Fluid storage tank assembly

Abstract

A fluid storage tank assembly comprising a wall assembly, a floor assembly and a roof assembly. The wall assembly providing a thermal insulating layer comprising two or more wall sub-assemblies removably stacked on top of each other that circumscribe an interior chamber of the tank assembly. Each wall sub-assembly comprises a plurality of removably interconnected wall panels circumscribing a portion of the interior chamber. The wall assembly is configured to house a liner for containing a fluid. The floor assembly bounds a bottom portion of the interior chamber and provides a thermal insulating layer. The roof assembly bounds a top portion of the interior chamber and provides a thermal insulating layer.

1 . A fluid storage tank assembly comprising:
 a wall assembly circumscribing an interior chamber of the tank assembly and providing a thermal insulating layer, the wall assembly comprising two or more wall sub-assemblies removably stacked on top of each other, each wall sub-assembly comprising a plurality of removably interconnected wall panels circumscribing a portion of the interior chamber, the wall assembly configured to house a liner for containing a fluid;   a floor assembly bounding a bottom portion of the interior chamber and providing a thermal insulating layer; and   a roof assembly bounding a top portion of the interior chamber and providing a thermal insulating layer.   
     
     
         2 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the floor assembly comprises a surface gradient operable to direct fluids contained in the tank assembly to a desired location on the floor assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The tank assembly as claimed  claim 2 , wherein the floor assembly comprises: a plurality of floor panels; and an insulating layer fixed to the floor panels and shaped to provide the surface gradient. 
     
     
         4 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of floor panels comprise an arrangement of parallel substantially rectangular panels configured to bound the bottom of the interior of the wall assembly, each panel extending across the interior of the wall assembly and having ends shaped to substantially conform with the interior boundary of the wall assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of floor panels comprise an arrangement of substantially rectangular panels configured to bound the bottom of the interior of the wall assembly, and wherein panels located adjacent to the interior boundary of the wall assembly shaped to substantially conform with the interior boundary of the wall assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the floor panels near the desired location on the floor assembly does not comprise a thermal insulating layer. 
     
     
         7 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the insulating layer comprises a channel therein, the channel configured to receive a suction pipe near the boundary of the interior of the wall assembly and direct the suction pipe to the desired location on the floor assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each floor panel is removably coupled to adjacent floor panels. 
     
     
         9 . The tank assembly a claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each wall panel further comprise an insulating layer fixed thereto. 
     
     
         10 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each wall panel comprises a plurality of male connectors at one end and a plurality of female connectors at an opposite end, the male connectors configured to be received by and removably coupled to the female connectors of an adjacent wall panel in a wall sub-assembly, the female connectors configured to received by and removably coupled to the male connectors of an adjacent wall panel in the wall sub-assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein:
 the wall assembly further comprises a plurality of joint pins and locking bars;   each male connector comprises one or more apertures configured to receive a joint pin therethrough;   each female connector comprises one or more apertures configured to receive a joint pin therethrough, each female connector further comprises a plurality of gussets extending from an exterior surface of the female connector and shouldering one of the apertures therein, each gussets comprising an aperture configured to receive a locking bar therethrough;   the apertures of the male connectors and female connectors configured to be in alignment with one another to receive a joint pin therethrough when the male connectors are received by the female connectors; and   each locking bar is operable to be received by the apertures of the gussets of a female connector and interact with a joint pin received by a female connector and a male connector received by the female connector to resist the withdrawal of the joint pin therefrom.   
     
     
         12 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claims 1 , wherein each wall sub-assembly is removably coupled to an adjacent stacked wall sub-assembly by a cooperating tongue and groove assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the wall panel of at least one of the removably coupled wall sub-assemblies comprises a bottom stiffener fixed to the wall panel at its bottom edge and running parallel thereto, the bottom stiffener and the portion of wall panel near its bottom edge defining the tongue of the tongue and groove assembly; and   the wall panel of at least the other of the removably coupled wall sub-assemblies comprises a top stiffener fixed to the wall panel an offset distance below its top edge and running parallel thereto and a guide plate fixed to the top stiffener and extending vertically therefrom, the top stiffener, the guide plate and the portion of the wall panel within the offset distance defining the groove of the tongue and groove assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claims 1 , wherein the roof assembly further comprises a plurality of flexible roof segments and a fastening assembly, the fastening assembly operable to couple adjacent roof segments to one another. 
     
     
         15 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the roof assembly further comprises a support pole assembly comprising one or more poles extending from the bottom of the tank assembly above the top of the wall assembly; the support pole assembly at least partially supporting the roof segments. 
     
     
         16 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the roof assembly further comprises a drainage assembly comprising a plurality of apertures through the roof segments located at low points on the roof segment formed by a natural sag of the roof segments between the support pole assembly and the top of the wall assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein each roof segment comprises a top portion and a skirt portion, the top portion configured to substantially cover the top of the wall assembly, and the skirt portion configured to extend down a portion of the exterior surface of the wall assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the skirt portion of each roof segment is removably coupled to the wall assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the roof assembly further comprises a lifting assembly fixed to the roof segments providing a point of attachment for positioning and orienting the roof segments. 
     
     
         20 . The tank assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the drainage assembly further comprises a mesh layer over each aperture in the roof segments.