Natural gas, biogas and to a certain extent hydrogen are used today as alternative fuels for vehicles and in industry. To transport and store these gases Raufoss Fuel Systems (RAFS) makes complete systems mainly using composites and aluminium. Various volumes and sizes are available and are customised for different applications.

RAFS is part of the Hexagon Composites Group, one of the world’s leading companies for the development and manufacture of components and products of composites.Together with it´s sister company, Lincoln Composites, they are a world leader for gas storage systems.

The heart of the systems is composite storage cylinders from 150 litres up to 530 litres. These are used as tanks for vehicle fuel, for gas transport, for storage in industry or as refilling stations.

The majority of the systems are designed for fitting on the roof and are delivered as complete units with valves and pipes ready to be installed and connected. The systems are covered with casings made and fitted by the bus manufacturers themselves.

Fuel storage for buses
Gas as an alternative fuel for heavy transport, especially buses, has developed dramatically over the last few years. Here natural gas is playing an increasingly dominant role while the use of biogas, and in the future hydrogen, will continue to increase. The storage of fuel for buses is an important part of Raufoss Fuel Systems’ business. The majority of bus makers such as MAN, Solaris, Iveco, Volvo and BredaMenarinibus are customers and apart from cylinders, the company delivers complete systems ready to install in the buses.

From two to eight cylinders of 154 litres or 214 litres are fitted together in modules with stands of aluminium extrusions. The majority are designed for fitting on the roof and Raufoss Fuel Systems delivers complete units with valves and pipes ready to be installed and connected. The systems are covered with casings made and fitted by the bus manufacturers themselves. Three aluminium extrusions are used in the gas cylinder stands for the frame, spacers and angles.

The composite cylinders and aluminium extrusion stand are an optimal combination of lightweight materials. The extrusions have an optimal design in terms of strength, weight and torsional stiffness as well as quick and easy assembly and installation.

Large volume, low weight
The composite cylinders and aluminium extrusion stand are an optimal combination of lightweight materials and essential in an application where low weight of the system itself and high strength and volume in relation to weight are of great importance. The demands made on the system, not least for safety, are great and the extrusions have an optimal design in terms of strength, weight and torsional stiffness. Ease of installation is another important factor and the extrusions are designed for rapid assembly, mainly using self-tapping screws. The extrusions are made of a zinc alloy for high strength. The apparently simple, although from the extrusion point of view complicated, geometry means that two of the extrusions are produced in Hydro’s largest press with a force of 7,000 tons.

Close ‘relationship’
Raufoss Fuel Systems and Hydro Aluminium Profiler have a close ‘relationship’ in several respects. Both are sited in the Raufoss Industrial Park and technical development means they work as a team to find the optimal answers that meet the demands for strength, safety and functionality both in terms of jointing and assembly. Composite thoughts for the safe and easy storage of fuels!