COMPOSITE LPG CYLINDERS

By

Trond Inge Flønes

Regional Export Manager Asia Pacific

www.hexagon.no

DEVOLD AMT

Fiber

reinforcements

for Windmill

Blades, Ships and

Aircrafts

LINCOLN

COMPOSITES

CNG containers

for Automotive

Fuel Systems

HEXAGON

COMPOSITES

Fully owned subsidiary of Hexagon Composites 100 Employees

Situated in Raufoss, Norway ISO 9001 certified

1st cylinder introduced in 2000 Established in 1997

Aircrafts

RAGASCO

Composite

containers for

LPG distribution

RAFS A.S.

CNG containers

for Automotive

Fuel Systems

Fuel Systems

Annual Production

1000000

1200000

1400000

1600000

0

200000

400000

600000

800000Yearly Production

Yearly Production 139704 142022 176416 180087 195580 380000 352000 721000 1000000 1250000 1570000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

2008 ESTIMATE

1 MILLION UNITS

Our HistoryCNG SYSTEMS

BUSSES & OTHER VEHICLESDEFENSE PROJECTS

Missile fuselages

LPG CYLINDERS

LPG DISTRIBUTION

1990’s1980’s 2000

Specifications of range

CAPACITY

PROPANE

BUTANE

5KG

6KG

7.5KG

8.5KG

10KG

12KG

14KG

16.5KG

TARE WEIGHT

WITHOUT VALVE

3.6KG 4.2KG 5.1KG 7.9KG

WATER CONTENT 12.5L 18,2L 24.5L 33.5L

HEIGHT 400mm 461mm 587mm 720mm

DIAMETER 305mm 305mm 307mm 307mm

AVAILABILITY In Market In Market In Market In Market

3 layer technical description

12 3

The seamless polymer liner

for gas containment acts as a

gas barrier

The fiber structure holds

the pressure and prevents

the burst of the pressure

vessel under extreme

conditions

The fully integrated outer casing

protects the valve, the pressure vessel

and from the environment around it.

This gives COMPLET® its unique and

dynamic appearance

Manufacturing process

HDPE Liner

Blow Molded

Fiber glass layer

Filament winding

&

Oven Curing

Test Process

Pneumatic pressure

test (30 / 33bar)

&

Tightness Test

(18bar with helium)

HDPE Casing

Injection molding

3 pieces

&

Mechanical Joint

Liner with brass insert

Composite Layer

Casing

Valve/Cylinder InterfaceInjection molded HDPE boss with brass insert

HDPE BOSS BRASS INSERT

BRASS INSERT

COVERED BY

COMPOSITE LAYERBOSS WELDED WITH LINER

Valve/Cylinder Interface

Standard Interface

Dependent on country

M26 or M34 thread and O-

ring for tightnessring for tightness

LPG Flow diffuser to

eliminate any risk of charge

from static electricity

Applications

HouseholdHousehold

Applications

Motor

Fuel

Distributor advantages

Distributor advantagesATTRACTIVE SALES POINTS

Consumer Advantages

Fire Resistance

• WITHOUT PRESSURE RELEASE DEVICE

• After 1-2 minutes - The casing and liner will start melting.

• After 3-5 minutes the LPG will start burning off in a controlled manner through fissures in the

• WITH PRESSURE RELEASE DEVICE

• After 1-2 minutes – The casing and lining will start melting and the PRD will open when the pressure is high enough (dependant on the intensity of the fire) The PRD will open and manner through fissures in the

cylinder wall

the fire) The PRD will open and close to aliviate pressure and burn off the LPG when open.

• After 3 – 5 minutes the LPG will start burning off in a controlled manner through fissures I the cylinder wall.

STEEL CYLINDERS WILL EXPLODE IN THE FIRST CASE

&

MAY EXPLODE IN THE SECOND CASE

FIRE RESISTANCE TEST

Comparative Fire test of RAGASCO Composite compared and Steel CylinderComparative Fire test of RAGASCO Composite compared and Steel Cylinder

RESULT

Ragasco Composite: Controlled LPG Burn Off, NO EXPLOSION

Steel: EXPLOSION

Market Experience

• HISTORY

– 2000–’01: Norway, Sweden,

Denmark, Finland

– 2003: Global Supply

Contract with BP Gas

International

– 2004: UK, Switzerland,

Portugal, Iceland, Benelux

• EXPERIENCE

– The composite cylinders

enters into a premium

market

– After a period of 1-2 years,

the composite cylinders will

occupy a stable part of the

market.Portugal, Iceland, Benelux

– 2005: Poland, Nigeria,

Austria, Tahiti

– 2006: USA, France

– 2007: Canada

– 2008: Mexico, Italy,

Venezuela, Vietnam,

Albania

market.

– After 5 – 10 years, the

composite segment can be

as much as 50% of all new

fillings.

Market Experience

European Union – Pi mark

ADR/RID (EN12245) USA

DOT Exemption 12706

Approval Record

Other approvals in: Canada, Nigeria, Malaysia, South Africa, India, Vietnam, Mexico,

Venezuela etc

Business DevelopmentINITIAL SUPPLY OF CYLINDERS FROM RAUFOSS, NORWAY

PILOT PROJECT AND EVALUATION

IF OK

FOR MARKET DEMAND OF LESS

THAN 700 00 UNITS PER ANNUM:

CYLINDERS SUPPLIED FROM

RAGASCO, NORWAY

FOR MARKET DEMAND OF MORE

THAN 700 000 PER ANNUM

LOCAL MANUFACTURING. LOCAL

PARTNER & RAGASCO/HEXAGON

(MIN 51%)

IF OK

SUPPLY OF CYLINDERS FROM RAGASCO, NORWAY