Pressure vessel
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.
1. A pressure vessel comprising:
a. an innermost, rigid, gas permeable tank liner consisting of glass fiber reinforced plastic, wherein the tank liner comprises a plurality of central segments and a plurality of cap segments and wherein a first cap segment comprises an integral end fitting;
b. a middle, flexible, uniform, gas impermeable polymeric permeation barrier applied to the tank liner and wherein the permeation barrier comprises carbon nanotubes; and
c. an outermost carbon fiber overwrap, wherein the carbon fiber overwrap has a variable thickness over different areas of the permeation barrier.
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 tank liner is an integral structure.
4. The pressure vessel of claim 2 wherein the tank liner comprises a plurality of central segments and cap segments.
5. The pressure vessel of claim 4 wherein the cap segments are bonded to the central segments.
6. A pressure vessel comprising:
a. an innermost, rigid gas permeable mandrel substrate consisting essentially of glass fiber reinforced plastic, wherein the gas permeable tank liner comprises a plurality of central segments and a plurality of cap segments and wherein a first cap segment comprises an integral end fitting;
b. an outermost discrete carbon fiber overwrap, wherein the carbon fiber overwrap has a variable thickness over different areas of the tank liner; and
c. a middle gas impermeable polymeric permeation barrier, wherein said barrier is located between the gas permeable mandrel substrate and the carbon fiber overwrap.
7. The pressure vessel of claim 6 wherein the gas permeable mandrel substrate is an integral structure.
8. The pressure vessel of claim 6 wherein the cap segments are bonded to the central segments.
9. The pressure vessel of claim 6 wherein the polymeric permeation barrier is flexible, and non-loadbearing.
10. The pressure vessel of claim 9 , wherein the polymeric permeation barrier is a uniform, single layer.
11. The pressure vessel of claim 10 wherein the polymeric permeation barrier is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and polyurea.
12. The pressure vessel of claim 6 , wherein the integral end fitting comprises a metal.
13. A pressure vessel comprising:
a. an innermost, rigid gas permeable mandrel substrate comprising a plurality of segments bonded together, said segments comprising a body, a first dome cap, and a second dome cap, wherein the mandrel substrate is uniform in composition and comprises a non-polymeric material, wherein the gas permeable tank liner comprises a plurality of central segments and a plurality of cap segments and wherein a first cap segment comprises an integral end fitting;
b. a middle, non-loadbearing, uniform, flexible, gas impermeable polymeric permeation barrier covering the gas permeable mandrel substrate; and
c. an outermost fiber overwrap covering the gas impermeable permeation barrier.