Performed slab for use as a foundation or splash pad for industrial equipment

Abstract

Apparatus and methods of use for foundations including a precast slab system for industrial equipment. The slab may have attachment means incorporated therein order to move the slab. Industrial equipment may be installed and removed from the slab. After a period of time, the slab may be retrieved and, in one embodiment, reused at another location.

1 . A method for installing an equipment foundation for compressed gas equipment, comprising: 
 a) providing a precast slab having a top surface, at least one side surface, and a lower surface, wherein the slab is formed of concrete;    b) placing the lower surface of the slab on a support surface in a manner allowing the slab to be subsequently removed from the support surface; and    c) placing industrial equipment on the top surface of the slab, wherein the industrial equipment comprises at least one compressed gas vessel containing compressed gas.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compressed gas vessel comprises a plurality of gas cylinders manifolded together.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the support surface is unimproved earth.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing industrial equipment on the top surface of the slab is done prior to placing the lower surface of the slab on the support surface.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the density of the slab is nonuniform in order to achieve a desired distribution of weight.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein weights are disposed on the slab in order to provide stability against torques applied to the slab.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the industrial equipment comprises a plurality of compressed gas vessels.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing a fence around at least a portion of the slab.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the pad is a splash pad configured for receiving a volatile liquid being delivered to the industrial equipment.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the lower surface of the slab on the support surface and placing industrial equipment on the top surface of the slab occur substantially at the same time as part of a facility installation at a customer site.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after placing industrial equipment on the top surface of the slab, mechanically securing the industrial equipment to the top surface.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to placing the lower surface of the slab on the support surface: 
 a) placing the slab on a delivery vehicle in response to a customer order; and    b) transporting the slab on the delivery vehicle to a site where the support surface is located; wherein the slab preexists the customer order.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to placing the lower surface of the slab on the support surface: 
 a) removing the slab from a delivery vehicle.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein removing the slab from the delivery vehicle is done using a crane.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein removing the slab from the delivery vehicle is done using a fork lift.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising fluidly coupling the industrial equipment to a facility located off of the slab, whereby contents of the compressed gas vessel are delivered to the facility.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the support surface is a part of a permanent structure housing the processing facility.  
   
   
       18 . A method for installing an equipment foundation, comprising: 
 a) providing a precast slab having a top surface, at least one side surface, and a lower surface, wherein the slab is formed of concrete;    b) placing the lower surface of the slab on a support surface in a manner allowing the slab to be subsequently removed from the support surface;    c) placing industrial equipment on the top surface of the slab, wherein the industrial equipment comprises at least one compressed gas vessel; and    d) removing the slab from the support surface.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, after removing the slab from the support surface, hauling the slab away from the support surface on the vehicle.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one compressed gas vessel comprises a plurality of gas cylinders manifolded together.  
   
   
       21 . A method for installing an equipment foundation, comprising: 
 a) placing a precast slab on a delivery vehicle in response to a customer order, wherein the slab has a top surface, at least one side surface, and a lower surface and is formed of concrete, and wherein the slab preexists the customer order;    b) transporting the slab on the delivery vehicle to a site where a support surface is located;    c) removing the slab from the delivery vehicle;    d) placing the lower surface of the slab on a support surface in a manner allowing the slab to be subsequently removed from the support surface;    e) placing a plurality of compressed gas vessels on the top surface of the slab; and    f) fluidly coupling the plurality of compressed gas vessels to a facility located off of the slab.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of compressed gas vessels comprises a plurality of gas cylinders manifolded together.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the support surface is a part of a permanent structure housing the facility.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of compressed gas vessels are mounted in a frame, and further comprising securing the frame to the top surface of the slab.  
   
   
       25 . A method for installing an equipment foundation, comprising: 
 a) placing a precast slab on a delivery vehicle in response to a customer order, wherein the slab has a top surface, at least one side surface, and a lower surface and is formed of concrete, and wherein the slab preexists the customer order;    b) transporting the slab on the delivery vehicle to a site where a support surface is located;    c) removing the slab from the delivery vehicle;    d) placing the lower surface of the slab on a support surface in a manner allowing the slab to be subsequently removed from the support surface;    e) placing a plurality of compressed gas vessels on the top surface of the slab;    f) fluidly coupling the plurality of compressed gas vessels to a facility located off of the slab; and    g) subsequently removing the slab from the support surface.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of compressed gas vessels comprises a plurality of gas cylinders manifolded together.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising, prior to removing the slab from the support surface, removing the plurality of compressed gas vessels from the slab.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising transporting the slab on the delivery vehicle from the site.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising, after removing the slab from the support surface: 
 a) transporting the slab on the delivery vehicle to another site where another support surface is located;    b) removing the slab from the delivery vehicle; and    c) placing the lower surface of the slab on the other support surface in a manner allowing the slab to be subsequently removed from the other support surface.    
   
   
       30 . A method for installing an equipment foundation, comprising: 
 a) providing a plurality of precast slabs each having a top surface, at least one side surface, and a lower surface, wherein each slab is formed of concrete;    b) placing the lower surface of a first slab on a support surface of a site in a manner allowing the slab to be subsequently removed from the support surface;    c) placing a second slab at least partially on top of the first slab; and    d) placing industrial equipment on the top surface of the second slab, wherein the industrial equipment comprises at least one of a cryogenic liquid bulk tank and a plurality of compressed gas vessels.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of compressed gas vessels comprises a plurality of gas cylinders manifolded together.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the industrial equipment further comprises at least one of a pressure control apparatus, a gas filtering apparatus, a telemetry device, and a tank filling facility for filling the cryogenic liquid bulk tank with a cryogenic liquid.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the cryogenic liquid bulk tank contains a liquid selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) nitrogen;    b) oxygen;    c) argon;    d) carbon dioxide;    e) hydrogen;    f) helium; and    g) mixtures thereof.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second slabs have the same dimensions.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second slabs have different dimensions.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 a) retrieving the first and second slabs from the site; and    b) reusing at least one of the first and second slabs at a different site.    
   
   
       37 . A method for providing a foundation for industrial equipment, comprising: 
 a) providing a precast slab having a top surface, at least one side surface, and a lower surface, wherein the slab is comprised of concrete;    b) mounting at least one piece of industrial equipment on the top surface of the slab, wherein the industrial equipment comprises at least one of a cryogenic liquid bulk tank and a plurality of compressed gas vessels;    c) transporting the slab, with the industrial equipment mounted thereto, to a site having a support surface; and    d) placing the lower surface of the slab on the support surface in a manner allowing the slab to be subsequently retrieved from the site.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of compressed gas vessels comprises a plurality of gas cylinders manifolded together.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising fluidly coupling the industrial equipment to a facility located off of the slab.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the industrial equipment is mounted in a manner to be subsequently removable from the slab.  
   
   
       41 . A method for installing an equipment foundation, comprising: 
 a) providing a precast slab having a top surface, at least one side surface, and a lower surface, wherein the slab is formed of concrete;    b) placing the lower surface of the slab on a support surface in a manner allowing the slab to be subsequently removed from the support surface;    c) placing industrial equipment on the top surface of the slab, wherein the industrial equipment comprises a cryogenic fluid source; and    d) fluidly coupling the industrial equipment to a facility located off of the slab, whereby the cryogenic fluid is deliverable from the cryogenic fluid source to the facility, wherein the facility is a cryogenic fluid injection system configured to inject the cryogenic fluid into a cement mixer.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the cryogenic fluid is liquid nitrogen.