Currently funded project

Hydrogen pressure tanks available on the market so far are all cylindrical.
Although this common tank geometry offers good utilisation of the installation space, the potential for weight reduction has been largely exhausted. For physical reasons, the required wall thickness in the cylindrical area of the tanks is twice as high as in the spherical area (=> "tank formula"). Thus the spherical design contains
an enormous potential in terms of material and thus weight and cost savings.

The project will develop a spherical isotensoidal high-pressure tank for storing hydrogen at 350/700 bar. The tank will be made of carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) and by automated forming processes such as winding or tape deposition. The isotensoid fibre deposition transfers the pressure load to the fibres in such a way that their high strength can be used optimally. Furthermore, a hydrogen diffusion barrier is to be integrated into the CFRP wall of the tank. For this purpose, special diffusion-inhibiting ORMOCERE® (organic-inorganic hybrid polymers) are to be used as matrix material. In addition, further barrier layers can be integrated into the structure. The pressure tanks are to be used as hydrogen storage in stationary and mobile applications. The fibres used are to be recycled at the end of their useful life.

• Development of isotenoid filing algorithm
  
• Construction of a robot system for isotensoid depositing
  
• Development of a novel diffusion barrier with ORMOCEREN®
• Production of an ultra-light liner of polyamide/polyimide