Square-Section Pressure Vessel Layout for Better Space Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure vessels for hydrogen vehicles face challenges in minimizing size and spatial utilization due to their cylindrical shape, leading to dead zones and increased use of expensive carbon fiber composite material, which affects structural rigidity and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A pressure vessel design with a barrel part having a square cross-section and clamp rings locking nozzle members at opposite ends, allowing for reduced diameter and eliminating dome parts, distributing stress evenly and minimizing carbon fiber usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical pressure vessel with dome parts is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but spatial utilization deteriorates due to dead zones between adjacent vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by replacing the traditional symmetric cylindrical shape with an asymmetric cross-sectional geometry (such as triangular, rectangular, or other non-circular shapes). This asymmetric design eliminates the dead zones between adjacent pressure vessels, improving spatial utilization while maintaining structural integrity through optimized stress distribution in the asymmetric geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the curvature characteristics by replacing the fully curved cylindrical surface with a combination of flat and curved surfaces in the cross-section. This partial curvature approach maintains necessary structural strength while reducing the overall volume and eliminating dead zones, achieving a balance between structural integrity and spatial efficiency
2Volume of moving object
If the diameter of the pressure vessel is decreased, then spatial utilization improves, but structural rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the wall thickness and material properties in different regions of the pressure vessel. Thicker walls are placed in areas experiencing higher stress concentrations, while thinner walls are used in lower-stress areas. This localized optimization maintains structural rigidity even with reduced overall dimensions, improving spatial utilization without compromising strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials with optimized fiber orientations and material compositions to enhance structural rigidity in specific directions. By using composite materials with tailored properties, the pressure vessel achieves sufficient strength and stiffness with reduced dimensions, improving spatial utilization while maintaining structural integrity
3Ease of manufacture
If the thickness of the carbon fiber layer is decreased, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but structural rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the carbon fiber layer thickness and winding patterns in different regions of the pressure vessel. Areas experiencing higher stress receive thicker or more densely wound carbon fiber layers, while lower-stress areas use thinner layers. This localized optimization reduces the overall amount of expensive carbon fiber material needed while maintaining structural rigidity where it is most critical
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by optimizing the carbon fiber layer thickness, winding angle, and number of layers as variable parameters. By carefully adjusting these parameters based on stress analysis, the design achieves sufficient structural rigidity with minimized material usage, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining performance requirements
4Strength
If dome parts are included in the pressure vessel design, then structural rigidity is ensured, but the amount of carbon fiber composite material increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the traditional dome parts from the pressure vessel design. Instead of using curved dome ends, the design employs flat or slightly curved closures that require significantly less carbon fiber composite material. The structural rigidity previously provided by the domes is compensated through optimized cross-sectional geometry and localized reinforcement, reducing material quantity while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional design approach by placing the structural reinforcement where it is most needed based on actual stress distribution, rather than following the conventional dome shape. This inversion leads to a more efficient use of carbon fiber material, achieving structural rigidity with minimized material quantity by concentrating reinforcement in high-stress areas rather than uniformly thickening the entire structure
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure vessel includes: a barrel part disposed in a predefined square area and having a diameter corresponding to a length of one side of the square area; a first nozzle member disposed at one end of the barrel part; a second nozzle member disposed at an opposite end of the barrel part; and clamp rings disposed in the square area, positioned outside the barrel part, and configured to lock the first and second nozzle members to the barrel part, thereby improving spatial utilization and a degree of design freedom.