The present invention provides a system (1) to prevent the formation of fuel vapors comprising a containment tank (10) and a variable volume tank (12) accommodatable within the containment tank (10), wherein the variable volume tank (12) is configured to receive liquid fuel. Our invention can be used in any tanks or reservoirs of liquid products that attack the ozone layer, preventing the formation of vapors that are extremely harmful to nature and the environment.

A dual-purpose tank container is provided, designed for transporting unrefined or refined petroleum, together with a transportation process optimized to utilize available weight limits of transportation means and eliminate unproductive deadheading. The tank container includes inner tank and outer insulation shell, the inner tank being equipped with one or two diaphragms so that a fluid, for example crude oil or gasoline, can fully occupy inner space without risk of contamination from a residual fluid.

A dual-purpose tank container is provided, designed for transporting unrefined or refined petroleum, together with a transportation process optimized to utilize available weight limits of transportation means and eliminate unproductive deadheading. The tank container includes inner tank and outer insulation shell, the inner tank being equipped with one or two diaphragms so that a fluid, for example crude oil or gasoline, can fully occupy inner space without risk of contamination from a residual fluid.

A flexible liner system for a silo receiving and storing granular materials, in which the flexible liner system includes a first flexible inflate liner and a second flexible inflate liner placed in the silo and aligned respectively against a silo wall and a silo floor. The first inflate liner and the second inflate liner are separated from each other by a central trough that extends completely across or substantially completely across the silo floor. The flexible liner system includes a conveyor assembly that inflates each inflate liner to push the granular material toward the central trough and aerates the granular material stored in the silo. The flexible liner system further includes a liner return system that allows each inflate liner to be brought back against the wall and the floor of the silo during deflation.

A flexible liner system for a silo receiving and storing granular materials, in which the flexible liner system includes a first flexible inflate liner and a second flexible inflate liner placed in the silo and aligned respectively against a silo wall and a silo floor. The first inflate liner and the second inflate liner are separated from each other by a central trough that extends completely across or substantially completely across the silo floor. The flexible liner system includes a conveyor assembly that inflates each inflate liner to push the granular material toward the central trough and aerates the granular material stored in the silo. The flexible liner system further includes a liner return system that allows each inflate liner to be brought back against the wall and the floor of the silo during deflation.

Systems and methods are provided for safely and efficiently transporting granular material. In one embodiment, a container for granular material is provided. The container can have a top plate and a bottom plate that are coupled to one another via one or more high-strength fabric sleeves. The bottom plate can include a discharge valve for discharging the granular material in the container. The container can also include a discharge bladder that, when inflated, biases granular material within the container toward the discharge valve. The container can also include at least one barrier positioned proximate the discharge valve such that the barrier prevents at least a portion of the discharge bladder from entering the discharge valve. The barrier can allow sand or other granular material to pass through the barrier and exit through the discharge valve.

Systems and methods are provided for safely and efficiently transporting granular material. In one embodiment, a container for granular material is provided. The container can have a top plate and a bottom plate that are coupled to one another via one or more high-strength fabric sleeves. The bottom plate can include a discharge valve for discharging the granular material in the container. The container can also include a discharge bladder that, when inflated, biases granular material within the container toward the discharge valve. The container can also include at least one barrier positioned proximate the discharge valve such that the barrier prevents at least a portion of the discharge bladder from entering the discharge valve. The barrier can allow sand or other granular material to pass through the barrier and exit through the discharge valve.

A containment vessel bladder for retaining material to be stored within a containment vessel. The bladder comprises a flexible enclosure and a drain facilitating element. The enclosure has a sealed interior, a floor portion connected to an enclosed top by one or more wall portions, and an opening for the delivery of material to the sealed interior. The drain facilitating element is positioned on the floor portion the enclosure and is expandable from a deflated position to an expanded position. When deflated the drain facilitating element is foldable with the enclosure to facilitate storage and transport of the containment vessel bladder. When expanded the drain facilitating element has one or more sloped surfaces aiding in the direction of material stored within the sealed interior toward a pre-determined location within the sealed interior to help facilitate the removal of material from the containment vessel bladder.

A containment vessel bladder for retaining material to be stored within a containment vessel. The bladder comprises a flexible enclosure and a drain facilitating element. The enclosure has a sealed interior, a floor portion connected to an enclosed top by one or more wall portions, and an opening for the delivery of material to the sealed interior. The drain facilitating element is positioned on the floor portion the enclosure and is expandable from a deflated position to an expanded position. When deflated the drain facilitating element is foldable with the enclosure to facilitate storage and transport of the containment vessel bladder. When expanded the drain facilitating element has one or more sloped surfaces aiding in the direction of material stored within the sealed interior toward a pre-determined location within the sealed interior to help facilitate the removal of material from the containment vessel bladder.

A subsea fluid storage system comprising a soft bladder disposed within a pressure balanced reservoir, a rotatable piston, and a piston rotator which rotates and twists the rotatable piston as it travels along a predetermined axis within the pressure balanced reservoir, predictably and repeatabley collapses the soft bladder when the rotating piston cooperatively travels about the piston rotator, twisting the soft bladder as the rotating piston moves along the predetermined axis, collapsing the bladder inward and thereby emptying the bladder of fluid within the bladder. The piston's rotation pulls the soft bladder away from the pressure balanced reservoir's interior, thereby preventing the bladder's binding or pinching the pressure balanced reservoir's interior. In configurations, fluid is allowed to enter the pressure balanced reservoir via a valve until a balance is achieved between an interior and an exterior of the pressure balanced reservoir.