HYDROGEN TANK FOR AIRCRAFT

Abstract

A hydrogen tank for aircraft, including an inner vessel configured to contain hydrogen, first and second outer jacket domes having a semi-spherical shape and first L-shaped ends, a first cylindrical outer jacket established on top of the first and second outer jacket domes, a second cylindrical outer jacket established in the bottom of the first and second outer jacket domes. The first and second cylindrical outer jackets include second L-shaped ends. The first and second L-shaped ends form L-shaped junctions to attach the first and second outer jacket domes to the first and second cylindrical outer jackets.

Claims

1. A hydrogen tank for aircraft, comprising: an inner vessel configured to contain hydrogen; first and second outer jacket domes having a semi-spherical shape and first L-shaped ends; a first cylindrical outer jacket established on top of the first and second outer jacket domes, and a second cylindrical outer jacket established in the bottom of the first and second outer jacket domes; wherein the first and second cylindrical outer jackets comprise second L-shaped ends; and wherein the first and second L-shaped ends form L-shaped junctions to attach the first and second outer jacket domes to the first and second cylindrical outer jackets.

2. The hydrogen tank according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cylindrical outer jackets comprise reinforcing elements.

3. The hydrogen tank according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements are established in the outer side of the first and second cylindrical outer jackets.

4. The hydrogen tank according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements are established in the inner side of the first and second cylindrical outer jackets.

5. The hydrogen tank according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements comprise bulges with a round form.

6. The hydrogen tank according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements comprise bulges with an omega form.

7. The hydrogen tank according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements comprise stingers, pads, or doublers.

8. The hydrogen tank according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing elements comprise the same material as the first and second cylindrical outer jackets.

9. The hydrogen tank according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cylindrical outer jackets comprise radial channels.

10. The hydrogen tank according to claim 1, wherein the L-shaped junctions comprise fasteners.

11. The hydrogen tank according to claim 10, wherein the fasteners comprise a staggered pattern.

12. The hydrogen tank according to claim 1, wherein the first and second outer jacket domes, and the first and second cylindrical outer jackets, are made of composite materials.

13. The hydrogen tank according to claim 1, wherein the first and second outer jacket domes, and the first and second cylindrical outer jackets, are made of metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] For a better understanding the above explanation and for the sole purpose of providing an example, some non-limiting drawings are included that schematically depict a practical embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a tank vessel according to the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows the reinforcement elements for the cylindrical outer jacket, and frontal and lateral views of possible reinforcement elements orientation.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows the cylindrical part of the tank divided in radial channels.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows the L-shaped junction according to the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a detail of the L-shaped junction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a hydrogen tank (100) according to the present invention.

[0033] The hydrogen tank (100) shown in FIG. 1 comprises an inner vessel (110) configured to contain hydrogen.

[0034] The proposal, which is mainly based in the outer tank, is to have a jacket divided in two main parts:

[0035] The first part comprises first and second outer jacket domes (120a, 120b) having a semi spherical shape and first L-shaped ends (125).

[0036] The second part comprises a first cylindrical outer jacket (130a) established on top of the first and second outer jacket domes (120a, 120b), and a second cylindrical outer jacket (130b) established in the bottom of the first and second outer jacket domes (120a, 120b).

[0037] The first and second cylindrical outer jackets (130a, 130b) comprise second L-shaped ends (135). The first and second L-shaped ends (125, 135) form L-shaped junctions (400) that attach the first and second outer jacket domes (120a, 120b) to the first and second cylindrical outer jackets (130a, 130b).

[0038] The first and second outer jacket domes (120a, 120b) and the first and second cylindrical outer jackets (130a, 130b) can be made of composite materials or metal.

[0039] The cylindrical outer jackets (130a, 130b) which has a simple curvature have the worst behavior under buckling conditions. To solve this drawback, the following solutions are proposed:

[0040] To avoid the addition of reinforcements to the structure or the increase of thickness to avoid buckling, which may redound in a weight increase, a new solution for the cylindrical outer jackets (130a, 130b) is based on the following configuration as depicted in FIG. 2 that shows a front view and lateral views of the cylindrical outer jacket (130a) comprising reinforcing elements (140).

[0041] For this particular example, the reinforcing elements (140) comprise bulges that can have a round form as shown in FIG. 2. In another example, the bulges can have an omega form. The shape of the bulges may depend on the best response in terms of structural and/or manufacturing behavior. Either the round form or the omega form can be chosen considering applied loads and pressure, as well as the distribution of the bulges, either pointing to the inner side of the cylindrical outer jacket (130a) or to outer side, as shown in the lateral views shown in FIG. 2. The bulges can comprise the same material as the first and second cylindrical outer jackets.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows another solution to fight buckling. In particular, the cylindrical outer jacket (130a) comprises division in channels (150) in the radial direction. This implementation of the reinforcing elements (140) has the advantage that the action pressure is transformed into tension loads in the panel which has the potential of alleviating the buckling behavior.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows the junction (400) formed by the L-shaped ends (125, 135) of the first and second outer jacket domes (120a, 120b) and the cylindrical outer jackets (130a, 130b). The L-shaped ends (125, 135) can be joined by fasteners (410) distributed in a staggered pattern as shown in FIG. 5.

[0044] This junction (400) can avoid drilling the vacuum area for fasteners installation and have the same pressure acting at the external area of both “Ls” avoiding risks of area collapse and vacuum lost, as shown in FIG. 4. Additionally, in terms of structural behavior, the L-shape junction having two parts loaded mainly in compression avoids unfolding effects in the junction. The staggered pattern is presumed to be better than the simple pattern to ensure the vacuum in the insulation area between the inner vessel and outer tank.

[0045] Even though reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the hydrogen tanks described herein are susceptible to numerous variations and modifications, and that all of the details mentioned can be substituted for other technically equivalent ones without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

[0046] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.