Thermoplastic Composites (TPCs) for Cryogenic Hydrogen Tanks

This project will provide the highly trained personnel needed to enable UK-based industry to tackle the challenges in decarbonising major industrial sectors such as transport (automotive, aerospace), energy intensive manufacturing (such as steel, glass) and heating through innovative and inventive uses of existing energy infrastructure, making new products and transmitting energy in new ways or in new forms. More specifically, this PhD will investigate manufacturing technologies for composite pressure vessels (type 4 & 5). manufacturing for hydrogen storage, initially at ambient temperature moving to liquid hydrogen.

As a brief description of the project, we will look into: - The assessment of welding techniques for metal fitting attachment to TPC tanks for cryogenic storage of hydrogen. - The downselection of polymer composite tank wall and metal boss manufacturing and welding technologies. - The design, manufacture and testing of material coupons - permeation and pressure testing.

- The cryogenic performance of coupons and welded joints.