DSM is set to unveil an all-new material solution for high-pressure hydrogen storage composite tanks in Frankfurt, Germany, this month.
As auto makers continue to invest in hydrogen storage R&D, the Dutch company has announced plans to release a lightweight plastic tank. The two-part design features a blow molded liner made of Akulon Fuel Lock, a polyamide 6-based engineering plastic with a high barrier to hydrocarbons. Additionally, the tank can be further reinforced by wrapping it in UD continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic tapes.
This means that weight can be greatly reduced in comparison to metal, permeation is improved so the gas stays in the tank, and the tank will remain ductile and tough even in temperatures of -40°C.
With hydrogen possessing the highest energy per mass of any fuel, it is becoming more prominent in the automotive industry. And thanks to DSM’s innovation in storage methods the potential energy density is increased.
Bert Keestra, application development engineer at DSM, says of translating technology from CNG tanks to hydrogen tanks, “We had already developed this technology for CNG tanks, and now we are testing the same material and design principles for hydrogen tanks to meet the needs of the automotive industry.”