METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PRESSURE TANK, A PRESSURE TANK AND A PRESSURE TANK GROUP

• US 20120234840A1
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum Fã¼R Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V.
• Original Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum Fã¼R Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V.
• Inventors: Strassburger, Phillip, Krishnamoorthy, Sivakumara Kannappan, Kriescher, Michael, Erdl, Günther
• Granted Patent: US 8,794,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/590
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/24 oriented in at least three directions forming a three dimensional structure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/462 Moulding structures having an axis of symmetry or at least one channel, e.g. tubular structures, frames
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/003 Containers for packaging, storing or transporting, e.g. bottles, jars, cans, barrels, tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/04 Protecting sheathings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/06 built-up from wound-on bands or filamentary material, e.g. wires
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0152 Lobes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/056 Small (<1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/011 Reinforcing means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0604 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0619 with two layers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0639 Steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/066 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0663 in form of fibers or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0675 with details of composition
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0142 bundled in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/22 Assembling processes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 : Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/012 : Reducing weight
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/013 : Reducing manufacturing time or effort
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 : by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 : with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for producing a pressure tank for holding a pressurized fluid, comprising the steps of providing a shaped body; arranging one or more elements of a textile sheet material of reinforcing fibers on the shaped body; impregnating the reinforcing fibers, before or after the arrangement of the element or elements on the shaped body, with a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin; and curing the resin to form a composite fiber material surrounding the shaped body. The invention also provides a pressure tank for holding a pressurized fluid, comprising a hollow body which defines a storage space for the fluid, and a composite fiber material surrounding the hollow body which comprises one or more elements of a textile sheet material. The invention further provides a pressure tank group comprising a plurality of such pressure tanks.

Claims

1. A method for producing a pressure tank for holding a pressurized fluid, comprising the steps:

providing a shaped body;

arranging one or more elements of a textile sheet material of reinforcing fibers on the shaped body;

impregnating the reinforcing fibers, before or after the arrangement of the element or elements on the shaped body, with a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin; and

curing the resin to form a composite fiber material surrounding the shaped body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shaped body is a hollow body which defines a storage space for the fluid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the textile sheet material comprises a woven fabric or a braiding of reinforcing fibers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing fibers are selected from carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramide fibers or mixtures thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the element or the elements of a textile sheet material surround the shaped body substantially completely.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the element or the elements of a textile sheet material are adapted to the outer contour of the shaped body.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of elements of a textile sheet material are arranged on the shaped body in such a manner that individual elements totally or partly overlap.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the elements of a textile sheet material are arranged in multiple layers on the shaped body.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein different elements of a textile sheet material are arranged on regions of the shaped body having a differing outer contour.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the shaped body is substantially in the form of a cylinder, and wherein one or more tubular elements of a textile sheet material are arranged on the circumferential surface of the cylinder.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the axial end regions of the cylinder are substantially hemispherical, and wherein one or more substantially hemispherical elements of a textile sheet material are arranged on one or both end regions.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein, before impregnating the reinforcing fibers, the shaped body together with the element or the elements of a textile sheet material is inserted into a molding device which defines the intended outer contour of the composite fiber material surrounding the shaped body.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the hollow body is expanded before and/or during impregnation and/or during curing by subjecting the storage space to an excess pressure.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the shaped body is formed from a synthetic material or from a metallic material.

15. A pressure tank for holding a pressurized fluid, comprising a hollow body which defines a storage space for the fluid, and a composite fiber material surrounding the hollow body which comprises one or more elements of a textile sheet material.

16. The pressure tank of claim 15, wherein the textile sheet material comprises a woven fabric or a braiding of reinforcing fibers.

17. The pressure tank of claim 16, wherein the reinforcing fibers are selected from carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramide fibers or mixtures thereof.

18. The pressure tank of claim 15, wherein a plurality of elements of a textile sheet material are arranged on the hollow body in such a manner that individual elements totally or partly overlap.

19. The pressure tank of claim 18, wherein the elements of a textile sheet material are arranged in multiple layers on the hollow body.

20. The pressure tank of claim 15, wherein the hollow body is substantially in the form of a cylinder, and wherein one or more tubular elements of a textile sheet material are arranged on the circumferential surface of the cylinder.

21. The pressure tank of claim 20, wherein the axial end regions of the cylinder are substantially hemispherical, and wherein one or more substantially hemispherical elements of a textile sheet material are arranged on one or both end regions.

22. The pressure tank of claim 15, wherein the hollow body is formed from a synthetic material or from a metallic material.

23. A pressure tank group comprising a plurality of pressure tanks according to claim 15 which extend in a longitudinal direction and which are arranged in rows and columns in a plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, wherein the outer contours of the pressure tanks in the regions which face neighboring pressure tanks are substantially flat, and wherein the pressure tanks are connected to one another by a winding of a reinforcing fiber, wherein the winding runs in at least one plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and the reinforcing fiber surrounds each pressure tank along its cross section.

24. The pressure tank group of claim 23, wherein the reinforcing fiber of the winding is a continuous fiber.

25. The pressure tank group of claim 23, wherein the reinforcing fiber of the winding is impregnated with a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin.