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Permeation barrier for lightweight liquid hydrogen tanks

Abstract

For the future usage of hydrogen as an automotive fuel, its on-board storage is crucial. One approach is the storage of liquid hydrogen (LH2, 20 K) in double-walled, vacuum insulated tanks. The introduction of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) as structural material enables a high potential of reducing the weight in comparison to the state-of-the-art stainless steel tanks. The generally high permeability of hydrogen through plastics, however, can lead to long-term degradation of the insulating vacuum. The derived objective of this dissertation was to find and apply an adequate permeation barrier (liner) on CFRP. The investigated liners were either foils adhered on CFRP specimens or coatings deposited on CFRP specimens. The coatings were produced by means of thermal spraying, metal plating or physical vapor deposition (PVD). The materials of the liners included Al, Au, Cu, Ni and Sn as well as stainless steel and diamond-like carbon. The produced liners were tested for their permeation behavior, thermal shock resistance and adherence to the CFRP substrate. Additionally, SEM micrographs were used to characterize and qualify the liners. The foils, although being a good permeation barrier, adhered weakly to the substrate. Furthermore, leak-free joining of foil segments is a challenge still to be  More>>
Authors:
Publication Date:
Apr 16, 2007
Product Type:
Thesis/Dissertation
Report Number:
ETDE-DE-1838
Resource Relation:
Other Information: TH: Diss.
Subject:
08 HYDROGEN; LIQUEFIED GASES; HYDROGEN; TANKS; AUTOMOTIVE FUELS; HYDROGEN STORAGE; FIBERS; PERMEABILITY; PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION; THERMAL SHOCK; REINFORCED PLASTICS; DECOMPOSITION; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; LINERS; ALUMINIUM; COPPER; TIN; NICKEL; CARBON; GOLD; STAINLESS STEELS
OSTI ID:
21071375
Research Organizations:
Augsburg Univ. (Germany). Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultaet
Country of Origin:
Germany
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
TRN: DE08G9435
Availability:
Commercial reproduction prohibited; OSTI as DE21071375
Submitting Site:
DE
Size:
159 pages
Announcement Date:
Sep 04, 2008

Citation Formats

Schultheiss, D. Permeation barrier for lightweight liquid hydrogen tanks. Germany: N. p., 2007. Web.
Schultheiss, D. Permeation barrier for lightweight liquid hydrogen tanks. Germany.
Schultheiss, D. 2007. "Permeation barrier for lightweight liquid hydrogen tanks." Germany.
@misc{etde_21071375,
title = {Permeation barrier for lightweight liquid hydrogen tanks}
author = {Schultheiss, D}
abstractNote = {For the future usage of hydrogen as an automotive fuel, its on-board storage is crucial. One approach is the storage of liquid hydrogen (LH2, 20 K) in double-walled, vacuum insulated tanks. The introduction of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) as structural material enables a high potential of reducing the weight in comparison to the state-of-the-art stainless steel tanks. The generally high permeability of hydrogen through plastics, however, can lead to long-term degradation of the insulating vacuum. The derived objective of this dissertation was to find and apply an adequate permeation barrier (liner) on CFRP. The investigated liners were either foils adhered on CFRP specimens or coatings deposited on CFRP specimens. The coatings were produced by means of thermal spraying, metal plating or physical vapor deposition (PVD). The materials of the liners included Al, Au, Cu, Ni and Sn as well as stainless steel and diamond-like carbon. The produced liners were tested for their permeation behavior, thermal shock resistance and adherence to the CFRP substrate. Additionally, SEM micrographs were used to characterize and qualify the liners. The foils, although being a good permeation barrier, adhered weakly to the substrate. Furthermore, leak-free joining of foil segments is a challenge still to be solved. The metal plating liners exhibited the best properties. For instance, no permeation could be detected through a 50 {mu}m thick Cu coating within the accuracy of the measuring apparatus. This corresponds to a reduction of the permeation gas flow by more than factor 7400 compared to uncoated CFRP. In addition, the metal platings revealed a high adherence and thermal shock resistance. The coatings produced by means of thermal spraying and PVD did not show a sufficient permeation barrier effect. After having investigated the specimens, a 170 liter CFRP tank was fully coated with 50 {mu}m Cu by means of metal plating. (orig.)}
place = {Germany}
year = {2007}
month = {Apr}
}