DYNOVAS INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N221-076

Description

Dynovas’ High Efficiency Linerless Pressurized Gas Storage (HELP-GAS) system is specifically designed to deliver a gaseous hydrogen storage system for UASs that stores compressed hydrogen at greater than 7% weight efficiency for maximum expected operating pressures (MEOPs) between 350 bar and 700 bar. Additionally, the HELP-GAS system reduces the cost of hydrogen storage systems by eliminating the liner and allowing the use of standard or even low-cost carbon fibers not traditionally seen in Type I-IV pressure vessels due to the weight and performance constraints. Overall, Dynovas’ HELP-GAS technology achieves an 8+ wt% of GH2 storage masses greater than 200g at a 25%+ reduction in overall cost for low quantity productions seen for UAS applications.   The WELP-GAS system leverages four (4) technologies to achieve weight and packaging efficiencies that current commercially available systems cannot: (1) Type V pressure vessel configuration, (2) utilizing matrix additives to reduce microcracking and increase pressurization cycles capability (3) utilization of the pressure vessel as part of the structure of the UA, and (4) utilization of non-traditional geometries to increase the spatial utilization of the integrated pressure vessel system. These four innovations, when combined, will allow spatial utilization and weight efficiencies greater than the Type IV pressure vessels currently being utilized in hydrogen fuel cell systems. When realized, Dynovas’ HELP-GAS system will provide the Navy with the capability to utilize hydrogen fuel cell powered propulsion in applications that were previously not possible.   The Dynovas team has over 20 years of filament wound pressure vessel heritage developing novel pressurized storage and rocket motor case solutions. Based on Dynovas’ heritage in developing pressure vessels, the output of the Phase I base program will be a design that has attained technology readiness level (TRL) 3 for the desired performance. The proposed Phase I option program will identify key characteristics of the HELP-GAS system and perform validation testing on an as built subscale manufacturing risk mitigation article bringing the HELP-GAS system to TRL 4. Results of the validation testing along with increased material testing will ensure success when transitioning to the Phase II prototype system build. The Phase I base combined with the Phase I option will serve to ready the HELP-GAS system for ultimate attainment of TRL 6 in Phase II.