The role of layer thickness in thin-ply thermoplastic composites for safe and sustainable hydrogen storage in Type V tanks
by Fatih Ertuğrul Öz
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
DATE : October 25, 2024 (Friday)
TIME : 14:00-15:00
LINK : https://bulive.bogazici.edu.tr/b/cet-sui-csg-pjc
Abstract:
Countries and companies aim for "net zero commitment" by eliminating fossil fuel emissions until 2050. Hydrogen has emerged as a key clean energy source, benefiting from the existing infrastructure for fossil fuel transportation and storage. One major challenge is storing hydrogen with high volumetric density, especially for mobility applications. Coupling clean energy requirements with sustainability considerations makes thermoplastic composites attractive for hydrogen storage tanks, with Type V pressure vessels offering a promising linerless, lightweight solution. Key design factors for these tanks are high flexural strength/stiffness and low permeability to ensure safety and prevent failure and leakage during operation. Thin-ply composites can delay damage onset under flexural loads and act as effective gas barriers against gas molecules during storage. However, the mechanical behavior of thin-ply thermoplastic composites and their characteristics against hydrogen remains underexplored. This presentation will provide an overview of how the layer thickness of thin-ply carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 6 (CF/PA6) laminates influences crystallinity, affecting the interrelation between flexibility and hydrogen permeability, and ultimately enhancing the safety and storage performance of Type V tanks.
Short Bio:
Fatih Ertuğrul Öz received the B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from Istanul Technical University in 2008 and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Boğaziçi University, in 2012 and 2018, respectively. He specialized in structural health monitoring (SHM) and damage detection in composite structures using acoustic emission technique during his Ph.D. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), where his research focuses on thin-ply thermoplastic composites for hydrogen storage. He also serves as the non-destructive testing (NDT) lead for the ENERCOMP consortium, sponsored by KAUST and Saudi Aramco. Prior to this, he held various industry roles and participated in numerous R&D projects related to composite technologies for aerospace and automotive applications. He also taught engineering courses at multiple universities.
