Pressurised storage for gases

A compressed gas storage vessel comprising a multi-layer sheet metal structure including at least one superplastically expanded sheet metal core layer, the structure having predetermined patterns of solid state diffusion bonds between adjacent sheet metal layers, the at least one expanded core layer defining a plurality of compartments within the vessel for containing the compressed gas and internally bracing the structure to enable said structure to withstand internal pressurization, the vessel having passage flow means in flow communication with the compartments to facilitate charging and discharging of the vessel and the compressed gas, said at least one expanded core layer comprising longitudinally extending linear compartments containing blocks of gas adsorbent material conforming to the cross sectional shape of the compartments.

A manufacturing process for a gas storage vessel, comprising the steps of diffusion bonding a sandwich of at least three sheet metal layers across their interfaces at selected locations in predetermined patterns, then superplastically blow forming the internal structure of the vessel, as defined by the predetermined patterns of diffusion bonding between the layers, to produce a superplastically expanded core structure of the vessel for containing gas, removing an end portion of the vessel to expose the expanded core structure, inserting gas absorbent material into the expanded core structure, and sealing the open end of the vessel by joining a closure piece thereto.

A multi-layer sheet metal structure including at least one superplastically expanded sheet metal core layer, the structure having predetermined patterns of solid state diffusion bonds between adjacent sheet metal layers, the at least one expanded core layer defining a plurality of compartments within the structure and internally bracing the structure to provide said structure with high resistance to deformation, the structure being for use as a compressed gas storage vessel, wherein the compressed gas is stored in the compartments, the structure having passage flow means in flow communication with the compartments to facilitate charging and discharging of the structure with the compressed gas, said vessel comprising at least two sets of compartments, the compartments within each set being connected for mutual exchange, but in which there is no such connection between the different sets, each set of compartments being connected to different passage flow means.

A compressed gas storage vessel comprising a multi-layer sheet metal structure including at least one superplastically expanded sheet metal core layer, the structure having predetermined patterns of solid state diffusion bonds between adjacent sheet metal layers, the at least one expanded core layer defining a plurality of compartments within the vessel for containing the compressed gas and internally bracing the structure to enable said structure to withstand internal pressurization, the vessel having passage flow means in flow communication with the compartments to facilitate charging and discharging of the vessel with the compressed gas, said vessel comprising at least two sets of compartments, the compartments within each set being connected for mutual gas exchange, but in which there is no such connection between the different sets, each set of compartments being connected to different passage flow means.

A multi-layer sheet metal structure including at least one superplastically expanded sheet metal core layer, the structure having predetermined patterns of solid state diffusion bonds between adjacent sheet metal layers, the at least one expanded core layer defining a plurality of compartments within the structure and internally bracing the structure to provide said structure with high resistance to deformation, the structure being for use as a compressed gas storage vessel, wherein the compressed gas is stored in the compartments, the structure having passage flow means in flow communication with the compartments to facilitate charging and discharging of the structure with the compressed gas, at least one of said compartments in said expanded core layer containing gas adsorbent material.

A compressed gas storage vessel comprising a multi-layer sheet metal structure including at least one superplastically expanded sheet metal core layer, the structure having predetermined patterns of solid state diffusion bonds between adjacent sheet metal layers, the at least one expanded core layer defining a plurality of compartments within the vessel for containing the compressed gas and internally bracing the structure to enable said structure to withstand internal pressurization, the vessel having passage flow means in flow communication with the compartments to facilitate charging and discharging of the vessel and the compressed gas, at least one of said compartments in said expanded core layer containing gas adsorbent material.