Pressure Vessel Bearing Layout for Thermal Expansion Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pressure vessel mounting systems in motor vehicles face challenges in accommodating length changes due to pressure and temperature variations, leading to potential stress and inefficiencies in fuel storage and extraction.
Innovation Solution
A pressure vessel assembly utilizing a combination of fixed and floating bearings, where fixed bearings maintain a defined position and floating bearings with flexible or elastic materials compensate for length changes, allowing for compact and stress-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If pressure vessels are mounted with fixed bearings only to maintain defined position, then positional stability is improved, but stress increases due to length changes from pressure and temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing system is segmented into two distinct types: fixed bearings at the first longitudinal ends and floating bearings at the second longitudinal ends. This segmentation allows different portions of the pressure vessel to experience different constraint conditions, with fixed bearings providing positional stability and floating bearings accommodating length changes to reduce stress.
Solution Approach 2:
Different bearing characteristics are applied to different locations along the pressure vessel. Fixed bearings with rigid constraint are applied at the first longitudinal ends where defined position is needed, while floating bearings with flexible constraint are applied at the second longitudinal ends where stress reduction is needed. This local differentiation optimizes both positional stability and stress management.
2Stress or pressure
If floating bearings are designed with flexible and elastic materials to compensate length changes, then stress reduction is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating bearings incorporate flexible and elastic materials that act as compliant elements between the inner and outer bearing components. These flexible materials allow the bearing to accommodate axial length changes of the pressure vessel through elastic deformation, thereby compensating for thermal and pressure-induced expansion without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
3Volume of moving object
If pressure vessels are arranged with parallel longitudinal axes for compact layout, then space utilization is improved, but mounting complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly design with inner and outer bearings serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides axial constraint, accommodates thermal expansion, allows for parallel arrangement of multiple pressure vessels, and simplifies mounting through standardized configuration. This multi-functionality enables the compact parallel layout without proportionally increasing mounting complexity.
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 solution effectively compensates for dimensional changes without causing excessive stress, enabling a compact and efficient fuel storage system that maintains a defined positional relationship, thus enhancing the stability and durability of pressure vessels in motor vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible and/or elastic material is arranged between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve... The flexible and/or elastic material may in particular absorb possible length changes or other dimensional changes
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure vessel assembly having a plurality of pressure vessels, a plurality of fixed bearings and a plurality of floating bearings is disclosed. Longitudinal axes of the pressure vessels are oriented parallel to each other. A motor vehicle includes such a pressure vessel assembly.