Pressure Vessel

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a pressure vessel 10 (sometimes known as a composite overwrapped pressure vessel or “COPV”) comprising carbon fiber 20 (such as carbon fiber 20 filaments) wrapped around a tank liner 30.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pressure vessel comprising:
 a. a carbon fiber overwrap;   b. a polymeric permeation barrier; and   c. a tank liner, wherein the tank liner comprises fiber reinforced plastic.   
     
     
         2 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1  wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and polyurea. 
     
     
         3 . The pressure vessel of  claim 2  wherein the permeation barrier further comprises a nanoparticle additive. 
     
     
         4 . The pressure vessel of  claim 3  wherein the nanoparticle additive is selected from the group consisting of exfoliated clay and carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         5 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1  wherein the permeation barrier further comprises a nanoparticle additive selected from the group consisting of exfoliated clay and carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         6 . The pressure vessel of  claim 5  wherein the tank liner is an integral structure. 
     
     
         7 . The pressure vessel of  claim 6  wherein the tank liner further comprises carbon fibers. 
     
     
         8 . The pressure vessel of  claim 7  wherein the tank liner comprises a plurality of central segments and cap segments. 
     
     
         9 . The pressure vessel of  claim 8  wherein the cap segments are comprised of a metal. 
     
     
         10 . A pressure vessel comprising a tank liner wherein said tank liner further comprises fiber reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The pressure vessel of  claim 10  wherein the tank liner is an integral structure. 
     
     
         12 . The pressure vessel of  claim 10  wherein the tank liner further comprises carbon fibers. 
     
     
         13 . The pressure vessel of  claim 12  wherein the tank liner comprises a plurality of central segments and cap segments. 
     
     
         14 . The pressure vessel of  claim 13  wherein the cap segments are comprised of a metal. 
     
     
         15 . The pressure vessel of  claim 10  wherein the tank liner is overlaid by a wound carbon fiber layer. 
     
     
         16 . The pressure vessel of  claim 15  wherein the wound carbon fiber layer comprises a carbon fiber having a tensile strength of about 700 KSI and a modulus approximately 33 MSI. 
     
     
         17 . The pressure vessel of  claim 16 , wherein the wound carbon fiber layer is of a uniform continuous thickness around the tank liner. 
     
     
         18 . The pressure vessel of  claim 17  further comprising a permeation barrier located between the tank liner and the wound carbon fiber layer. 
     
     
         19 . The pressure vessel of  claim 18  further comprising a second permeation barrier interior to a composite tooling/mandrel.