Kolon Spaceworks announced on the 7th that its self-developed 54-liter (L) hydrogen fuel tank has obtained R134 certification from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE).
R134 denotes the sales qualification for high-pressure vessel products established by the ECE. To receive R134 certification, the safety of the hydrogen storage system must be verified by passing evaluations regarding the tank's airtightness during collisions, explosion prevention, and thermal stability. Kolon Spaceworks noted that it will officially enter the hydrogen tank market used for hydrogen mobility, including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, based on the R134 certification.
Kolon Spaceworks has internalized the entire value chain of the manufacturing process for hydrogen tanks, from intermediate material development to molding. The plastic liner, which mostly consisted of Japanese products and supports the interior of the hydrogen tank, has been replaced with materials developed by Kolon ENP, a subsidiary of Kolon Group. The composite intermediate material responsible for the rigidity of the hydrogen tank also uses Tow-Preg, which was self-developed by Kolon Spaceworks. Tow-Preg is a material created by infiltrating epoxy resin into high-strength carbon fibers.
Ahn Sang-hyun, representative of Kolon Spaceworks, said, "This certification is a result of our mobility hydrogen storage solutions being recognized for their technological capability and product reliability."