Estimate cylinder mass and performance for any volume, working pressure, and safety factor. Compare Type IV (Meyer HDRX) against all-metal and Type III aluminium-lined alternatives. See gravimetric efficiency, PV/W performance factor, and burst pressure all in one view.
ISO 11119-3 minimum is 2.25×. Aerospace programmes typically use 2.5×–3.5× depending on qualification.
Standard quoteable, ISO-compliant carbon — broad availability, no qualification overhead.
NoteThese are conservative estimates based on a representative carbon-fibre layup. Real cylinders are often lighter — switching to higher-tensile-strength fibre (T800, T1000, IM-class) typically saves 10–25% on composite mass, and optimised dome geometry can save more. The numbers shown are a sensible baseline, not a ceiling. For a specification-accurate mass — including your fibre choice, dome shape, and qualification target — request a custom quote.
Burst pressure = working pressure × safety factor. ISO 11119-3 sets the minimum burst ratio at 2.25× working for Type IV cylinders. Aerospace and space programmes typically specify higher safety factors — 2.5× to 3.5× — to give qualification headroom. Higher safety factor means more composite, which means more mass.
PV/W is a single number that captures how efficiently a cylinder uses its mass to store pressurised gas. It’s calculated as (burst pressure × volume) / (cylinder mass), expressed in metres of altitude equivalent. For Type IV COPVs, industry-typical values are 25–35 km. Meyer HDRX cylinders run at 35–40 km — among the highest performance factors in production.
Gravimetric efficiency = (mass of gas stored at working pressure) / (cylinder mass + gas mass), expressed as a percentage. For hydrogen UAV applications, 7–14% is typical depending on working pressure and cylinder design. The number is dominated by gas density at the working pressure, so it rises sharply with pressure.
Mass on a moving platform is never just mass. It’s flight time, payload, range, or fuel consumption.
This calculator gives directional figures based on typical construction. For a real cylinder mass to a real specification — including your exact volume, pressure, materials, fittings, and qualification target — request a custom quote. Detailed enquiries are routed through our engineering team; turnaround depends on the depth of calculation and modelling required, and we will share an indicative timeline when we acknowledge your request.
