Search Results

Lincoln Composites has conducted research to reduce cost and weight of all-composite NGV fuel containers. This research was conducted in cooperation with Battelle and others under GRI funding. Heavy tow carbon fiber was investigated as a means of reducing material cost. Advantex® glass fiber was evaluated as a replacement for conventional E-glass. Changes to the dome contour reduced fiber stresses due to bending. Other design and manufacturing issues were addressed. The design was finalized and passed all required NGV2 qualification tests, which were conducted by Powertech Labs. The overall program goals for cost and weight were achieved.

Studies have been published which address fast filling of Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) fuel containers. Diggins states that NGV fuel containers cannot be fully filled during a fast fill, and that all-composite fuel containers cannot be filled as full as other types of fuel containers. There are issues in this prior work which may have a significant effect on the author’s conclusions. Fast fill testing conducted by Powertech Labs shows the Lincoln Composites’ fuel container has significantly better fill performance than projected by Diggins. Testing of a dispenser control system by Kountz and Blazek demonstrates all types of fuel containers can be properly filled with proper dispenser control algorithms and performance.