing portions between the respective flexible connector portions, the elongated tubing portions having a second minimum diameter that is larger than the first maximum diameter of the flexible connector portions; and a plurality of taper portions coupling adjoining flexible connector portions and tubing portions configured to provide a transition between a smaller diameter of the connector portion and a larger diameter of the tubing portion.