Hydrogen Tank Multilayer Composite Without an Inner Liner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas storage tanks, particularly hydrogen storage tanks, face challenges such as low mechanical strength, increased gas permeability at high temperatures, and the release of polluting compounds like monomers and oligomers, which contaminate and degrade the stored hydrogen, especially during filling and decompression phases.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer structure comprising composite reinforcing layers made of continuous fibers impregnated with a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer and an outer sealing layer cohesive with the outermost composite reinforcing layer, which enhances mechanical strength and acts as a barrier to hydrogen, minimizing gas permeability and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an inner thermoplastic polymer liner is used to prevent hydrogen permeation, then gas barrier properties are improved, but weight increases and mechanical strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the inner thermoplastic polymer liner from the tank structure, relying instead on the outer sealing layer formed by the thermoplastic polymer matrix in the composite reinforcing layers to provide the necessary gas barrier properties, thus reducing weight while maintaining hydrogen permeation resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials consisting of continuous fibers impregnated with thermoplastic polymer matrix in the reinforcing layers to simultaneously provide mechanical strength and gas barrier properties, replacing the need for a separate thermoplastic liner
2Strength
If the thermoplastic polymer liner is made thicker to prevent collapse during decompression, then mechanical strength is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs composite reinforcing layers with continuous fibers providing high mechanical strength and structural support, eliminating the need for a thick thermoplastic liner while maintaining resistance to decompression collapse
Solution Approach 2:
The tank structure is segmented into distinct functional layers: the composite reinforcing layers provide mechanical strength and structural integrity, while the outer sealing layer provides gas barrier properties, allowing each layer to be optimized independently for its specific function
3Ease of manufacture
If organic liners like polyethylene or polypropylene are used for low cost and ease of processing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but mechanical strength decreases and permeability increases at high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the key parameter of the thermoplastic polymer's glass transition temperature (Tg) to be greater than 80°C, which fundamentally alters the material's performance characteristics, providing high mechanical strength and low gas permeability at operating temperatures while maintaining processability
4Reliability
If aluminum coating is applied to composite tanks to ensure gastightness, then gas barrier properties are improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to adhesion issues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the aluminum coating layer from the tank structure, using instead the thermoplastic polymer matrix in the composite reinforcing layers and the outer sealing layer to provide inherent gas barrier properties, thereby avoiding adhesion and manufacturing challenges
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials with thermoplastic polymer matrix that inherently provide both structural support and gas barrier properties, eliminating the need for separate metal coating layers and their associated adhesion problems
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
The multilayer structure provides excellent gas barrier properties, maintaining hydrogen integrity and mechanical strength, reducing weight and contamination risks, while eliminating the need for an inner thermoplastic polymer liner, thus improving storage efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
low permeability to the stored gas
Implementation Method 2
fibrous material in the form of continuous fibers impregnated by a composition comprising predominantly at least one semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayer structure, intended for the transportation, for the distribution or for the storage of a gas, in particular hydrogen, including, from the inside toward the outside, N composite reinforcing layer(s), deposited on one another, and being of a fibrous material in the form of continuous fibers which is impregnated by a composition of at least one semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer P1, the M.p. of which, as measured according to ISO 11357-3:2013, is greater than or equal to 150° C., or at least one amorphous thermoplastic polymer, the Tg of which is greater than 80° C., N being of from 1 to 2000 layers, and an outer sealing layer (1) cohesive with the outermost composite reinforcing layer (2) and including a composition of the at least one thermoplastic polymer P1, the composition of the outer sealing layer (1) resulting from at least the outermost composite reinforcing layer (2) cohesive with the sealing layer.