Advances in 3D Printing: Additively Manufactured Cryogenic Hydrogen Fuel Tank for Airplanes

Advances in 3D Printing: Additively Manufactured Cryogenic Hydrogen Fuel Tank for Airplanes

AIMEN, a European research organization, has achieved a breakthrough in industrial innovation by building the first 3D printed cryogenic fuel tank capable of storing liquid hydrogen at temperatures as low as -250 ℃. The designed tank consists of a dual material system: an inner tank made up of high-performance bio-based Polyamide 11 (PA11) reinforced with natural fibers, which can withstand extremely low temperatures, showcasing thermal resistance while being lightweight, and an outer tank consisting of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, which provides the necessary mechanical strength to support structural loads under cryogenic conditions. The tank was created via large-format, high-precision additive manufacturing in a robotic 3D printing cell with multi-axis robotic arms and equipped with an infrared heating system to ensure proper adhesion between the layers and eliminate the phenomenon of warpage.