Curved Conformal High-Pressure Vessel for Vehicle Gas Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cylindrical high-pressure vessels have an inefficient conformability ratio, leading to suboptimal use of onboard vehicle space, reducing volume efficiency for storing gases like compressed natural gas and propane.
Innovation Solution
A modular high-pressure vessel design featuring curved and conformal geometry with 120° angled intersections and uniform wall thickness, allowing for increased conformability and stress distribution, potentially formed from high-strength materials or composites, and assembled via welding or bonding methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If cylindrical tanks are used for compressed gas storage, then structural strength is maintained, but the conformability ratio is limited to approximately 70%, reducing volume efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure vessel is divided into multiple curved wall segments that can be assembled together to form the complete cylindrical structure. This segmentation allows the vessel to maintain structural integrity while adapting to different spatial configurations and improving conformability to available storage spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved wall geometry instead of traditional straight cylindrical sections. The curved surfaces enable better space utilization and conformability while maintaining the structural strength required for high-pressure gas storage, directly addressing the 70% conformability limitation of conventional cylindrical tanks.
2Quantity of substance
If larger cylindrical tanks are used to increase storage capacity, then gas storage volume increases, but the tanks occupy more onboard vehicle space, reducing cargo space
Solution Approach 1:
The curved wall design allows the pressure vessel to conform more efficiently to the available space within the vehicle body, maximizing the storage capacity within a reduced envelope volume. This increases the conformability ratio from 70% to approximately 90%, allowing more gas storage without proportionally increasing the space occupied in the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the pressure vessel by implementing curved surfaces and optimized wall thickness distributions. These parameter changes enable the vessel to achieve higher storage capacity within a more compact form factor, reducing the volume occupied in the vehicle while maintaining or increasing gas storage capability.
3Strength
If wall thickness is increased to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies varying wall thicknesses at different locations of the pressure vessel based on local stress requirements. Critical areas with higher stress concentrations receive thicker walls for structural integrity, while areas with lower stress demands have thinner walls to reduce overall weight. This localized optimization resolves the contradiction between strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure vessel utilizes composite material construction that combines materials with different properties to achieve optimal strength-to-weight ratio. The composite structure provides the necessary structural integrity while minimizing weight, addressing the trade-off between maintaining strength and reducing vessel weight.
Data Source
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AI summary
A high-pressure vessel is provided. The high-pressure vessel may comprise a first chamber 124 defined at least partially by a first wall 122, and a second chamber 126 defined at least partially by the first wall. The first chamber and the second chamber may form a curved contour of the high-pressure vessel 100. A modular tank assembly is also provided, and may comprise a first mid tube 106 having a convex geometry. The first mid tube may be defined by a first inner wall 122, a curved wall 128 extending from the first inner wall, and a second inner wall extending from the curved wall. The first inner wall may be disposed at an angle relative to the second inner wall. The first mid tube may further be defined by a short curved wall 130 opposite the curved wall and extending from the second inner wall to the first inner wall.