A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 2 2 Value Manufacturing (HVM) cross- catapult Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII). This collaboration brings together the strengths and capabilities of the Catapult innovation centers to support growth in the U.K. hydrogen supply chain, overcome technology and integration challenges, and establish an effective British hydrogen infrastructure. As part of the NCC led Digital Engineering Technology & Innovation (DETI) and Hydrogen programs, multidisciplinary optimization (MDO) has been applied to the design of a Type IV composite hydrogen pressure vessel (Fig. 2). The design of composite pressure vessels is concerned with four main aspects: structural performance, manufacturing, weight, and cost. Among the constraints, the design must meet a minimum burst pressure, a minimum fatigue life, and a maximum permeance rate, typically prescribed by regulatory codes. Design objectives include maximizing the hydrogen-to-tank-weight ratio and minimizing cost to make the product competitive in the marketplace. The sustainability potential of materials and manufacturing processes used should also be considered early in the design process (Fig. 3). Following an aspect-based decomposition of the system, setup of the pressure vessel MDO involved the identification of the analysis modules and software tools required to evaluate the product performance against constraints and objectives. A data structure matrix was used to map the relationship, or coupling, between the analysis modules and support the definition of a process flow for the optimization of the pressure vessel. A design space optimization platform was used to conduct the MDO exercise. Previous research undertaken within the DETI program involved the assessment of a range of commercial industry software available. HEEDS MDO, a design space exploration and optimization software from the Simcenter portfolio produced by Siemens Digital Industries Software, was the platform selected for the implementation of this MDO process. Fig. 2 — Composite hydrogen pressure vessel used in the digital design trial. Fig. 3 — A composite hydrogen pressure vessel made from reclaimed carbon fiber at the National Composites Centre. ABOUT NCC The National Composites Centre (NCC) is the U.K.’s world-leading composite research and development facility; where innovators come when they need to make things lighter, stronger, smarter, and more sustainable. Its key focus areas are advanced composites, digital engineering, hydrogen, and sustainability. With access to “beyond” state-of-the-art technology and the best composites engineering capabilities in the world, the NCC collaborates with customers to solve the most complex engineering challenges of our time. Part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the NCC works across all manufacturing sectors and has forged strong links with aerospace, energy, defense, space, construction, infrastructure, auto, rail, marine, and biomedical. It works with organizations across the board frommicro enterprises and SMEs to disrupters, the supply chain, and OEMs, providing businesses with a derisked environment to design, develop, test, and scale their ideas and get them to market fast. For more information, visit nccuk.com. ABOUT DETI Digital Engineering Technology & Innovation (DETI) is a research, innovation, and skills initiative that is developing and accelerating digital engineering across multiple industry sectors—to benefit future generations of engineers and engineering products, and to help tackle global challenges. DETI is a strategic program of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), delivered by the National Composites Centre (NCC) in partnership with the Centre for Modelling & Simulation (CFMS), Digital Catapult, the University of the West of England (UWE), the University of Bristol, and the University of Bath. WECA funding of £5m is match funded by the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and industry. DETI is showcasing world class digital engineering practice and concepts on industrial scale test beds, enabling industry to engineer sustainable high-performance products, with reduced cost and time to market. Part of the U.K.’s action plan for digital transformation, it capitalizes on the West of England’s highly collaborative network of R&D, academia, and industry, bringing together leading companies, technology disruptors and universities to push the boundaries of the digitally enabled engineering of the future. For more information, visit www.deti.uk or email deti@nccuk.com.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTYyMzk3NQ==