SBIR Phase I: Conformable High Pressure Gas Storage Systems

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是解决与适形氢罐商业化相关的两个关键问题，适形氢罐比传统的圆柱形碳外包装气瓶更安全，更实用，并有可能加速下一代氢动力汽车的采用。转用氢燃料可能会显著减少碳排放，特别是在交通运输领域，但与传统的碳基内燃机相比，在经济和实际效益方面仍存在一些挑战。适形罐准备解决与高压储存氢有关的问题。提供额外的可持续燃料选择将减少碳排放。该SBIR第一阶段项目的目标是解决两个技术领域的实际使用相适应的坦克储存在高压下的氢。首先，由于压缩热，以3分钟的最大填充时间所需的高速率填充高压罐可能导致罐内不可接受的高温。对于适形罐，该问题被罐的各个部分内的气穴的分层所混淆。该项目的第一个目标是构建和测试物理测试样本，以验证在适形罐快速填充事件期间热管理的创新方法。另外，在增强外包装中没有环氧树脂的适形罐提供了改进的重量效率和安全益处。然而，这些罐的制造和操作在罐的主体部分之间的弯曲区域中产生不平衡和不一致。该项目的第二个目标是开发解决这些问题的解决方案，从而更强大和更一致地生产高效高压适形罐。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/ commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to address two critical issues related to the commercialization of conformable hydrogen tanks, which are safer and more practical than traditional cylindrical carbon overwrapped cylinders and have the potential to accelerate adoption of the next generation of hydrogen powered vehicles. Migrating to hydrogen fuel may significantly reduce carbon emissions, particularly in the transportation sector, but several challenges remain in the economic and practical benefits compared to traditional carbon-based internal combustion engines. Conformable tanks are poised to address the concerns relative to high pressure storage of hydrogen. Providing additional sustainable fuel options will reduce carbon emissions. This objective of this SBIR Phase I project is to address two technical areas relative to the practical use of conformable tanks to store hydrogen at high pressure. First, due to the heat of compression, filling a high-pressure tank at high rates required by a maximum fill time of 3 minutes, can result in unacceptably high temperatures within the tank. For conformable tanks, this problem is confounded by the stratification of gas pockets within various parts of the tank. The first goal of this project is to build and test a physical test specimen to validate an innovative approach to thermal management during fast fill events for conformable tanks. Additionally, a conformable tank without epoxy resins in the reinforcement overwrap provides improved weight efficiency and safety benefits. However, the manufacturing and operation of these tanks creates imbalances and inconsistencies in the bend areas between main body portions of the tanks. The second goal of this project is to develop solutions to address these concerns, leading to stronger and more consistent production of efficient high pressure conformable tanks.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.