Range extension by use of a package-effective CNG-Tank in honeycomb design

Kurzfassung

The demand for fossil fuels has increased dramatically in recent years. Coupled with the swift rise in crude oil prices, ever greater emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2 mean that the search for alternatives to fossile fuels based petrol and diesel is essential. The intensified use of natural gas represents an interesting medium-term alternative because, as well as offering a drastic reduction in fuel costs by more than 50%, it also allows a vehicle's CO2 emissions to be reduced by up to 20%, as compared to petrol. Within the scope of the project “Lightweight load-bearing components demonstrated in the form of a gas tank”, which is supported by the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, the german aerospace center’s institute of vehicle concepts, along with 9 partners from research and industry, is developing a CNG-honeycomb-tank intended for storage of CNG or biogas. The tank is made of short-fibre – reinforced thermoplastic with local reinforcements of continuous fibres. Since it is made of multiple interconnected chambers, its shape can be changed to best fit into an existing installation space within the vehicle, leading to an increase in storage capacity of up to 50%. This increase in storage efficiency is combined with a lower price and weight than conventional CNG-storage systems. As proof of the tank’s capabilities a burst test will be conducted in accordance with regulation R 110, using a demonstrator-tank with 9 chambers. This test will presumably be conducted in fall of 2010. The development of the new honeycomb-tank provides a technological advantage in the field of sustainable mobility, particularly because of the increase in storage capacity. The technologies developed during the course of this project can not only pave the way for future storage concepts for gaseous fuel but also make a contribution to extending the application of fibre-reinforced thermoplastic materials to load-bearing components in general.