Finite Element Analysis of Composite Natural Gas Storage Vessels

Composite pressure vessels (CPV) are used for large commercial and industrial applications such as softening, filtration and storage. In this study, the design of composite pressure vessels based on "unit load method" along with complete structural analysis and evaluation of additional parameters are performed using finite element commercial code ANSYS. "Unit load method" covers many of the weaknesses of traditional methods and carries out more detailed design using many factors that composite materials provide for designer. The FEM results are compared with experimental ones and a good agreement between them is noticed. By increasing the vessel pressure acceptable and appropriate behavior is observed in strain-pressure curves. As a result, the proposed method can be implemented with acceptable confidence and less cost for comprehensive design of composite pressure vessels.