Manufacture with laser welding jointing, and ultrasonic measurement, on hydrogen storage units (LUV) - step 2

Purpose and goal

Hydrogen’s future as a viable energy source is limited by the current difficulty of storing and transporting efficiently and safely as it requires high-pressure tanks. The project helps solve this problem by introducing a new load-bearing isotropic lightweight structure, ILS® and develop a novel resource-efficient welding method to enable production with ILS®. The project will also develop a non-destructive technique, based on ultrasound, for monitoring and verification of the welded joints.

Expected effects and result

ILS® high-strength steel has the potential to be implemented in various demanding environments and applications, due to its elasticity, scalability, and lightweight. The potential is considered high, and a possible world market is identified. The developed welding solution enables the manufacture of more complex structures with increased productivity, reduced energy and where access to adding additives is limited. The use of ILS® for the storage and transport of hydrogen reduces the use of resources and will contribute to the development of a greener automotive industry.

Planned approach and implementation

The project has continuous follow-up meetings to plan and inform about the development of the project. Information dissemination also takes place via scientific journal articles and conferences. The project start by studying three different welding methods and select one for further development and industrial implementation. At the same time, ultrasound-based test methods will be developed and evaluated during welding. The final project result is presented in a report that describes the developed welding method, the ultrasonic method and test results of the ILS® structure.