CRYOTRUCK – Development and testing of a CRYOGAS hydrogen storage system (CcH2) for use in long-range commercial vehicles

Development, modeling and simulation of a CRYOGAS storage system.

Project Partners
Cryomotive GmbH, MAN Truck & Bus SE , IABG mbH, Lehrstuhl für Anlagen- und Prozesstechnik (TUM), Lehrstuhl für Umformtechnik und Gießereiwesen (TUM)

Duration
01.01.2022 – 31.05.2025

Funding authority
Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr (BMDV)

Motivation
Commercial vehicle manufacturers are striving to make the transition to zero-emission powertrains. Hydrogen technology is a promising solution that is being pursued by a large number of OEM and startup companies. A key challenge for successful implementation is storage technology. The use of hydrogen stored under high pressure and cryogenic temperatures (CRYOGAS) can meet the range and refueling requirements of the transportation industry. This requires the development of large pressure storage systems that can withstand the high mechanical and thermal loads. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) offers the appropriate performance potential for manufacturing such accumulators. The complex material requires comprehensive design in terms of burst pressure and cyclic load capacity, taking into account the manufacturing process.


Method
As part of CRYOTRUCK, TUM-LCC is researching both the material system used and the manufacturing process and design of the CFRP reinforcement of a Type III pressure accumulator with metallic liner. Instead of the usual wet winding process, the winding of pre-impregnated fiber bundles (towpreg) is used. The material will be extensively characterized to determine the influences of the cryogenic environmental conditions. In addition to experimental characterization, a multi-scale virtual characterization approach is developed using numerical methods. This is used for the final design of the layer structure taking into account process-induced defects and the actual fiber deposition. Finally, the results are validated by burst and lifetime tests on full-size pressure accumulators.

Acknowledgement
The Chair is grateful for the funding of the project CRYOTRUCK- Development and testing of a CRYOGAS hydrogen storage system (CcH2) for use in long-distance commercial vehicles." Within the framework of the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Program by the German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport. The funding directive is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich (PtJ). (Funding code: 03B10411E)