Self-monitoring composite vessel for high pressure media

• US 9,618,413 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belenos Clean Power Holdings AG
• Original Assignee: Belenos Clean Power Holdings AG
• Inventors: Manson, Jan-Anders Edvin, Leterrier, Yves, Waller, Judith
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rhodes-Vivour, Temilade
• Application Number:
  US13/580,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20130069630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 324109, 324312, 324707, 324727, 324766
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0604 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0607 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0636 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/066 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0663 in form of fibers or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/068 Special properties of materials for vessel walls
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/2127 by blowing
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/2145 by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/219 Working processes for non metal materials, e.g. extruding
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/043 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0189 Planes
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/07 for household use
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/08 by making use of piezoelectric devices , i.e. electric circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/145 Indicating the presence of current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 23/20 Measurement of non-linear distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/16 Construction of testing vessels; Electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/131 Glass, ceramic, or sintered, fused, fired, or calcined metal oxide or metal carbide containing [e.g., porcelain, brick, cement, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1379 : Contains vapor or gas barrier, polymer derived from vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride, or polymer containing a vinyl alcohol unit

Abstract

A high pressure media storage vessel including a wall made of at least one layer with barrier and piezoelectric properties.

Claims

1. A high pressure gas storage vessel comprising:

a wall including

a shell, and

a liner arranged so as to line an inside of the shell, the liner including a polymer-based layer having barrier and piezoelectric properties,

wherein the liner is a bladder coupled to the shell via inflation of the bladder or assisted molding,

wherein the liner forms a hermetic seal for gas stored at high pressure therein, and

wherein the liner is a self-sensing liner configured to measure, via the piezoelectric properties of the polymer-based layer, at least one of real-time pressure and temperature of the gas stored in the liner.

2. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein said polymer-based layer includes a polymer matrix and high aspect ratio particles contained in the polymer matrix.

3. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein said polymer-based layer includes a polymer matrix and piezoelectric particles contained in the polymer matrix.

4. The vessel according to claim 2, wherein said polymer-based layer includes a polymer matrix and piezoelectric particles contained in the polymer matrix.

5. The vessel according to claim 3, wherein said piezoelectric particles are made of ceramic.

6. The vessel according to claim 4, wherein said piezoelectric particles are made of ceramic.

7. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein said polymer-based layer consists of a piezoelectric polymer layer.

8. The vessel according to claim 2, wherein said polymer is a piezoelectric polymer.

9. The vessel according to claim 8, wherein said piezoelectric polymer is a PVdF or one of its copolymers.

10. The vessel according to claim 3, wherein said polymer is a piezoelectric polymer.

11. The vessel according to claim 10, wherein said piezoelectric polymer is a PVdF or one of its copolymers.

12. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein said shell is made of fibre reinforced composite material.

13. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein said liner includes one or several other barrier layers.

14. The vessel according to claim 1, further comprising electric parameter measuring elements connected to said polymer-based layer in a way as to measure an electrical signal generated within said polymer-based layer.

15. The vessel according to claim 14, wherein the electric parameter measuring elements include a first electrode bonded to an outer surface of the liner and a second electrode bonded to the inner surface of the liner using a conducting adhesive.

16. A vehicle containing a high pressure gas storage vessel according to claim 1.

17. A refueling station containing a high pressure gas storage vessel according to claim 1.

18. A back-up power system containing a high pressure gas storage vessel according to claim 1.

19. A method of manufacturing a high pressure gas storage vessel comprising:

providing a shell; and

coupling a liner to an inside of the shell, the liner including a polymer-based layer having barrier and piezoelectric properties,

wherein the liner is a bladder coupled to the shell via inflation of the bladder or assisted molding,

wherein the liner forms a hermetic seal for gas stored at high pressure therein, and

wherein the liner is a self-sensing liner configured to measure, via the piezoelectric properties of the polymer-based layer, at least one of real-time pressure and temperature of the gas stored in the liner.

20. A method of manufacturing a high pressure gas storage vessel comprising:

providing a liner, the liner including a polymer-based layer having barrier and piezoelectric properties; and

after, the providing the liner, fabricating a shell on an exterior of the liner,

wherein the liner is arranged so as to line an inside of the shell,

wherein the liner forms a hermetic seal for gas stored at high pressure therein, and

wherein the liner is a self-sensing liner configured to measure, via the piezoelectric properties of the polymer-based layer, at least one of real-time pressure and temperature of the gas stored in the liner, and

wherein the fabricating includes filament winding of the shell on the exterior of the liner.