SISTEM Tank Assembly

The SISTEM tank design uses a 13-liter cylindrical barrel with two elliptical domes on the top and bottom. The volume of the tank is increased by inflating the structure, thereby increasing its length. Several different functional layers are required to provide fluid containment, pressure containment and insulation for specific applications. Requirements were defined for both conventional fluids as well as cryogenic fluids. The prototype design focused on laboratory demonstration of the pressure storage with conventional fluids.

The tank assembly included:

• A common dome assembly – both the top and bottom domes have the same design and interfaces, with only the fluid fitting and sealing cap being specific additions for each dome.
• Hoop ribbon assembly – these are the reinforcing belts that wrap around the circumference of the bladder. They support the flexible bladder to resist the pressure loads as the tank inflates.
• Meridian ribbon assembly – these are the reinforcing belts that support the tank along the length of the bladder, attaching to the top and bottom domes, and providing a load path between them.
• Bladder for fluid containment – the flexible container that holds the fluid inside the tank.
• Fluidic fitting – the inlet port to provides an interface to allow fluid to flow into and out of the tank from the external system.