An energy or water storage system can comprise a storage reservoir, a discharge reservoir, a pump for charging the storage reservoir, and a turbine or similar discharge device. The storage reservoir can comprise a flexible bag covered by overburden that creates pressure inside the bag. Energy is stored by raising the overburden. The bag can comprise a shaped internal filler piece to prevent formation of a crease at the bag edge. Solar panels can be mounted above any bag to make additional use of the land. Solar panels mounted on overburden can have tracking mechanisms and controls suitable to achieve desired orientation regardless of the slope of overburden. Elevation difference between the storage reservoir and discharge reservoir can be used, including an underground cavity. The bag can have internal tethers to influence bag shape.

A collapsible bulk material container and sleeve configuration thereof are disclosed. The container includes a forming member assembly that provides container rigidity and stability and forms an internal geometric volumetric cavity for containing a bulk material load. A continuously woven sleeve having contiguous woven zones of selectable varied fabric weight and strength engage the forming member and provide the primary containment strength of the container. The sleeve engages the forming member either externally or internally. The sleeve includes a fabric weight zone of greatest strength adjacent the lower portion of the container.

A lifting assembly and method for a flexible bag includes one or more lift members, wherein each lift member is coupled to a layer of material, e.g., a fabric layer. The fabric layer can be coupled to a flexible bag wherein the fabric layer is an intermediate layer between the lift member and the flexible bag. The fabric layer can be heat fused or otherwise coupled to a bag without stitching or sewing, which eliminates the creation of sew or stitch holes that breach a containment area of the bag and which can weaken the bag fabric. The one or more lift members, however, can be sewn or stitched to one or more intermediate layers.

Methods, systems and/or apparatus related to the manufacture and use of biodigesters are disclosed. Moreover, techniques for the manufacture of reactors whose final shape increases the lifespan of the biodigester, as well as modular techniques for the manufacture of the reactors, are included.

A bulk container comprising a plurality of wall panels and a bottom surface and a method of forming the same. The bulk container comprises at least one strip of material extending around an outer perimeter of the bulk container, in which the at least one strip of material comprises a first end and a second end, a portion of the second end overlapping and being adhered to a portion of the first end with an adhesive.

A reservoir bag and method of use and implementation is disclosed herein. The reservoir bag may be configured for controlling surface water run-off and may include a plurality of cells with at least two adjacent cells in fluid communication with each other to allow water to communicate between the adjacent cells. To aid in the mobility of water, the bag may include one or more perforated pipes therein to direct flow of water through the cells and to an outlet.

The present invention relates to a flexible tank wherein liquid can be stored and which can transport liquid from one location to another location by means of a vehicle and having a lower compartment and an upper compartment positioned one above the other. As an improvement, said flexible tank comprises at least one tank body formed by at least one flexible wall joined in a manner forming a flexible pipe-like form and at least one folding region having at least one first folding line and at least one second folding line provided such that a passage throttle is defined in between.

A method of packaging a radioactive waste including the steps of: (a) providing a containment enclosure having (i) an outer polymeric fabric layer and (ii) an inner polymeric fabric layer, wherein the outer and inner polymeric fabric layers are thermally stable to 40 F.; (b) placing a radioactive waste within the inner polymeric fabric layer; and (c) closing an outer closeable flap on the outer polymeric fabric layer.

A stitchless highly oriented polypropylene fabric bulk bag of the type that can hold 500 to 5000 pounds (226.7 to 2268 kilograms) of bulk material includes a highly oriented polypropylene fabric top, body and bottom, with a heat fused joint providing an air tight connection between the top and body, and another air tight heat fused joint connecting the body and bottom. A fill spout and discharge tube may also be provided with an air tight heat fused joint connecting the fill spout to the top and another air tight heat fused joint connecting the discharge spout to the bottom. Heat sealing machinery include heat seal bar assemblies that can self-align during heat-sealing to apply even pressure to all areas being heat sealed. A heating element is of single piece construction and can include end coupler portions as part of the single piece construction. Carrier plates used in a heat-sealing assembly line guide parts placement, provide quality checks for parts placement, and tooling set-up for machinery.

A lower cost, light weight, hermetic system and method for storage of dry commodities outdoors for up to 1000 tonnes of commodity includes a multilayer joined material with a thickness of 0.2-0.3 mm, a weight of approximately 200 g/m.sup.2, a permeability to oxygen of less than 3 cc/m.sup.2/day and a permeability to water of less than 4 g/m.sup.2/day, a tensile strength of approximately 38 MPa, and insect penetration-resistance of approximately 1200 g/m.sup.2 (Dart test value).