PRESSURE VESSEL WITH A TAPE-BASED REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE

Abstract

It is proposed a pressure vessel comprising a body and a tape-based reinforcement structure arranged onto the body, the tape-based reinforcement structure comprising: a primary tape arranged in a circumferential manner onto the body; a secondary tape arranged in a non-circumferential manner onto the body, at least one portion of the secondary tape being attached to the primary tape.

Claims

1. A pressure vessel comprising a body and a tape-based reinforcement structure arranged onto the body, the tape-based reinforcement structure comprising: a primary tape arranged in a circumferential manner onto the body; a secondary tape arranged in a non-circumferential manner onto the body, at least one portion of the secondary tape being attached to the primary tape.

2. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein said at least one portion of the secondary tape is attached in a manner such that it is attached to the primary tape.

3. The pressure vessel according to claim 1, wherein the body is an elongated hollow body and wherein the body comprises a cylindrical center section and two body end sections.

4. The pressure vessel according to claim 3, wherein the body comprises a first zone Z1 extending in the longitudinal direction of the body from at least 10% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base of the cylindrical center section of the body extending at the most to the half of the length of the body.

5. The pressure vessel according to claim 3, wherein the body comprises a second zone Z2 extending in the longitudinal direction of the body from the furthest point of one end section starting at the base of the cylindrical center section of the body extending at the most to the half of the length of the body.

6. The pressure vessel according to claim 3, wherein the secondary tape is attached to the body from at least one point of the zone Z1 to at least one point of Z2 arranged over one end section.

7. The pressure vessel according to claim 3, wherein the primary tape and the secondary tape are intermingled and forms a surface comprising intermingled tapes.

8. The pressure vessel according to claim 7, wherein the surface comprising intermingled tapes extends to a length superior or equal to 0% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body.

9. The pressure vessel according to claim 3, wherein the primary tape and the secondary tape are made of reinforcing fibres and a polymer resin.

10. The pressure vessel according to claim 9, wherein the reinforcing fibres can be made from carbon, glass, basalt, aramid, polyethylene, or any other reinforcement.

11. The pressure vessel according to claim 3, wherein the primary tape and the secondary tape are arranged onto the body by laser, hot gas, IR, ultrasound, electronic projection or any others methods known by the person skilled in the art.

12. The pressure vessel according to claim 3, wherein the end body sections are symmetric.

13. The pressure vessel according to claim 12, wherein the end body sections are domes.

14. The pressure vessel according to wherein the pressure vessel is a member selected from the group consisting of Compressed Natural Gas vessels, Compressed Hydrogen Gas vessels, Liquefied Petroleum Gas vessels, and or Liquefied Natural Gas vessels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0085] The accompanying drawings are used to illustrate presently preferred non-limiting exemplary embodiments of devices of the present invention. The above and other advantages of the features and objects of the invention will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0086] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a pressure vessel prior tape arrangement.

[0087] FIG. 2A illustrates schematically a pressure vessel according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0088] FIG. 2B illustrates schematically the pressure vessel of the FIG. 2A being rotated by 180 degrees.

[0089] FIG. 3A illustrates schematically a pressure vessel according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0090] FIG. 3B illustrates schematically the pressure vessel of the FIG. 3A being rotated by 180 degrees.

[0091] FIG. 4A illustrates schematically a pressure vessel according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0092] FIG. 4B illustrates schematically the pressure vessel of the FIG. 4A being rotated by 180 degrees.

[0093] FIG. 5A illustrates schematically a pressure vessel according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0094] FIG. 5B illustrates schematically the pressure vessel of the FIG. 5A being rotated by 180 degrees.

[0095] FIG. 6A illustrates schematically a pressure vessel according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

[0096] FIG. 6B illustrates schematically the pressure vessel of the FIG. 6A being rotated by 180 degrees.

[0097] FIG. 7 illustrates schematically an interminglement of one primary tape and one secondary tape.

[0098] Throughout the figures, like reference numerals have been used to designate like features.

[0099] All the FIGS. 2-6 have been described in a limited scope such that the upper tape is not represented to highlight the positioning of the secondary tape.

[0100] Indeed, all combinations of interminglement can be envisaged between the primary tape and the secondary tape, provided that the secondary tape is attached to one primary tape.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

[0101] FIGS. 2A-6A and FIGS. 2B-6B illustrates schematically a pressure vessel in a particular embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 2B-6B is the corresponding representation of the pressure vessel of FIGS. 2A-6A rotated by 180 degrees.

[0102] FIGS. 2-6 illustrate schematically a pressure vessel 10 comprises a body 20 and a tape-based reinforcement structure 30 arranged onto the body 20.

[0103] FIG. 1 illustrates a pressure vessel prior to tape arrangement. The pressure vessel comprises a body 20 and no tape-based reinforcement structure arranged onto the body 20. The body 20 is a liner made of thermoplastic material having high-pressure gas barrier properties, such as polyamide. It can also comprises fibre elements such that carbon fibre or hybrid carbon/glass fibre composite.

[0104] The body 20 is an elongated hollow body comprising a cylindrical center section 21 and two symmetric body end sections 22, 22 forming domes.

[0105] The body 20 comprises a first zone Z1 extending in the longitudinal direction of the body from at least 10% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the cylindrical center section of the body extending at the most to the half of the length of the cylindrical center section of the body and a second zone Z1 extending in the longitudinal direction of the body from at least 10% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the cylindrical center section of the body extending at the most to the half of the length of the of cylindrical center section of the body.

[0106] The body also comprises two second zone Z2, Z2 extending in the longitudinal direction of the body from the furthest point of one end section 22, 22 starting at the base 23, 23 extending at the most to the half of the length of the cylindrical center section of the body.

[0107] The body 20 comprises predetermined portions subjected to higher mechanical stress compared to others portions of the body. These predetermined portions correspond to the surface of the body 20 comprising the zone Z2 and excluding the zone Z1 and/or comprising the zone Z2 and excluding the zone Z1. They require predetermined reinforcement.

[0108] FIGS. 2-6 illustrate schematically the pressure vessel 10 comprises a body 20 of the FIG. 1 and a tape-based reinforcement structure 30 arranged onto the body 20.

[0109] The tape-based reinforcement structure 30 of the invention comprises at least one primary tape 31 arranged in a circumferential manner onto the body 20 and at least one secondary tape 32 arranged in a non-circumferential manner onto the body 20. The secondary tape 32 comprises at least one portion attached to the at least one primary tape 31.

[0110] By tapes, it has to be understood all kinds of reinforcing fibres in a thermoplastic resin. In all these embodiments, the tapes are in band shape.

[0111] The primary tape 31 comprises at least one tape 33 arranged in a hoop manner and at least one tape 34 arranged in a helical manner.

[0112] The tape 33 is formed by arranging a tape in a hoop manner with a placement angle of 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of the body. Other placement angles may be used, provided that the placement angles are comprised between 80 and 100 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of the body. Such placement angles allow a good absorption of the radial forces.

[0113] For a tape placed helically 34 the placement angle is between 10 and 60 degrees, placed over one body end section. The secondary tape 32 is a portion of tape arranged in a helical manner on a predetermined portion on the body 20. In other words, the secondary tape 32 is a cut tape laid along a helical angle. The secondary tape 32 is attached to the primary tape 31 previously arranged onto the body in a manner such that it lays at least partially over the primary tape.

[0114] The secondary tape 32 is used to locally reinforce mechanically predetermined portions of the body.

[0115] Thus, thanks to the invention, the number of primary tape arranged in a helical and in a circumferential manner is limited to the benefit of the weight of the pressure vessel. In other words, the secondary tape arranged in a predetermined way on the body is enough to improve the mechanical resistance without making heavier the pressure vessel.

[0116] The secondary tape 32 is bonded in situ onto the body by the application of heat and pressure.

[0117] The tape-based reinforcement structure is such that the secondary tape is attached to the body from the zone Z1 or Z1 to the zone Z2 or Z2 arranged over the corresponding dome 22 or 22.

[0118] The primary tape and the secondary tape are intermingled.

[0119] The pressure vessel of FIG. 2 comprises a tape-based reinforcement structure comprising a tape 33 arranged in a hoop manner, a tape 34 arranged in a helical manner and a secondary tape 32. The tape 33 is arranged in a hoop and a circumferential manner directly on the body 20. The tape 34 is arranged helically and circumferentially on the body and on the tape 33 previously arranged in a hoop manner. The secondary tape 32 is a cut tape arranged in a helical and a non-circumferential manner onto a predetermined portion of the body 20, the arrangement starting onto the primary tape arrangements from the zone Z2 in FIG. 2A and extending in the longitudinal direction of the body to the zone Z1 in FIG. 2B, arranged over the dome 22. More precisely, the arrangement of the secondary tape 32 starts from the base 23 of the cylindrical center section 21 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to the zone Z1 in FIG. 2B, arranged over the dome 22. The secondary tape is intermingled with the primary tape, previously arranged onto the body, and forms a surface of interminglement extending to a length of 40% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0120] The pressure vessel of FIG. 3 comprises a tape-based reinforcement structure comprising a tape 33 arranged in a hoop manner, a tape 34 arranged in a helical manner and a secondary tape 32. The tape 34 is arranged helically and circumferentially directly on the body 20. The tape 33 is arranged in a hoop way on the tape 34 previously arranged on the body. The secondary tape 32 is a cut tape arranged in a non-circumferential and a helical manner onto a predetermined portion of the body 20, the arrangement starting onto the primary tapes previously arranged from the zone Z1 in FIG. 3A and extending in the longitudinal direction of the body to the zone Z1 in FIG. 3B, arranged over the dome 22. More precisely, the arrangement of the secondary tape 32 starts from about 48% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to about 48% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body. The secondary tape is intermingled with the primary tape, previously arranged onto the body, and thus, forms two surfaces of interminglement both extending to a length of about 48% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0121] The pressure vessel of FIG. 4 comprises a tape-based reinforcement structure comprising one tape 34 arranged helically onto the body and a secondary tape 32. The secondary tape 32 is a cut tape arranged in a helical and a non-circumferential manner onto a predetermined portion of the body 20, the arrangement starting onto the tape 34 from the zone Z1 in FIG. 4A and extending in the longitudinal direction of the body to the dome 22 in FIG. 4B, arranged over it. More precisely, the arrangement of the secondary tape 32 starts from about 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to the dome 22 after being arranged over it. The secondary tape 32 is intermingled with the tape 34 and thus, forms one surface of interminglement extending to a length of about 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical center of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0122] The pressure vessel of FIG. 5 comprises a tape-based reinforcement structure comprising one tape 33 arranged in a hoop and in a circumferential manner and two secondary tapes 32, 32. The two secondary tapes 32, 32 are respectively a cut tape arranged helically onto a predetermined portion of the body 20.

[0123] The arrangement of the first secondary tape 32 starts on the previously tape 33 arranged in a hoop way from the zone Z1 in FIG. 5A and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to the dome 22 in FIG. 5B, after being arranged over it. More precisely, the arrangement of the first secondary tape 32 starts from about 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to the dome 22.

[0124] The first secondary tape 32 is intermingled with the primary tape 33 previously arranged in a hoop manner and thus, forms one surface of interminglement extending to a length of about 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0125] The arrangement of the second secondary tape 32 starts on the previously arranged primary tape 33 from the zone Z1 in FIG. 5A and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to the zones Z1 and Z2, arranged over the dome 22 in FIG. 5B. More precisely, the arrangement of the second secondary tape 32 starts from about 48% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to about 48% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body. The secondary tape is intermingled with the primary tape previously arranged and thus, forms two surfaces of interminglement both extending to a length of about 48% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0126] The pressure vessel of FIG. 6 comprises a tape-based reinforcement structure comprising a tape 33 arranged in a hoop manner, two tapes 34, 34 arranged helically and four secondary tapes 32, 32, 32, 32. The tape 33 is arranged directly on the body 20 in a circumferential manner. The two tapes 34, 34 are arranged in a circumferential and in a helical manner on the body and on the tape 33 previously arranged onto. The four secondary tapes 32, 32, 32, 32 are respectively a tape arranged helically onto the previously arranged tapes and specifically onto a predetermined portion of the body 20.

[0127] The arrangement of the first secondary tape 32 starts onto the primary tapes 33, 34, 34 from the zone Z1 in FIG. 6A and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to the dome 22 in FIG. 6B, after being arranged over it. More precisely, the arrangement of the first secondary tape 32 starts from about 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body and extends in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical center section of the body to the dome 22.

[0128] The first secondary tape 32 is intermingled with the primary tapes 33, 34, 34 and thus, forms one surface of interminglement extending to a length of about 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0129] The arrangement of the second secondary tape 32 starts onto the tapes 33, 34, 34 previously arranged from the zone Z1 in FIG. 6A and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body 20 to the zones Z1 and Z2 in FIG. 6B, arranged over the dome 22. More precisely, the arrangement of the secondary tape 32 starts from about 20% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body and extends in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical center section of the body to about 30% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body. The secondary tape is intermingled with the tape arranged previously helically and thus, forms two surfaces of interminglement both extending respectively to a length of about 20% and 30% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0130] The arrangement of the third secondary tape 32 starts onto the primary tapes 33, 34, 34 previously arranged 33, 34, 34 from the zone Z1 in FIG. 6A and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to the zones Z1 and Z2 in FIG. 6B, arranged over the dome 22. More precisely, the arrangement of the secondary tape 32 starts from about 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to about 15% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body. The secondary tape 32 is intermingled with the tape previously helically arranged and thus, forms two surfaces of interminglement both extending respectively to a length of about 35% and 15% of the diameter of cylindrical center section of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0131] The arrangement of the fourth secondary tape 32 starts onto the previously arranged primary tapes 33, 34, 34 from the zone Z1 in FIG. 6A and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to the zones Z1 and Z2 in FIG. 6B, arranged over the dome 22. More precisely, the arrangement of the secondary tape 32 starts from about 35% starting at the base 23 of the body and extends in the longitudinal direction of the body to about 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body starting at the base 23 of the body. The secondary tape is intermingled with the tape helically arranged and thus, forms two surfaces of interminglement both extending to a length of about 35% of the diameter of the cylindrical center section of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body.

[0132] FIG. 7 is a zoomed view of an interminglement between a secondary tape and a primary tape.

[0133] Onto the body of a pressure vessel of the invention, the secondary tape is intermingled with a primary tape and forms a surface of interminglement extending to a length (L) strictly superior to 10% and strictly inferior to 50% of the diameter (D) of the cylindrical center section of the body in the longitudinal direction of the body (0.1 D<L<0.5 D). This particular interminglement surface allows a good attachment of the secondary tape onto the primary tape. Thus, the secondary tape can act its role of reinforcement element by distributing in a uniform way the mechanical constraints. Such interminglement presents the advantage to obtain light pressure vessel and presenting high mechanical resistances.

[0134] The skilled person will appreciate that other variants of the present invention may be within the scope of the attached claims.