Composite pressure vessel assembly and method of manufacturing
A composite pressure vessel assembly includes a plurality of lobes, each of the lobes having at least one interior wall and at least one curved wall, the plurality of lobes being positioned in a side by side arrangement and extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end. Also included is a plurality of end caps disposed at the ends of the lobes, wherein the plurality of lobes and end caps are formed of at least one fiber-reinforced polymer. A method of manufacturing a composite pressure vessel assembly is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of lobes consisting of at least one fiber-reinforced polymer. The method also includes forming a main body with the plurality of lobes, the lobes disposed in a side by side arrangement.
1. A method of manufacturing a composite pressure vessel assembly comprising:
forming a plurality of lobes consisting of at least one fiber-reinforced polymer, wherein forming the plurality of lobes comprises:
shaping and combining at least one preform;
impregnating the preform; and
curing the combined preform; and
forming a main body with the plurality of lobes, the lobes disposed in a side by side arrangement, wherein the plurality of lobes are formed separately and subsequently joined to each other to form the main body.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes includes an end cap integrally formed to a first end and an end cap integrally formed to a second end.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming a preform comprises at least one of braiding, weaving, knitting, or a buildup of layered fabrics.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disposing the preform between an external mold and an internal bladder to form the shape of the plurality of lobes.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes are joined to each other with an adhesive bond.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes are joined to each other with a preformed connector beam that is positioned between adjacent lobes and bonded to the adjacent lobes.
7. A method of manufacturing a composite pressure vessel assembly comprising:
forming a plurality of lobes consisting of at least one fiber-reinforced polymer; and
forming a main body with the plurality of lobes, the lobes disposed in a side by side arrangement, wherein the plurality of lobes are integrally formed to form the main body as a single preform by at least one of braiding, weaving, or knitting.
8. A method of manufacturing a composite pressure vessel assembly comprising:
forming a plurality of lobes consisting of at least one fiber-reinforced polymer,
wherein the plurality of lobes includes a plurality of end caps at each end of the lobes, and the forming the plurality of lobes comprises wrapping a plurality of liners with a short fiber comprising sheet molding compound to form separately wrapped liners;
disposing the wrapped liners in contact with each other in a desired arrangement to form a main body;
wrapping the wrapped liners with an external short fiber comprising sheet molding compound;
applying pressure at internal surfaces of the wrapped liners; and
curing the wrapped liners within an external mold to form a single, integrally formed pressure vessel.
9. A method of manufacturing a composite pressure vessel assembly comprising:
forming a plurality of lobes consisting of at least one fiber-reinforced polymer, wherein the plurality of lobes includes a plurality of end caps, and the forming the plurality of lobes comprises shaping a plurality of preforms with at least one of continuous fiber and short fiber;
combining the plurality of preforms in a side by side arrangement into a single preform to form a main body;
impregnating the single preform with a resin; and
curing the single preform to form a single, integrally formed pressure vessel.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
wrapping a plurality of liners with a combination of continuous fiber pre-impregnated composite material and a short fiber comprising a sheet molding compound; and
curing the single preform within a heated external mold to form a single, integrally formed pressure vessel.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising spraying a short fiber on a liner to form the preform.
12. A method of manufacturing a composite pressure vessel assembly comprising:
forming a plurality of lobes consisting of at least one fiber-reinforced polymer, wherein the plurality of lobes includes a plurality of end caps;
forming a main body with the plurality of lobes, the lobes disposed in a side by side arrangement;
wrapping the plurality of lobes with a continuous fiber pre-impregnated composite material to form a single preform; and
curing the single preform within a heated external mold to form a single, integrally formed pressure vessel.