Scope of Main Business Activities

コンテンツ

Our Research & Development Center conducts contracted tests and research, to enhance high pressure gas and liquefied petroleum gas safety.
Research contracted by the government and other organizations includes design of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composite containers, study on materials used with hydrogen fuel containers and valves for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (HFCV), and development of microcomputer meters for LP gas. The research results have been used as data for preparing standards by the government.

Results of main research & development contracted by the government and other organizations in the field of high pressure gas

	(1) Material for HFCV used under 70 MPa and 35 MPa	(2) Installation distance between hydrogen gas-fueling station and compressed natural gas-fueling station facilities	(3) Metallic material used with 82 MPa hydrogen-fueling station
Specific description	Conducted a material test (external pressure fatigue test) in a high-pressure hydrogen gas atmosphere Project contracted by METI in FY2003 to FY2005 Technical Standards Survey for Fuel Cell Systems Project contracted by METI in FY2006 to FY2010 Technical Standards Survey for Disseminating Fuel Cell Systems	Evaluated the installation distance between hydrogen gas-fueling station and compressed natural gas-fueling station facilities through flame simulation Simulation of hydrogen flame Project contracted by METI in FY2012 Study on Distance between Facilities when compressed natural gas-fueling station is Established Adjacently	Organized the test data on SUS316 austenite-based stainless steel based on nickel equivalents SSRT test Example that did not show deterioration Example that showed deterioration Project contracted by NEDO in FY2009 Study on Basic Physical Properties of Materials Used with Hydrogen
Outcome	Provided necessary data for establishing the exemplified standards for FRP composite containers used under 70 MPa and 35 MPa	Provided necessary data for establishing Section 56-3 of the exemplified standards related to the Ordinance on Safety of General High Pressure Gas	Provided necessary data for revising Section 9 of the exemplified standards related to the Ordinance on Safety of General High Pressure Gas

(1) Material for HFCV used under 70 MPa and 35 MPa

(2) Installation distance between hydrogen gas-fueling station and compressed natural gas-fueling station facilities

(3) Metallic material used with 82 MPa hydrogen-fueling station

Specific description

高圧水素ガス雰囲気において材料試験（外圧疲労試験）を実施イメージ

Conducted a material test (external pressure fatigue test) in a high-pressure hydrogen gas atmosphere

Project contracted by METI in FY2003 to FY2005
Technical Standards Survey for Fuel Cell Systems
Project contracted by METI in FY2006 to FY2010
Technical Standards Survey for Disseminating Fuel Cell Systems

水素火炎のシミュレーションイメージ

Evaluated the installation distance between hydrogen gas-fueling station and compressed natural gas-fueling station facilities through flame simulation

Simulation of hydrogen flame Project contracted by METI in FY2012
Study on Distance between Facilities when compressed natural gas-fueling station is Established Adjacently

Organized the test data on SUS316 austenite-based stainless steel based on nickel equivalents

SSRT test

劣化しない例
Example that did not show deterioration

劣化する例
Example that showed deterioration

Project contracted by NEDO in FY2009
Study on Basic Physical Properties of Materials Used with Hydrogen

Outcome

Provided necessary data for establishing the exemplified standards for FRP composite containers used under 70 MPa and 35 MPa

Provided necessary data for establishing Section 56-3 of the exemplified standards related to the Ordinance on Safety of General High Pressure Gas

Provided necessary data for revising Section 9 of the exemplified standards related to the Ordinance on Safety of General High Pressure Gas

Results of main research and development contracted by the government and other organizations in the field of LP gas

	(1) Development of gas discharge preventing-type valve for containers	(2) Development of microcomputer meters	(3) Standardization of centralized monitoring systems
Specific description	Conducted tests on tension-type and vortex-type gas discharging container valves	Conducted field tests on microcomputer meters aimed at standardization	Standardized the communication systems in line with the development of microcomputer meters
Outcome	Provided necessary data for establishing the standard for device preventing discharge of liquefied petroleum gas (KHKS0719)	Prepared the draft standards for S-type (membrane-type) and E-type (ultrasonic-type) microcomputer meters (KHKS0733, KHKS0741)	Prepared the standard specifications for wired and wireless communication systems

(1) Development of gas discharge preventing-type valve for containers

(2) Development of microcomputer meters

(3) Standardization of centralized monitoring systems

Specific description

Conducted tests on tension-type and vortex-type gas discharging container valves

張力式及び過流式のガス放出型容器用弁の実験を実施イメージ

Conducted field tests on microcomputer meters aimed at standardization

基準化に向けたマイコンメータのフィールドテスト等を実施イメージ

Standardized the communication systems in line with the development of microcomputer meters

マイコンメータの開発と併せて通信規格の標準化を実施イメージ

Outcome

Provided necessary data for establishing the standard for device preventing discharge of liquefied petroleum gas (KHKS0719)

Prepared the draft standards for S-type (membrane-type) and E-type (ultrasonic-type) microcomputer meters (KHKS0733, KHKS0741)

Prepared the standard specifications for wired and wireless communication systems

Comprehensive support for design and development of pressure containers through tests contracted by private-sector entities

Since 1985, our Research & Development Center has accumulated in research and development of FRP composite containers. The Center has conducted tests and research contracted by private-sector entities, which include internal pressure tests using boosters that are among the largest in Japan, and various material tests and structural analysis by finite element methods (FEM). These tests have contributed toward the development of new technologies and products.
We have established an organization capable of comprehensive design and development for FRP composite containers, through our experiences in structural analysis of FRP composite containers by FEM, tensile and fatigue tests on various materials, cycle tests using internal pressure test equipment, and verification experiments for bursting, pressure proof, and other types of tests. We are capable of handling various tasks from acquisition of data on characteristics of FRP materials to consultations regarding type approval tests and batch tests.

Design and analysis utilizing structural analysis by FEM	Hydraulic test, Cycle test and Burst test	Acquisition of data on material characteristics
Example of structural analysis of dome part of a composite container	Internal pressure test on composite vessels, strage tank, etc.	Material testing equipment

List of main equipment in possession

Research & Development Center possesses the following testing equipment and other devices.

Photograph No.	Testing equipment name	Main uses
(1)	140 MPa booster	Cycle test of large-sized pressure container (pressure accumulator and others), etc.
(2)	300 MPa booster	Bursting and pressure proof test of large-sized pressure container (pressure accumulator and others), etc.
(3)	98 MPa booster	Cycle test of small- and medium-sized pressure container (vehicle-mounted container and others), etc.
(4)	180 MPa booster	Bursting and pressure proof test of small- and medium-sized pressure container (vehicle-mounted container and others), etc.
(5)	Electromechanical material testing equipment	Tensile test of metallic and resin materials, transverse shear strength test of FRP, etc.
(6)	Hydraulic material testing equipment	Tensile test and fatigue test for FRP, etc.
(7)	Fatigue testing equipment	Fatigue test of FRP and resin materials, etc.
(8)	Structural analysis software Marc	Structural analysis of pressure container (including composite container), etc.
(9)	Stress rupture testing equipment	Evaluation on time-dependent behavior of FRP, etc.
(10)	3D shape measuring instrument	Detailed dimension measurement of 3D-formed samples, etc.
(11)	Charpy impact testing equipment	Ductility evaluation of metallic materials, etc.
(12)	Simplified electron microscope	Fracture surface observation of metallic materials, etc.
(13)	Video microscope	Surface observation of metallic, plastic and other materials
(14)	Scanning electron microscope + EDS	Fracture surface observation of metallic materials, element mapping, etc.
(15)	Micro-Vickers hardness testing equipment	Hardness measurement on a surface of metallic materials, etc.