Overview of Standards on Pressure Cycling Test for On-Board Composite Hydrogen Storage Cylinders

Abstract As the fuel storage component for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, on-board composite hydrogen storage cylinders have developed rapidly in recent years. The safety of on-board composite hydrogen storage cylinders in fuel cell vehicles raises wide concerns in the society. The pressure cycling test is used to simulate repeatedly charging and discharging process of hydrogen storage cylinders in service conditions, verify the fatigue resistance of gas cylinders at ambient temperature or extreme temperature, and to test the impact of extreme temperature conditions on the burst strength of hydrogen storage cylinders. Currently, some relevant standards or standard drafts have been drawn up by the international organizations, which stipulate the ambient cycling test method and extreme temperature cycling test method for on-board composite hydrogen storage cylinders. The pressure cycling test methods of composite hydrogen storage cylinders in various standards were compared and analyzed, such as test object, test medium, environment temperature and humidity requirements, test frequency, cycle pressure range, cycle times, qualification indicators, etc. Furthermore, the problems that need to be further studied in pressure cycling test methods were pointed out. Finally, the corresponding suggestions when deploying the pressure cycling test were given.