Type IV Compressed Hydrogen Tanks - Design, Materials, and Manufacturing

Hydrogen has become a key element in the global energy transition, as an energy carrier . It can be produced from a variety of sources, including renewable energies such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power. It enables energy to be stored and transported in a compact, stable form, which can then be converted on demand into electricity or heat. Fuel cells, which convert hydrogen into electricity with minimal emissions, illustrate this capability, making hydrogen a promising replacement for fossil fuels.

However, one of the main obstacles to the use of hydrogen is its storage, which must meet stringent safety and durability requirements, while at the same time being inexpensive . This is particularly important for applications in the transport sector, where the weight and volume of the storage system directly influence the energy efficiency and performance of vehicles.

Tanks for storing compressed hydrogen have evolved from Type I to Type IV, each offering specific advantages in terms of weight, cost and safety.

Type I tanks are the simplest in terms of design. Manufactured entirely from steel or aluminum, these tanks are robust and relatively inexpensive. Their metal structure ensures the high pressure resistance required for safe high-pressure storage. However, their main drawback is their high weight, which makes them less suitable for mobile applications such as hydrogen-powered vehicles. They are often used in fixed installations, such as hydrogen filling stations, and in various industrial applications where robustness is more important than lightness.

Type II tanks are an improvement on Type I tanks in terms of weight reduction. They are built with a metal base (aluminum or steel) reinforced by composite materials such as glass or carbon fibers. This hybrid structure retains the strength of metal, while taking advantage of the lightness of composites. These tanks are often used in fuel cell vehicles such as buses and trucks, as well as in industrial applications requiring a good compromise between cost and performance.

Type III tanks use a metal liner, often aluminum, wrapped in robust composite materials such as carbon fiber. This combination significantly reduces weight, while offering high resistance to pressure....