Aljrbi Updating For Tanks

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to a storage tank for storing a fluid, such as water, oil and other high volatile liquid material having a wall defined by a plurality of panels which are retained by opposed side edges between adjacent support members. The support members have a base portion and a support portion and are free-standing on the base portion on an earthen floor allowing the tank to be constructed at sites without concrete foundations such as a concrete pad or ring. The tank also has a liner that lines the interior surfaces of the wall and the floor. The main embodiment of the invention is based on a design where the storage water tank is divided by a rubber membrane balloon from one side of the tank. The rubber balloon membrane act as storage for one type of liquid and will divide the single tank to act as two separate tanks with the ability to operate independently in terms of storage, water/liquid intake and water/liquid output through given connected inlet & outlet pipes. The concept is to provide each half of the tank as a full tank from input and output separated by a rubber balloon membrane also acting as a storage device within the tank.

Claims

1. A storage tank for storing a fluid, the storage tank comprising: A wall defined by panels and a plurality of support members, wherein each of the support members has a base portion extending perpendicularly to the wall and a support portion that receives a reinforcement assembly, and each panel is retained by opposed side edges between respective support portions; a tank with the ability to store high volatile liquid material including water, chemicals, different type of fuel and other industry related residual liquids; a tank having a rubber balloon for storage of liquid and also acting as half partition of the tank manufactured from material having ability to bear high temperature and pressure along with having flexibility for movement. i. A storage tank according to claim 1, further comprising a rubber membrane balloon for storage of liquid and also acting as the half partition of the tank, in case there are two different liquids stored in the tank. ii. A storage tank according to claim 1, further comprising a rubber membrane balloon for storage of liquid which can act as the half partition of the tank and also as storage for single type of high volatile liquid. iii. A storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the floor is earthen and made from material other than concrete but ensuring the maximum durability. iv. A storage tank according to claim 1 wherein the base portion is divided through a rubber balloon membrane also acting as storage device. v. The storage tank separator consisting of rubber membrane, which would be of a material resistant to high temperature, pressure and wear-tear. vi. The rubber membrane balloon would have the property of elasticity and can store high volatile liquid material and chemical, with having property to store liquid in under high pressure and temperature scenario due to its manufacturing material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0019] The invention will be described with respect to the following drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like features throughout the figures, and in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device with side view. The figure shows the Outlet system of the tank for both halves one with balloon membrane and otherwise. The rubber balloon partition with requisite material is also visible, which shall act as the storage tank as well. The inlet is can also be seen for the tank for each partition. The figure shows cross-sectional view of the tank from side perspective.

[0021] FIG. 2 is the perspective top view of the tank showing the inlet and outlet system with the rubber balloon storage/partition system. Connectivity of the inlet and outlet system to the rubber balloon is also clearly visible. The taps for the outlet system for release of liquid is can also be seen in the figure.

[0022] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the device with top view of the tank for the base of the tank. The inlet and outlet systems are visible for rubber balloon and the other part of the tank. The connecting rings and pattern for connectivity of inlet & outlet system with the tank can also be seen.

[0023] FIG. 4 is the perspective side view of tank in cross sectional dimension. It shows the balloon attached to one of the inlet system and also shows the inner view of the outlet system of the tank attached. The outer view of the inlet system for storage of two different types of liquids is visible.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device with another side view angle. The figure shows the outlet system of the tank and the clearly shows the balloon storage connected to its respective inlet and outlet system. The same will act as the partition with requisite material and the flexible laying of the balloon is also visible. The figure shows cross-sectional view of the tank from side perspective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0026] The current storage tank is designed to withstand internal pressures which will minimize the vapor losses. The choice of these design pressures is based upon the type of liquid to be stored, the vapor pressure of the liquid at the anticipated maximum and minimum surface temperatures, and the maximum and minimum temperatures of the vapor space above the liquid. The design pressures may vary from a few ounces per square inch to as much as 30 or 40 pounds per square inch. The volume of such tanks may vary from five or ten thousand barrels to one or more hundred thousand barrels.

[0027] It is the primary object of the present invention to construct a storage tank for all types of liquids including volatile liquids that will satisfy all loading conditions. It is another object of the invention to provide a storage vessel having a substantially flat bottom and to provide weighted means at the juncture of the side walls with the bottom to restrain upward movement of the lower portions of the side walls as the liquid within the vessel is withdrawn.

[0028] It is a further object of the invention to provide a storage tank with partition to store and transport two different type of liquid materials. The present disclosure also relates to a partition for storing and transporting oil and fuel tank system. Disclosed embodiments of the storage tank partition may inhibit the need for venting the fuel tank during refilling, may allow for more precise control of pressure within the storage tank during refilling, may allow the oil tank to receive and store both saturated and unsaturated and/or cold and hot oil and other industry related volatile liquids without losing storage tank pressure, and may reduce the incidence of sloshing events.

[0029] The storage tank has linear side walls with curved edges as means to restrain inward movement of the side walls upon decrease of the hydrostatic pressures against said side walls, thus preventing excessive compressive stresses within the wall plates and possible buckling thereof. The tank is proposed to be constructed from the material normally used for constructing storage tanks are polyethylene, thermoplastic, or glass-reinforced plastic (fiberglass) including material meant for storing high volatile liquid with high pressure at high temperature. Selection of the material will be custom based and will depend on the utility of the tank. The material shall be used according to the requirement of usage and will be designed to gauge high temperature, pressure and other related environmental factors.

[0030] It is still another object of the invention to provide a roof structure designed not only fully to support the roof loading but also to counteract compressive stresses in the sidewall plates. Another object of the invention is to utilize the advantages of the spheroid type of storage vessel and so to reinforce the walls of the vessel that liquids may be stored safely and economically therein.

[0031] The main embodiment of the invention is based on a design where the storage tank is divided by a rubber membrane balloon from one side of the tank. The rubber balloon membrane will act as storage device for half of the tank. This will divide the single tank to act as two separate tanks with the ability to operate independently in terms of storage, water/liquid intake and water/liquid output through an outlet. The concept is to provide each half of the tank as a full tank from input and output separated and operated by a rubber membrane balloon.

[0032] It is an object of the present invention to provide a split storage tank through a rubber balloon having a durable flexible partition and storage property that can move or displace according to storage capacity of the liquid, laterally adjacent to one or the other side of the tank when one or the other section of the tank is filled with liquid.

[0033] It should be apparent that the present invention has the ability to transport two or more high volatile liquids in one tank compartment through rubber balloon partition. Storage and transportation of, bulk lubricating oil and related high volatile material to different locations; and utilizing the same tank, when empty, to transport, other liquid material in the other compartment, for example, drained or used vehicle crankcase oil to a processing plant for reprocessing the crankcase oil back into merchandisable lubricating oil.

[0034] The flexibility and strength of the rubber balloon partition, the volume of each of the compartments may be varied to approximately the full volume of the tank. Thus, approximately a full load of oil and related material can be transported to various locations and approximately a full volume of used oil or related material can be returned for processing without necessitating the cleaning of the interior of the tank, since the liquid in one section does not come in contact with the liquid in the other partitioned section of the tank. It is another object of the present invention to virtually eliminate the dumping of used crankcase oil, with the ecological hazards attendant thereto, and provide for the re-use of hitherto randomly disposed used crankcase oil.

[0035] The balloon rubber membrane used for partition and storage would have the ability of flexible movement. In case the tank is used as a single unit, the movement of balloon rubber membrane into the empty half direction, will transform the tank into single unit, hence, using all its capacity. In the same context, the invention has an embodiment where the full tank can be used to store two kind of fluid materials. Just for elaboration purpose a single tank can be used to store fresh water and sewage water at the same time. Further, amount of fresh water utilized or used will be overtaken through principle of injection by sewerage water stored in the second half. This will be enabled by the flexible movement of the rubber membrane separating the tank into two partitions. The utility of such tanks is perfect in an Airline or Starship. The tank is designed in a manner where the efficiency of the entire tank is used by fresh water when going up to space or in the initial half of the flight and the same efficiency of the entire tank is reused by sewage water when returning to the ground, when the all the waste is to be disposed off.

[0036] In the current invention the most important factor is based on the material of the balloon rubber membrane used for partition of the tank. Ideally the rubber membrane would be of Perfluoroelastomers which are fluoroelastomers with higher fluorine content. Perfluoroelastomers contain an even higher amount of fluorine. The material has improved resistance to high temperatures and chemicals and even withstands environments where Oxygen-Plasma are present for many hours. The material can be available in certain grades that have a maximum continuous service temperature of 327° C. (621° F.). They are commonly used to make O-rings that are used in applications that involve contact with hydrocarbons or highly corrosive fluids, or when a wide range of temperatures is encountered.

[0037] The design of the tank is planned for future use in planes, starships and other high-tech and military industry. The separating material is proposed to be of highly specialized material and Perfluoroelastomers are proposed to be used as the raw material for the production of O-rings and rubber memberane. Due to high temperatures, high pressures and highly volatile environment, there is basically no choice other than these materials to seal valves used in those facilities.

[0038] The second choice for the rubber membrane and partition material is suggested as fluoroelastomers. Due to lower fluorine content they are more susceptible to environmental attacks. They however are significantly cheaper than perfluoroelastomers and can be used in environments where the temperature is lower. These best suit for applications, industries and places where the temperature is around 200° C. The main feature of the water tank design is to divide the tank by a ballon rubber membrane, which will act as storage device within the tank as well. Each half is treated as a full tank from input and output. The movement of balloon rubber membrane into the empty half direction, which makes the tank, uses all its capacity. In addition the full tank can be used to store two kind of fluid materials, even being volatile or two entirely opposite liquid materials within one tank.

[0039] One of the best utility of the newly designed water tank is in the maritime industry especially oil tanker. Once the oil is transported for import or export to countries the oil tankers travel a long distance. On return the vessels and oil tankers are filled with water in the tanks. The exporting company/country needs to clean the tank in order to fill water, which is a very costly process. The current invention would save huge cost for companies as the tank does not require cleaning the tank each time oil is emptied and supplied off. The tank is designed in a manner where the rubber barrier/partition, which is made of high pressure and temperature resistance material divides the tank in two equal part with same capacity and weight load. On the way to export half tank allocated for oil storage can be filled with oil and on the way back the other half of the tank can be filled with water. This will allow companies to save efforts and revenues to clean oil tank each time.

[0040] The design of the tank and dual utility is one of the basic features with the main part is the pressure and temperature bearing barrier/partition/second storage/half storage made of pressure and temperature resistant rubber material. The concept is applicable for use of aircrafts, space crafts and other maritime industry. The concept, design and product is not limited for use in such industries but also holds it validity for usage in other industries including housing and leisure industry.

[0041] As stated above, while the present application has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the present application. Therefore, the application, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, illustrative examples shown, or any apparatus referred to. Departures may be made from such details, examples, and apparatuses without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept.

[0042] Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.