Portable Above-Ground Containment System and Method

Abstract

An above-ground containment system comprises a plurality of truss assemblies, a band coupled to the truss assemblies, and a flexible liner. The truss assemblies are disposed in an arrangement defining a storage area. The band is coupled to the truss assemblies and encircles the storage area, and tensionably maintains the tress assemblies in the desired position. The liner is coupled to the truss assemblies and includes a central portion covering a base of the storage area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An above-ground containment system, comprising:
 a plurality of truss assemblies, each of said truss assemblies including a first portion and an opposite second portion, said first portions of said truss assemblies disposed in an arrangement defining a periphery of a storage area, and said second portions of said truss assemblies disposed outwardly from said storage area;   a band coupled to said second portions of said truss assemblies and encircling said storage area, said band tensionably maintaining said plurality of tress assemblies in said arrangement; and   a liner having a peripheral portion coupled to said first portions of said truss assemblies and a central portion covering a base of said storage area.   
     
     
         2 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage tank system is capable of retaining at least about 50,000 thousand gallons of material in said storage area. 
     
     
         3 . The containment system of  claim 2 , wherein the storage tank system is capable of retaining at least about 2 million gallons of material is said storage area. 
     
     
         4 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein said band is high strength wire strand. 
     
     
         5 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein said band is a first band, further comprising at least a second band coupled to said outer portions and encircling said storage area. 
     
     
         6 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first portions comprises a planar panel portion angled outwardly and away from said base of said storage area. 
     
     
         7 . The containment system of  claim 6 , wherein said second portions comprise a plurality of support beams disposed substantially perpendicular to said base of said storage area. 
     
     
         8 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said second portions comprises a load transfer plate, said load transfer plates collectively forming a load transfer ring encircling said storage area when said truss assemblies are disposed in said arrangement, and said band coupled to said load transfer ring. 
     
     
         9 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said truss assemblies includes a plurality of braces extending between and interconnecting said first portion and said second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein said storage area has one of a substantially circular or a substantially elliptical configuration in plan view. 
     
     
         11 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein said truss assemblies are formed substantially from a material selected from the group consisting of wood, wood composite, plastic, and metal. 
     
     
         12 . The containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a leakage monitoring system comprising:
 a perforated pipe extending across a portion of said base, said liner covering said perforated pipe; and   a monitoring pipe including a first end portion coupled to said perforated pipe and a second end portion disposed out of said storage area.   
     
     
         13 . The containment system of  claim 12 , wherein said monitoring pipe is coupled to said first portion of one of said truss assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . A truss assembly for a storage structure, said truss assembly comprising:
 a planar panel portion disposed in an arrangement with a plurality of additional truss assemblies to define a periphery of a storage area;   a truss portion including a first portion coupled to said planar panel portion and an opposite second portion; and   a load transfer plate coupled to said second portion of said truss portion and including a retaining member configured to secure a tensioning band thereto, wherein said load transfer plates of said truss assemblies disposed in said arrangement form a load transfer ring configured to receive said tensioning band.   
     
     
         15 . The truss assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a puncture resistant liner coupled to said planar panel portion. 
     
     
         16 . The truss assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a backing layer intermediate said liner and said planar panel portion. 
     
     
         17 . The truss assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said liner is formed from a linear low-density polyethylene. 
     
     
         18 . The truss assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said truss portion is formed substantially from a material selected from the group consisting of wood, wood composite, plastic, and metal. 
     
     
         19 . The truss assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said load transfer plate is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of wood, wood composite, plastic, and metal. 
     
     
         20 . A method of erecting an above-ground storage structure, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of truss assemblies, each of said truss assemblies including a first portion including a planar panel and an opposite second portion including a load transfer plate;   positioning the plurality of truss assemblies so that the planer panels of the first portions of the truss assemblies define a periphery of a storage area, and the load transfer plates form a load transfer ring;   coupling a band to the load transfer ring so that the band is surrounding the truss assemblies and the storage area;   applying tension to the band so that the planar panels of the truss assemblies are aligned along the periphery of the storage area; and   coupling a peripheral portion of a liner to the planar panels of the truss assemblies so that the liner is covering a base of the storage area.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of truss assemblies are positioned in one of a substantially circular or a substantially elliptical configuration in plan view.