Composites Use in Pressure Vessels

You may see pressure vessels or storage tanks listed as one of various numbered “Types.”

Pressure vessels are organized into five types:

• • • Type I: All-metal construction, generally steel.
    • Type II: Mostly metal with some fiber overwrap in the hoop direction, mostly steel or aluminum with a glass fiber composite; the metal vessel and composite materials share about equal structural loading.
    • Type III: Metal liner with full composite overwrap, generally aluminum, with a carbon fiber composite; the composite materials carry the structural loads.
    • Type IV: An all-composite construction, polymer — typically polyamide (PA) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liner with carbon fiber or hybrid carbon/glass fiber composite; the composite materials carry all the structural loads.
    • Type V: Linerless, all-composite construction.

Source: Composites end markets: Pressure vessels

For years, composites have offered lightweight storage of compressed hydrogen (H2) gas for zero-emission, fuel cell-powered vehicles via Type IV tanks comprising plastic liners wrapped with carbon fiber and epoxy resin. Though H2 has long promised a sustainable source of clean energy, until recently, progress was slow.

As the market continues to grow, demand for Type IV tanks continues to increase, with new technologies in development.

Follow CompositesWorld’s continuing hydrogen market coverage for the latest.

Source: The potential for hydrogen to fuel composites growth