A tank container for storing gases, in particular for storing hydrogen in a motor vehicle. The tank container includes a main body which is preferably tubular, and comprises reinforcement elements which are arranged on a wall of the main body and are produced using an additive manufacturing process.

Disclosed herein is a structure that comprises a tank including an outer cylindrical surface and a domed end. The structure also comprises a tank skirt positioned circumferentially around the tank. A wall of the tank and a wall of the tank skirt form two sides of a y-joint between the tank and the tank skirt. The y-joint includes a wedge structure positioned between the tank and the tank skirt. Additionally, a thickness of at least one of the wall of the tank or the wall of the tank skirt forming the y-joint tapers such that the thickness of the at least one of the wall of the tank or the wall of the tank skirt that tapers has a greater thickness at the y-joint than away from the y-joint.

A compressed gas energy storage system may include an accumulator for containing a layer of compressed gas atop a layer of liquid. A gas conduit may have an upper end in communication with a gas compressor/expander subsystem and a lower end in communication with accumulator interior for conveying compressed gas into the compressed gas layer of the accumulator when in use. A shaft may have an interior for containing a quantity of a liquid and may be fluidly connectable to a liquid source/sink via a liquid supply conduit. A partition may cover may separate the accumulator interior from the shaft interior. An internal accumulator force may act on the inner surface of the partition and the liquid within the shaft may exert an external counter force on the outer surface of the partition, whereby a net force acting on the partition is less than the accumulator force.

A compressed gas energy storage system may include an accumulator for containing a layer of compressed gas atop a layer of liquid. A gas conduit may have an upper end in communication with a gas compressor/expander subsystem and a lower end in communication with accumulator interior for conveying compressed gas into the compressed gas layer of the accumulator when in use. A shaft may have an interior for containing a quantity of a liquid and may be fluidly connectable to a liquid source/sink via a liquid supply conduit. A partition may cover may separate the accumulator interior from the shaft interior. An internal accumulator force may act on the inner surface of the partition and the liquid within the shaft may exert an external counter force on the outer surface of the partition, whereby a net force acting on the partition is less than the accumulator force.

A liner configuring member configuring a liner includes a main body section which is configured from a resin material and has both ends opened. That is, both ends of the main body section are, respectively, a first open end and a second open end. There is provided in a vicinity of the first open end a first flange section where a first annular recess is formed by a first bottom section and a first side section. On the other hand, there is provided in a vicinity of the second open end a second flange section where a second annular recess is formed by a second bottom section and a second side section.

Provided is a foot ring secured to a tank having a collar, The foot ring includes a base having an inner and outer surface, a central portion, and an outer peripheral portion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced deflectable longitudinal lock tabs extending around the base for securing the foot ring to the tank, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced deflectable rotational lock tabs extending around the base for preventing rotational movement of the foot ring relative to the tank. Each of the circumferentially spaced deflectable longitudinal lock tabs have a first projection and a catch extending from the first projection for engaging a flange of the collar, and each of the circumferentially spaced deflectable rotational lock tabs have a second projection configured to be received in a respective notch in the flange.

A vehicle is provided with an interior chamber apart from a passenger compartment, and a container chamber in which a high pressure gas container is accommodated. A heat generating body is accommodated in the interior chamber. Further, in the vehicle, there are formed introduction ports through which atmospheric air is introduced into the interior chamber, a communication passage that enables communication between the interior chamber and the container chamber, and a lead-out port through which the atmospheric air is led out from the container chamber. The atmospheric air that is introduced into the interior chamber through the introduction ports flows into the container chamber via the communication passage, and furthermore, is led out to the exterior of the container chamber from the lead-out port.

A vehicle is provided with an interior chamber apart from a passenger compartment, and a container chamber in which a high pressure gas container is accommodated. A heat generating body is accommodated in the interior chamber. Further, in the vehicle, there are formed introduction ports through which atmospheric air is introduced into the interior chamber, a communication passage that enables communication between the interior chamber and the container chamber, and a lead-out port through which the atmospheric air is led out from the container chamber. The atmospheric air that is introduced into the interior chamber through the introduction ports flows into the container chamber via the communication passage, and furthermore, is led out to the exterior of the container chamber from the lead-out port.

A high-pressure tank producing apparatus capable of reducing time for increasing temperature of a tank body. The apparatus that heats the tank body with fibers impregnated with a thermosetting resin wound around its surface includes a heating chamber for housing the tank body and a retaining mechanism for retaining the tank body within the heating chamber, in which the heating chamber has an injection port for injecting heated gas onto the surface of the tank body and an exhaust port for discharging the gas to the outside of the heating chamber, the exhaust port being disposed in a position where the injection port is projected in a gas injecting direction, and the retaining mechanism retains the tank body in a region where the injection and exhaust ports overlap with each other as viewed from the gas injecting direction and in a position between the injection and exhaust ports.

A high-pressure tank producing apparatus capable of reducing time for increasing temperature of a tank body. The apparatus that heats the tank body with fibers impregnated with a thermosetting resin wound around its surface includes a heating chamber for housing the tank body and a retaining mechanism for retaining the tank body within the heating chamber, in which the heating chamber has an injection port for injecting heated gas onto the surface of the tank body and an exhaust port for discharging the gas to the outside of the heating chamber, the exhaust port being disposed in a position where the injection port is projected in a gas injecting direction, and the retaining mechanism retains the tank body in a region where the injection and exhaust ports overlap with each other as viewed from the gas injecting direction and in a position between the injection and exhaust ports.