The COMFHY project focuses on the development of advanced simulation, testing and instrumentation techniques for the design of future composite tanks for hydrogen storage. The main sector targeted is transport applications where hydrogen needs to be stored in a lightweight composite tank under very high pressure (700 bar). Certification requirements are very stringent and require passing very expensive static burst pressure tests, fatigue tests and impact tests when dropped from low heights. Much trial-and-error is still used in the design of new tanks and many full-scale tests are needed to meet certification requirements. This project aims to (i) develop predictive simulations for fatigue and impact of full-scale tanks, (ii) partially replace full-scale tests with representative tests at subcomponent level, (iii) validate new systems for inspection and monitoring of full-scale tanks, and (iv) propose new designs for composite tanks with a smaller ecological
footprint and better recyclability for pressurised hydrogen storage.