DESIGN AND FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF FRP LPG CYLINDER

Abstract

This paper entails the design and finite element analysis (FEA) of a LPG cylinder made of E-glass fiber, vinylester resin and HDPE plastic composite The liner of the cylinder is made of HDPE plastic (blow moulding grade) and wound with continuous fiber E-glass composite with vinyl-ester polymer matrix. The cylinder cover is also made of HDPE plastic. The LPG cylinder was designed and tested for burst pressure of 3 MPa. The thickness of the cylinder was established to be 3.5 mm (1.5 mm of liner and 2 mm of FRP composite layer) using Abaqus software based FEA. Various design concepts were worked out alongwith a financial viability analysis. A strong, light, rust proof and semi-transparent LPG cylinder was aimed to be designed in this paper focusing on the use in the South African context.