A pressure vessel assembly, and method of use, for storing a gas at an elevated
pressure. The assembly includes a vessel body having a rigid wall with an inner
surface defining a storage chamber and with an inlet allowing the gas to enter
the storage chamber. The assembly includes a flexible liner positioned within the
storage chamber to be in fluid communication with the inlet to receive any fluid
entering the vessel body. The liner is formed of an elastic inner layer contacting
the gas and a metallic outer surface. The inflated, unrestrained liner volume is
generally at least as large as the chamber volume and more typically, slightly
larger. Stored gas contacts the inner surface of the liner and expands the liner
from a smaller deflated volume until the outer surface of the liner contacts the
wall of the pressure vessel.