Composite Pressure Vessels are batteries for the future Energy. The path we need to follow to reduce carbon footprint.
Topic(s) : Special Sessions
Co-authors :
Pedro VIEIRA (FRANCE), Pedro MENDES , Pedro GRILO (PORTUGAL), Tiago OLIVEIRAAbstract :
Energy. The most important topic in the years to come. A pressure vessel is a battery. If it is used for air, fossil fuels, technical gases, or Hydrogen, it will be widely needed in the future.
So, how to design these pressure vessels to reduce the carbon footprint. Conventional cylinders are manufacture using metallic alloys. From carbon Steel to Aluminium, all these raw materials, have some issues regarding life cycle, the weight and the manufacturing process are the main issues. So, we need pressure vessels, and we need them light, we need to reduce production and during life environmental impact and we need to prepare the product for the end of life.
Composite materials are a key factor in reducing weight. With light materials the weight influence diminishes and that is critical. The setback is that manufacture impact is still considerable and end of life scenarios are not “attractive”.
This is the dilemma. We need light pressure vessels, and we need to reduce carbon footprint.
Changing everything from one day to the other is not the correct path. We need to act now and fast. The best way is to look for what we have, improve to the limit what we have while we redesign everything.
Improving Thermoset solutions using pre-impregnated tows that will reduce immensely the waste and reduce the cleaning agents needed is the first step. Thermoplastic materials are already a reality for some pressure vessels. During life, giving to the cylinders an IoT system that will help reducing inventory and optimizing transport routes. Preparing end of life scenarios, if possible by adding value to the waste, is also very important.
All these small steps will help today while we prepare the future with new materials and new processing techniques.
So, how to design these pressure vessels to reduce the carbon footprint. Conventional cylinders are manufacture using metallic alloys. From carbon Steel to Aluminium, all these raw materials, have some issues regarding life cycle, the weight and the manufacturing process are the main issues. So, we need pressure vessels, and we need them light, we need to reduce production and during life environmental impact and we need to prepare the product for the end of life.
Composite materials are a key factor in reducing weight. With light materials the weight influence diminishes and that is critical. The setback is that manufacture impact is still considerable and end of life scenarios are not “attractive”.
This is the dilemma. We need light pressure vessels, and we need to reduce carbon footprint.
Changing everything from one day to the other is not the correct path. We need to act now and fast. The best way is to look for what we have, improve to the limit what we have while we redesign everything.
Improving Thermoset solutions using pre-impregnated tows that will reduce immensely the waste and reduce the cleaning agents needed is the first step. Thermoplastic materials are already a reality for some pressure vessels. During life, giving to the cylinders an IoT system that will help reducing inventory and optimizing transport routes. Preparing end of life scenarios, if possible by adding value to the waste, is also very important.
All these small steps will help today while we prepare the future with new materials and new processing techniques.