Alternate Fuel Storage & Transportation Solutions
Evolution of Compressed Natural Gas Storage
With the impending Euro 6 implementation in India by
April,2020 the emission norms are getting stricter for the
automotive sector.
Due to technology limitations of ICE vehicles, already
automotive OEMs are moving out of some Diesel segments as it
becomes unviable for them.
The plausible way out is with Alternate Fuel Systems (H2, CNG,
Bio-CNG, HCNG) which can match & also exceed the Euro 6
norms.
It is estimated that by 2025, 50% of the vehicles in India would be running on Alt Fuel.
To provide safe & sturdy storage, Composite Type 3 Cylinders are expected to be the front runners due to their several advantages
apart from Light Weighting & superior DGE.
Types of Pressure Vessel
Type 1 steel tanks are the most common (>90%worldwide)
• Heritage: Industrial gas storage tanks
• Economies of scale in small diameters
Hoop-wrapped & full-wrapped tanks (Type 2 & Type 3) have load-sharirig between metal and composite.Composite materials provide weight reduction.
All-composite tanks (Type 4) yield further weight reduction, however there is constant permeation, weak neck which may lead to potential stress due to thermal & mechanical activities.
Light Weighting solution with Composite Type 3 Cylinders – Aluminum Shell With Full Carbon Wrap for On-Board & Multi Element Gas Containers (MEGCs).
Why Type 3 Cylinders
• 25-28% more usable gas under “Fast Fill”
• Lower cost per usable DGE
• Gas-tight liner, no gas permeation
• Increased durability for rugged environments and side impact resistance
• Higher safety factor compared many Type 4’s
• Ductile versus brittle failure mode
• Higher thermal conductivity
Applications for High Pressure Storage Systems
| Pressure Range | Service / Application |
|---|---|
| 200 Bar (2900 Psi) | NG Automotive Fuel |
| 223 Bar (3200 Psi) | NG Transport |
| 250 Bar (3600 Psi) | Storage at NG Filling Station & for Oxygen Storage & Transport |
| 350 Bar (5000 Psi) | Hydrogen Bus & Truck Fuel |
| 450 Bar (6500 Psi) | Hydrogen Transport & Filling Station |
| 700 Bar (10100 Psi) | Hydrogen Filling Station |
Compressed Natural Gas Market
| Country | Natural Gas Vehicles(a) | N/m³monthly sales average | Refuelling stations | Tank Technologies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | 2,859,386 | 467,000,000 | 1,800 | Type 1 |
| Pakistan | 2,850,500 | - | 3,300 | Type 1 |
| Argentina | 2,044,131 | 240,225,000 | 1,902 | Type 1,3 |
| Brazil | 1,702,790 | 165,210,000 | 1,792 | Type 1 |
| India | 1,100,000 | - | 683 | Type 1 |
| Italy | 761,340 | 62,030,000 | 858 | Type 1, 2,3 |
| China | 600,000 | - | 2,500 | Type 1, 3, 4 |
| Colombia | 348,747 | 45,000,000 | 651 | Type 1 |
| Uzbekistan | 310,000 | - | 175 | Type 1 |
| Thailand | 267,735 | - | 444 | Type 1 |
| Armenia | 244,000 | 26,520,000 | 345 | Type 1 |
| Ukraine | 200,019 | 83,000,000 | 294 | Type 1 |
| Bangladesh | 200,000 | 59,470,000 | 600 | Type 1 |
| Egypt | 162,000 | 38,000,000 | 143 | Type 1 |
| Bolivia | 140,400 | 26,278,135 | 156 | Type 1 |
| Peru | 122,221 | 16,301,370 | 170 | Type 1 |
| USA | 112,000 | 105,000,000 | 1,100 | Type 1, 3, 4 |
| Russia | 100,053 | 28,750,000 | 250 | Type 1 |
| Germany | 94,890 | 14,600,000 | 900 | Type 1, 3, 4 |
| Venezuela | 90,000 | 8,152,054 | 166 | Type 1 |