CPC F17C 1/06 (2013.01) [B29C 70/14 (2013.01); B29C 70/32 (2013.01); B29K 2105/14 (2013.01); B29K 2307/04 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7156 (2013.01); F17C 2201/0109 (2013.01); F17C 2201/0128 (2013.01); F17C 2201/0138 (2013.01); F17C 2201/0152 (2013.01); F17C 2203/0621 (2013.01); F17C 2203/0673 (2013.01); F17C 2209/2109 (2013.01); F17C 2209/2163 (2013.01); F17C 2209/232 (2013.01); F17C 2221/012 (2013.01); F17C 2221/033 (2013.01); F17C 2223/036 (2013.01); F17C 2270/0171 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A method of manufacturing a high-pressure composite pressure vessel configured to contain a gas and/or liquid, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an expandable core vessel defining a hoop section between end domes;
providing an aligned discontinuous fiber composite material, the aligned discontinuous fiber composite material comprising fibers that are at least 5 mm in length and up to 100 mm in length, wherein the fibers are aligned in a prepreg tape;
wrapping the expandable core vessel with an aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite, wherein the aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite is wrapped aligning with a plurality of load paths present in the expandable core vessel being over the hoop section and end domes;
wrapping the expandable core vessel with a continuous fiber-reinforced composite, wherein the continuous fiber-reinforced composite is wrapped over the aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite and wherein the continuous fiber-reinforced composite is wrapped along the hoop section and not wrapped along the end domes;
pressurizing the expandable core vessel, wherein the expandable core vessel is configured to expand applying pressure to the aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite and the continuous fiber-reinforced composite;
heating the expandable core vessel and consolidating the composite overwrap; and
cooling the expandable core vessel under pressure resulting in the high-pressure composite pressure vessel.
|