Aimen Expertise Centre has accomplished the 3D printing of a cryogenic tank demonstrator for the OVERLEAF mission. The Spanish group manufactured a 1.5-meter-diameter interior tank designed to retailer liquid hydrogen (LH2) at extraordinarily low temperatures for future plane purposes. The mission is led by Aciturri, a Spanish aeronautics firm engaged on hydrogen storage options.
The tank design encompasses a dual-component system combining an additively manufactured thermoplastic interior vessel with an outer carbon fiber construction. The interior part maintains the liquid hydrogen at cryogenic temperatures, whereas the carbon fiber exterior offers structural integrity. Aimen utilized large-format additive manufacturing with excessive precision to create the interior tank.
“This can be a technological answer that can mark a earlier than and after within the manufacturing of elements for sustainable aviation,” mentioned Pablo Romero, workforce chief of the Additive Manufacturing of Composites R&D group at Aimen. The manufacturing course of required over 100 hours of steady printing in a specialised robotic cell developed by Aimen. Actual-time monitoring with thermal cameras ensured high quality management all through the prolonged construct.
The manufacturing cell included high-performance 3D printing techniques alongside infrared heating expertise to make sure correct adhesion between layers. This technical strategy was obligatory to satisfy the demanding necessities for hydrogen storage techniques in aviation purposes. The tank represents a major step towards enabling hydrogen as an aviation gasoline supply.
Aimen collaborated with French analysis middle Canoe to develop a brand new sustainable materials for the mission. The bio-based thermoplastic strengthened with pure fibers permits for printing sturdy, light-weight buildings with lowered environmental impression. This materials improvement aligns with the broader targets of making extra sustainable aviation applied sciences.
Supply: compositesworld.com