Tank panels and tanks formed therefrom

Abstract

A portable steel tank panel that interlocks with additional structures (e.g., other tank panels and/or removable hinges) to form a temporary aboveground fluid storage structure is described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tank panel system comprising:
 a panel having a flexible body section, a first endplate, a second endplate, a plurality of first panel pins, and a plurality of second panel pins; and   a plurality of removable hinges each including a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and second side are configured to be removably attached to a panel pin.   
     
     
         2 . The tank panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel further includes a lift point. 
     
     
         3 . The tank panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible body section is formed of steel. 
     
     
         4 . The tank panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first panel pins includes a first group of panel pins each spaced a first distance apart and a second group of panel pins each spaced a second distance apart. 
     
     
         5 . The tank panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the first distance is larger than the second distance. 
     
     
         6 . The tank panel system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel further includes an insulation coating applied to a surface of the panel. 
     
     
         7 . A tank panel system comprising:
 a panel having a lower shell plate, an upper shell plate, a first endplate, a second endplate, a plurality of first panel pins, a plurality of second panel pins, a top pipe, and a bottom tube; and   a plurality of removable hinges.   
     
     
         8 . The tank panel system of  claim 7 , wherein the panel further includes a lift point having a first lifting section tube, a second lifting section tube, a first lifting bar, a second lifting bar. 
     
     
         9 . The tank panel system of  claim 7 , wherein the panel includes a plurality of stiffeners disposed on an inside area formed between a first wall of the panel and a second wall of the panel. 
     
     
         10 . The tank panel system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of first panel pins includes a first group of panel pins each spaced a first distance apart and a second group of panel pins each spaced a second distance apart. 
     
     
         11 . The tank panel system of  claim 10 , wherein the first distance is larger than the second distance. 
     
     
         12 . The tank panel system of  claim 7 , wherein the panel further includes an insulation coating applied to a surface of the panel. 
     
     
         13 . A fluid tank comprising:
 a plurality of panels joined together by a plurality of removable hinges at each joint between adjacent panels.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid tank of  claim 13 , wherein each panel includes a flexible body section, a first endplate, a second endplate, a plurality of first panel pins, and a plurality of second panel pins. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid tank of  claim 13 , wherein each panel includes a lower shell plate, an upper shell plate, a first endplate, a second endplate, a plurality of first panel pins, a plurality of second panel pins, a top pipe, a bottom tube. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid tank of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first connecting member disposed between a first pair of panels and connected to the first pair of panels via a first group of removable hinges and a second group of removable hinges;   a second connecting member disposed between a second pair of panels and connected to the second pair of panels via a third group of removable hinges and a fourth group of removable hinges; and   at least one brace member joining the first connecting member to the second connecting member via rotational joints.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid tank of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first connecting member disposed between a first pair of panels and connected to the first pair of panels via a first group of removable hinges and a second group of removable hinges;   a second connecting member disposed between a second pair of panels and connected to the second pair of panels via a third group of removable hinges and a fourth group of removable hinges; and   at least one brace member joining the first connecting member to the second connecting member.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid tank of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one brace member includes a first brace member joining a top portion of the first connecting member to a top portion of the second connecting member and a second brace member joining a bottom portion of the first connecting member to a bottom portion of the second connecting member. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid tank of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one brace member includes a first brace member joining a top portion of the first connecting member to a top portion of the second connecting member and a second brace member joining a bottom portion of the first connecting member to a bottom portion of the second connecting member. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid tank of  claim 19 , wherein the panels are configured to form the fluid tank into an angled shape.