Project description and overview:

Omni Tanker, and partner organisations Lockheed Martin and UNSW, are developing two types of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) tanks for storing and transporting cryogenic liquid propellants.

These will include a Type IV CFRP tank, incorporating a seamless thermoplastic fluoropolymer liner, and a Type V CFRP Linerless tank. The Type IV tank offers extremely broad chemical resistance, improved thermal insulation and low gas permeation. The Type V tank will offer the lightest tank weight with good thermal insulation properties.

The suite of Type IV and Type V CFRP tanks will provide the following benefits to hydrogen and space transport applications:

• Reduced tank mass
• Seamless thermoplastic liner, eliminating breakdown points seen at welded joints
• Extended tank life
• Elimination of relining, resulting in significantly reduced maintenance costs and downtime
• Versatility, as the tanks can two-way load with incompatible liquids
• Structural connection between ‘un-bondable’ thermoplastic liner and CFRP structure
• Reduced permeation through thermoplastic liner
• Improved heat transfer characteristics

For each type of tank, the project tasks include structural design; characterisation of commercially available materials (mechanical, thermal and permeability characteristics); production of small-scale tanks for testing at room temperature and at -196°C in liquid nitrogen; and production and room temperature testing of an operational scale demonstrator. An assessment of commercialisation potential across many sectors will be undertaken for each type of tank.