Vacuum manufacture of cryogenic pressure vessels for hydrogen storage

A method of manufacturing a cryogenic pressure vessel, the method comprising:

• providing a metal lined, composite wrapped vessel, the metal lined, composite wrapped vessel having a boss;
• securing an inlet to the boss;
• encapsulating the metal lined, composite wrapped vessel within a metallic layer in a vacuum controlled environment to form an encapsulated inner tank subassembly;
• within the controlled vacuum environment, applying a metal coating over the encapsulated inner tank subassembly;
• wrapping a multi-layer insulation (MLI) blanket on the encapsulated inner tank subassembly to form an MLI wrapped inner tank subassembly;
• and
• within the controlled vacuum environment, encapsulating the MLI wrapped inner tank subassembly within a metallic vacuum jacket.

A method of manufacturing a cryogenic pressure vessel, the method comprising:

• providing a metal lined, composite wrapped vessel, the metal lined, composite wrapped vessel having a boss;
• securing an inlet to the boss;
• encapsulating the metal lined, composite wrapped vessel within a metallic layer in a vacuum controlled environment to form an encapsulated inner tank subassembly;
• securing at least one support to an exterior of the encapsulated inner tank subassembly;
• within the controlled vacuum environment, applying a metal coating over the encapsulated inner tank subassembly and the at least one support to form a metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly;
• and
• within the controlled vacuum environment, encapsulating the metal coated, encapsulated inner tank subassembly within a metallic vacuum jacket, which forms the cryogenic pressure vessel.