The potential of dry winding for rapid, inexpensive manufacture of composite overwrapped pressure vessels

Abstract

We are proposing a methodology for reducing manufacturing time and cost of composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). Dry winding methodology promises to increase bonding speed enabling rapid vessel winding (10 min vs. 3 h with today's wet winding approach) with no need for oven curing. Faster winding is likely to reduce vessel cost due to higher throughput enabling increased productivity from expensive winding machines as well as reduced labor cost per vessel. Tape manufacture in large scale in a central facility minimizes tape handling and distribution costs. Finally, high ratio of fiber to resin reduces resin cost as well as the wall thickness for any necessary strength, increasing the packaging efficiency of the vessel and reducing weight.