Pressure vessels, especially the hydrogen cylinders required for fuel cells, will be a hot spot in 2018 and beyond. The main hydrogen energy and hydrogen economy of Japanese companies have greatly stimulated China and the world. In order to promote hydrogen-fueled vehicles, Toyota has opened all relevant patents for free use worldwide, and its purpose is to form a new industry standard.
35MPA and 70MPA hydrogen cylinders have become the world standard with the vigorous promotion of Japanese companies such as Toyota. With the help of Japanese-made carbon fiber, this promotion will be even more intense.
The core technology of the hydrogen cylinder, in addition to metal valves and various sensors, is mainly light-weight liner materials and molding, as well as high-efficiency, low-cost carbon fiber and winding molding on the outer layer. With regard to the use of plastic liners, most European experts have commented that plastic liners cannot perform their functions during the entire life cycle and there are potential safety hazards. We also do not have the test conclusions of plastic liners in Japan and cannot make a judgment. However, it is believed that polymer coating of polymer materials or polymer liners should solve this problem.
The winding of the outer layer of the gas cylinder may have a revolutionary impact on carbon fiber and its composite materials: First, the amount of consumption, a 500,000 fuel car will require about 30,000 tons, and 3 cars will consume the world in 2018. Carbon fiber demand. Second is the cost. Such a large amount will inevitably make the car company strictly control the cost of carbon fiber and composite materials. Similarly, such a large amount will promote the technological progress of the carbon fiber industry, especially the low-cost production technology. The problem of molding efficiency. Existing wet winding equipment requires revolutionary innovations in material form and efficiency to meet the needs of batch hydrogen bottles.