Composites Use in Pressure Vessels

High-pressure gas storage vessels represent one of the largest and fastest-growing markets for advanced composites, particularly for filament-wound carbon fiber composites. Although they are used in self-contained breathing apparatuses and provide oxygen and gas storage on aerospace vehicles, the primary end markets are for storage of liquid propane gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen gas (H2).

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Latest Pressure Vessels Articles

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Hexagon Agility receives wave of RNG fuel system orders for Class 8 trucks

RNG/CNG fuel system installations with Type 4 CFRP pressure vessels, powered by Cummins’ 15-liter natural gas tank adds 230,000 heavy-duty trucks to the addressable RNG/CNG market annually.

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ORPC Ireland, Queen’s begin X-Flow project for hydrokinetic turbine testing

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Graphmatech launches Aros polyamide-graphene for Type 4 tanks, secures grant

Combination of polyamide grades and graphene introduces low-permeation solution for upscaling H2 storage, transport applications.

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Gurit announces strategic alignment to preserve wind leadership, accelerate growth in other markets

While expected wind business revenue did not materialize for Q3 2024, Gurit is actively implementing measures to diversify its portfolio and position it for a wind sale increase in 2025.

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Latest Horizon Europe project seeks to introduce innovative circular resins combined with advanced disassembly strategies, enabling cost-effective blade decommissioning and material reuse.

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Latest Pressure Vessels News And Updates

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Mikrosam equips BTU Germany with single-tape AFP head for Type 5 pressure vessels

Delivery of upgraded placement head provides additional automated layup flexibility, quality control for the university’s latest projects advancing Type 4 and 5 hydrogen storage.

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BlueWind secures contract with GE Vernova to manufacture wind turbine nacelle covers

With more than 2,000 2X nacelle covers manufactured, the company expands its supply with the WT20 model

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CorPower Ocean secures funding to commercialize wave energy

CorPower Ocean announces significant investment in its wave energy technology that converts its motion into electricity via a filament-wound fiberglass buoy design.

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NCC, BCI, Vestas collaborate to enhance wind blade technology development

NCC, BCI and Vestas have established the U.K. Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan, aiming to accelerate wind blade technology development and lower energy costs.

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ZEBRA project demonstrates closed-loop wind recycling system

Consortium partners have proven the complete recycling of thermoplastic wind turbines via two manufactured wind blades, featuring reduced operating cost, CO2 emissions.

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Solico software suite now includes horizontal tank module

Solico Engineering introduces the module to complete its Amphora calculation tool, made for the design of fiber-reinforced silos and tanks.

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Composites end markets: Automotive (2024)

Recent trends in automotive composites include new materials and developments for battery electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell technologies, and recycled and bio-based materials.

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Achieving composites innovation through collaboration

Stephen Heinz, vice president of R&I for Syensqo delivered an inspirational keynote at SAMPE 2024, highlighting the significant role of composite materials in emerging technologies and encouraging broader collaboration within the manufacturing community. 

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Composites end markets: Batteries and fuel cells (2024)

As the number of battery and fuel cell electric vehicles (EVs) grows, so do the opportunities for composites in battery enclosures and components for fuel cells.

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Optimizing robotic winding of composite tanks and pipes

Pioneer in mandrel-based reinforced rubber and composite products, TANIQ offers TaniqWindPro software and robotic winding expertise for composite pressure vessels and more.

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Composites end markets: Pressure vessels (2024)

The market for pressure vessels used to store zero-emission fuels is rapidly growing, with ongoing developments and commercialization of Type 3, 4 and 5 tanks.  

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FAQ: Pressure Vessels

How are composites used in energy storage?

Composites are used to build pressure vessels to store compressed natural gas, liquid propane gas, hydrogen gas.

These typically involve filament winding of glass or carbon fiber around a metal, plastic or all-composite liner.

Source: Composites end markets: Pressure vessels

What are the types of 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

Do composites have a role in the hydrogen economy?

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

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