Grooved Liner for Pressure Vessel Gas Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure vessels with composite shells and resin liners experience buckling and delamination due to differential fluid diffusion rates, leading to gas accumulation and strain on the composite shell, which can result in cracking and undesirable fluid release during depressurization.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a liner with longitudinal grooves and thermally expandable inserts that fill and shrink to release trapped gas between the liner and composite layer, creating conduits for gas escape during pressure reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resin liner is used to contain fluid under pressure, then the fluid containment function is improved, but gas accumulation between the liner and composite shell occurs during depressurization, causing buckling and delamination
Solution Approach 1:
The liner is segmented with longitudinal grooves that divide the space between the liner and composite shell into multiple channels. This segmentation allows trapped gas to be channeled and released through the grooves, preventing gas accumulation that would cause buckling and delamination while maintaining the overall fluid containment function of the liner.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal grooves act as an intermediary structure between the liner and composite shell. These grooves provide a dedicated pathway for gas to escape, mediating the pressure differential that would otherwise cause the liner to buckle and delaminate from the composite shell during depressurization.
2Reliability
If the liner and composite shell are pressed together to ensure sealing, then the seal quality is improved, but gas becomes trapped between them during pressure changes, leading to liner buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal grooves segment the sealed space between the liner and composite shell, creating multiple gas escape channels. This allows the liner to maintain good contact with the composite shell for sealing while providing pathways for gas to escape during pressure changes, preventing buckling.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooved structure creates a controlled porous pathway between the liner and composite shell. This allows gas to pass through the interface region during pressure changes while maintaining the overall seal integrity, resolving the contradiction between sealing quality and gas release capability.
3Strength
If the composite shell is made thick to withstand pressure, then the strength is improved, but strain from trapped gas can still cause cracking and fluid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal grooves serve as an intermediary pressure relief mechanism between the liner and composite shell. By providing a pathway for trapped gas to escape, the grooves prevent gas pressure buildup that would strain and crack the composite shell, thereby protecting shell integrity even when the shell is made thick for strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves provide beforehand cushioning by preventing gas accumulation before it can build up enough pressure to crack the composite shell. This proactive pressure relief mechanism protects the shell structure from strain-induced cracking during pressure cycles.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the liner is made flexible to accommodate pressure changes, then the adaptability is improved, but the liner becomes more susceptible to buckling under gas pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal grooves segment the liner structure, creating stiffening ridges between the grooves. This segmentation allows the liner to remain flexible enough to accommodate pressure changes while the ridges provide resistance to buckling under gas pressure, as the segmented structure distributes and manages the mechanical stresses.
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 solution inhibits buckling and delamination, maintains pressure vessel integrity, and ensures complete fluid discharge without environmental contamination by effectively releasing trapped gas, thereby optimizing the vessel's performance and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plurality of inserts is formed from materials having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. each of the plurality of inserts is configured to substantially fill, in response to a temperature of the plurality of inserts being above a predetermined temperature, the respective one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves
Data Source
AI summary
Pressure vessels having a grooved liner and methods of forming the same are described. The pressure vessel includes a liner surrounding a cavity therein, an outer surface of the liner disposed opposite the cavity, a boss disposed at a first end of the liner, a composite layer surrounding the liner, an inner surface of the composite layer disposed proximate the liner, and a plurality of longitudinal grooves configured to release gas present between the inner surface of the composite layer and the outer surface of the liner. The liner defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The boss and the outer surface of the liner define the plurality of longitudinal grooves therein. The plurality of longitudinal grooves extends along the longitudinal axis from the boss toward a second end of the liner. The composite layer spans each of the plurality of longitudinal grooves.