The application of Multi-Disciplinary Optimisation (MDO) techniques to a composite hydrogen pressure vessel has resulted in identifying an optimum design five times faster than a traditional, sequential approach. Offering a new approach to redesigning and remaking sustainable products, it enables increased agility and opportunities to innovate faster, driving competitive advantage and engineering leadership.
Undertaken as part of Digital Engineering Technology & Innovation (DETI), a strategic programme of the West of England Combined Authority, the project demonstrates the significant opportunity to address all design elements of a product at the same time, resulting in superior design, lower development costs, faster new product introduction, and the ability to refine specific features to meet contrasting demands of different applications.
Hydrogen is emerging as one of the most promising solutions for achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the design of composite pressure vessels for transport and storage drawing increasing interest within industry. The NCC is part of a multi-partner collaboration called the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII), which brings together the strengths and capabilities of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult Network and partner innovation centres to accelerate innovation, develop growth in the UK hydrogen supply chain and overcome technology and integration challenges to establish an effective UK hydrogen economy.
The proof-of-concept can be easily applied to other products and sectors, adapting the automated design process to quickly explore and optimise designs that address different objectives under a different set of constraints.
Marc Funnell, Director of Digital Engineering at the NCC, “We have demonstrated the potential efficiencies in product, process and productivity that can be achieved to accelerate digital engineering transformation. Through DETI and Digital Engineering at the NCC, our proof-of-concepts and test beds help manufacturers to innovate, develop and de-risk rapidly configurable projects and industrial digital technologies before investment."
