Liquid storage systems for space vehicles include at least one storage tank including a tank inlet, a tank outlet, and a plurality of liquid storage compartments coupled to each other in series between the tank inlet and the tank outlet. Each liquid storage compartment includes an end plate including a porous outlet at an end of the liquid storage compartment adjacent to another liquid storage compartment. Propulsion systems for space vehicles include at least one such liquid storage tank. Methods of providing a liquid propellant to a thruster of a space vehicle include withdrawing a liquid propellant from a first compartment within a tank and flowing the liquid propellant from a second compartment into the first compartment through a porous element associated with an end plate separating the first compartment from the second compartment.

A high-pressure tank in a method of manufacturing a high-pressure tank includes a liner and a fiber. The manufacturing method includes: preparing a dome and a pipe each having a general portion and a joining end portion formed to be thicker than the general portion such that an outer diameter at least at an end face is larger than an outer diameter of the general portion by an estimated level difference amount; joining the joining end portion of the dome and the joining end portion of the pipe together in an axial direction; cutting off portions on the further outer side in a radial direction than a reference plane, with an outer peripheral surface of the general portion of the dome having a large outer diameter at the joined surface as the reference plane; and winding a carbon fiber around the outer peripheral surface of the liner in helical winding.

A gas container includes a tubular container main body formed by a plurality of pieces which include a first dome piece and a second dome piece and are disposed separately in an axial direction, the tubular container main body having an internal space configured to store a gas, a first mouthpiece attached to the first dome piece, a second mouthpiece attached to the second dome piece, a storage member configured to store and release a gas, and a tubular accommodation member disposed in the internal space and having an accommodation space accommodating the storage member. A method for assembling a gas container includes a first step of assembling and fixing the accommodation member to the first mouthpiece attached to the first dome piece, and temporarily assembling the accommodation member to the second mouthpiece attached to the second dome piece, and a second step of connecting the pieces to each other.

A composite storage tank comprises a composite wall enclosing a gas storage volume and defining a cylindrical portion of the tank. The composite wall incorporates first and second sets of metallic fibres each of which is susceptible to embrittiement by hydrogen and has ends extending through the exterior surface of the composite wall. By measuring the electrical resistances of the metallic fibres, a measure of the amount of hydrogen that has leaked through the composite wall over a period of time, and the present physical condition of the tank, may be determined. The approximate axial and azimuthal coordinates of a particular leakage point may also be determined.

A protection device comprises a base having a general shape obtained by rotation about a longitudinal axis. The base is intended to be assembled with a hydrogen tank. The protection device comprises at least two legs extending from the base parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base.

Provided is a pressure vessel. An example pressure vessel includes a spherical portion and a conical portion that extends from the spherical portion and has an opening for pumping in and pumping out a pressurized gaseous substance. The spherical portion and the conical portion are made in a single technological cycle by 3D printing. The thicknesses of the wall of the spherical portion changes from ${\delta }_1=\frac{P{R}_1}{2\left[\sigma \right]}$
to ${\delta }_2=\frac{\sqrt{3}P{R}_2}{2\left[\sigma \right]\cos \alpha }$
and the thickness of the wall of the conical portion changes linearly from δ.sub.2 to ${\delta }_3=\frac{\sqrt{3}P{R}_3}{2\left[\sigma \right]\cos \alpha },$
where P is predetermined operating pressure, R.sub.1 is

A composite storage tank system for gaseous hydrogen comprises a composite storage tank having composite wall enclosing a gas storage volume, the composite wall including a metal hydride element, or a metal element capable of forming a metal hydride in the presence of hydrogen, the system further comprising measuring apparatus arranged to measure an electrical characteristic of the metal hydride element or the metal element. The history of leakage of gaseous hydrogen from the tank, the current rate of leakage and the physical condition of the composite wall in the vicinity of the metal or metal hydride element may be inferred from a measurement of the electrical characteristic, without taking the tank out of service as is required in the case of known leaks tests such as a vacuum test, helium leak test or hydrogen sniffing test.

A composite storage tank comprises a composite wall enclosing a gas storage volume and defining a cylindrical portion (406) of the tank. The composite wall incorporates first) and second sets of metallic fibres each of which is susceptible to embrittlement by hydrogen and has ends extending through the exterior surface of the composite wall. By measuring the electrical resistances of the metallic fibres, a measure of the amount of hydrogen that has leaked through the composite wall over a period of time, and the present physical condition of the tank, may be determined. The approximate axial and azimuthal coordinates of a particular leakage point may also be determined.

A composite gas storage tank includes a composite wall defining a main storage volume and a hollow conduit portion communicating with and extending away from the main storage volume. A hollow coupling element has a length portion which is partially embedded within and extends substantially parallel to the hollow conduit portion of the composite wall. The hollow conduit portion and the coupling element provide communication between the main storage volume and the tank exterior. A leakage path around the hollow coupling element is significantly longer than those of tanks of the prior art and reduces the rate at which hydrogen leaks from the tank. A carbon fibre filament winding extends over the length of the hollow conduit portion and provides a radially inwardly-directed force biasing the carbon fibre material of the hollow conduit portion into contact with the coupling element, further reducing the leakage rate on the leakage path.

A high-pressure tank in a method of manufacturing a high-pressure tank includes a liner and a fiber. The manufacturing method includes: preparing a dome and a pipe each having a general portion and a joining end portion formed to be thicker than the general portion such that an outer diameter at least at an end face is larger than an outer diameter of the general portion by an estimated level difference amount; joining the joining end portion of the dome and the joining end portion of the pipe together in an axial direction; cutting off portions on the further outer side in a radial direction than a reference plane, with an outer peripheral surface of the general portion of the dome having a large outer diameter at the joined surface as the reference plane; and winding a carbon fiber around the outer peripheral surface of the liner in helical winding.