Titanium composite pressure vessels for terrestrial use

Storage vessels for pressurised gases or liquids range from low cost welded steel to high technology propellant storage tanks, for example for satellites where tank performance and capacity impact greatly on operational cost and potential revenue. TISICS lightweight high strength titanium matrix composites (TMC) were developed for civil aircraft use where low weight and high performance hugely benefit fuel burn and emissions. Consultation with the space industry has identified TMC pressure vessels as a viable route to reduce weight and increase storage capacity compared to traditional materials i.e. through thinner walls or greater pressure containment. This leads to launch cost savings and increased revenue due to extended communication satellite operational life. Time to market for satellite use is long, thus TISICS aims to capitalise on these benefits by applying them to sub-sea O&G e.g. exploration sampling vessels (where mass and corrosion are issues) and chemical industries (pharmaceutical and electronic, where tank integrity and elimination of contamination are critical) to build a robust business case and accelerate supply chain and manufacturing development. In this study TISICS will model the performance of TMC pressure vessel designs compared too current state of the art and assess manufacturing, cost and regulatory issues. Consultation with end users and designers will address potential market size, competing technologies and identify threats or possible partnership opportunities. The study is expected to lead to prototype pressure vessel development.