Modular, dynamically sized and shaped, industrial-liquid-containment system and methods of use

Abstract

What is disclosed is a portable, modular, and dynamically sized and shaped, above-ground, industrial liquid-containment system. Typically, the system has an outer-containment perimeter and an inner-containment perimeter (a reservoir), thus providing two barriers for environmental protection. A reservoir is comprised of a plurality of substantially A-framed segments that are hinged at the top and allows for folding together when the center and bottom braces are removed. A key feature for the A-frame segments is in their lack of steel cladding on the water side of most A-frames segments. Instead, fabric and/or cargo netting is used because it reduces weight and grips the A-frame purlins as the weight of contained liquids exert stabilizing downward force on A-frames. In addition, a steel grid system can run along the reservoir floor to compensate for expansion forces due to both temperature and water-weight.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A portable, modular, in-field modifiable, liquid-containment system, comprising:
 a plurality of elongated, substantially A-framed segments, wherein:
 each side of each said substantially A-framed segments making up said A-frame has at least one purlin disposed substantially along the length of said purlin's associated A-frame segment, 
 each of said substantially A-framed segments is configured to have a plurality of structural supports to be installed between internal sides of substantially A-framed segment sides such that said substantially A-frame shape can be maintained as loads are exerted upon said substantially A-framed segment, 
 each of said substantially A-framed segments is restorably collapsible in order to facilitate the stacking said segments, to make storage and transport easier, and 
 said plurality of substantially A-framed segments are adapted to be positioned substantially end-to-end, forming corners as necessary such that the ends of said substantially A-framed segments used to form a corner are proximal to each other, in order to be able to define a first perimeter boundary around a user-defined pool for industrial liquid; 
   a plurality of pliable load-bearing panels, each adapted to be installed on an intended liquid-containing side of an A-framed segment; and   a continuous layer of liquid-impermeable sheeting adapted to be disposed over the bottom surface for a user-defined pool for liquid, said sheeting adapted to be extended over all of a user-defined first perimeter boundary,
 wherein said liquid-impermeable sheeting is adapted to be secured at intervals on the non-liquid-side of said plurality of substantially A-framed segments, 
 wherein said liquid-impermeable sheeting is resistant to damage from ultra-violet rays. 
   
     
     
         28 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The liquid-containment system of  claim 27 , further comprising a plurality of pairs of mated substantially rigid corner A-framed segments adapted to substantially form a predetermined angle at the point where the corner A-framed segment of each of said mated pairs is substantially buttressed to the other at the predetermined angled mating edges, wherein:
 each of said corner A-framed segments is has substantially rigid cladding over said at least one purlin on said intended liquid-containing side of said corner A-framed segment;   said shape of each of said corner A-framed segments is restorably collapsible in order to facilitate the stacking of A-framed segments, to make storage and transport easier; and   the non-angled end of each of said plurality of said corner A-framed segments is adapted to be positioned substantially end-to-end with an adjacent said A-framed segment in order to help define a perimeter boundary around a user-defined pool for industrial liquid,
 wherein each of said mated pairs of corner A-framed segments is adapted to be detachably coupled to a ground-level rigid ballast member, said ballast member adapted to hold each of the corner A-framed segments of a mated pair of corner A-framed segments in position at said predetermined angle, 
 wherein each said ballast member is substantially made of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, precast concrete, aluminum alloy, steel, hard plastic, wood products, and fiberglass. 
   
     
     
         36 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The liquid-containment system of  claim 35 , wherein:
 each said ballast member contains a weighting material to help anchor each said ballast member and its associated corner A-framed segments in place on the ground; and   each said ballast member is weighted with a material selected from the group consisting of concrete, dirt, water, and metal.   
     
     
         39 . The liquid-containment system of  claim 27 , further comprising components for a backup portable, modular, liquid-containment system, said backup liquid-containment system adapted to provide a second liquid-impermeable layer under said user-defined pool for industrial liquid and to provide a second elevated perimeter boundary outside of said user-defined first perimeter boundary;
 the backup liquid-containment system comprising:   a plurality of elongated, substantially rigid curb members, wherein:
 each of said curb members is comprised of sheet material, each of said curb members is shaped to form a substantially inverted “V” channel when resting on the ground, 
 said shape of each of said curb members is adapted to facilitate the nestable stacking of one or more of said curb members in order to make storage and transport easier, and 
 said plurality of said curb members are adapted to be positioned substantially end-to-end, forming corners as necessary such that the ends of said curb members used to form a corner are proximal to each other, in order to be able to define a perimeter boundary around a target storage container of liquid; and 
   a continuous layer of liquid-impermeable sheeting adapted to be disposed over the surface under and around a target storage container of liquid, said sheeting adapted to be extended over all of a second elevated perimeter boundary.   
     
     
         40 - 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A portable, modular, in-field modifiable, liquid-containment system, comprising:
 a plurality of elongated perimeter-boundary segments, wherein:
 said plurality of perimeter-boundary segments are positioned substantially end-to-end, forming corners as necessary such that the ends of said perimeter-boundary segments used to form a corner are proximal to each other, in order to be able to define a first perimeter boundary around a user-defined pool for industrial liquid, and 
 each of said plurality of perimeter-boundary segments is adapted to be coupled to a ground-level base structure; 
   a liquid-containment pool expansion compensation grid network, comprised of a plurality of tie-bars and hub-pad assemblies, wherein
 said grid network is adapted to couple opposing sides of said user-defined pool for industrial liquid, at the footing of opposing said perimeter-boundary segments, such that outward expansion forces due to the increase of contained industrial liquids and/or increases in liquid temperature are effectively resisted, 
 said plurality of tie-bars is disposed across the base of said user-defined pool for industrial liquid in a crisscross pattern, 
 each pair of in-line tie-bars are coupled via an intervening hub-pad assembly, and 
 each hub-pad assembly comprises a thru-bar and a pass-through plate, hereinafter referred to as a cross-tie member, in order to facilitate the free movement of intersecting tie-bar lines so that intersecting tie-bar line do not interfere with each other; and 
   a continuous layer of liquid-impermeable sheeting adapted to be disposed over the bottom surface, including said grid network, for a user-defined pool for liquid, said sheeting adapted to be extended over all of a user-defined first perimeter boundary,
 wherein said liquid-impermeable sheeting is adapted to be secured at intervals on the non-liquid-side of said plurality of perimeter-boundary segments. 
   
     
     
         61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . The liquid-containment system of  claim 60  wherein each of said plurality of perimeter-boundary segments is adapted to be detachably coupled on each end to an adjacent perimeter-boundary segment. 
     
     
         63 - 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . The liquid-containment system of  claim 60 , further comprising components for a backup portable, modular, liquid-containment system, said backup liquid-containment system adapted to provide a second liquid-impermeable layer under said user-defined pool for industrial liquid and to provide a second elevated perimeter boundary outside of said user-defined first perimeter boundary;
 the backup liquid-containment system comprising:   a plurality of elongated, substantially rigid curb members, wherein:
 each of said curb members is comprised of sheet material, 
 each of said curb members is shaped to form a substantially inverted “V” channel when resting on the ground, 
 said shape of each of said curb members is adapted to facilitate the nestable stacking of one or more of said curb members in order to make storage and transport easier, and 
 said plurality of said curb members are adapted to be positioned substantially end-to-end, forming corners as necessary such that the ends of said curb members used to form a corner are proximal to each other, in order to be able to define a perimeter boundary around a target storage container of liquid; and 
   a continuous layer of liquid-impermeable sheeting adapted to be disposed over the surface under and around a target storage container of liquid, said sheeting adapted to be extended over all of a second elevated perimeter boundary.   
     
     
         66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . The liquid-containment system of  claim 60 , wherein said plurality of hub-pad assemblies for said liquid-containment pool expansion compensation grid network are comprised of:
 a cross-tie member substantially made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, UHMW, or other relatively low-friction material,
 wherein each of the four ends of each said cross-tie member has an attachment point for a tie-bar attachment; and 
   a slide pad substantially made of a material selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, UHMW, and other relatively low-friction material,
 wherein said slide pad has four guide slots adapted to slidably receive pins disposed in the cross-tie members. 
   
     
     
         68 - 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . A kit for a portable, modular, in-field modifiable, liquid-containment system, comprising:
 a plurality of elongated, substantially A-framed segments, wherein:
 each side of each said substantially A-framed segments making up said A-frame has at least one purlin disposed substantially along the length of said purlin's associated A-frame segment, 
 each of said substantially A-framed segments is configured to have a plurality of structural supports to be installed between internal sides of substantially A-framed segment sides such that said substantially A-frame shape can be maintained as loads are exerted upon said substantially A-framed segment, 
 each of said substantially A-framed segments is restorably collapsible in order to facilitate the stacking of said segments, to make storage and transport easier, and 
 said plurality of substantially A-framed segments are adapted to be positioned substantially end-to-end, forming corners as necessary such that the ends of said substantially A-framed segments used to form a corner are proximal to each other, in order to be able to define a first perimeter boundary around a user-defined pool for industrial liquid; 
   a plurality of pliable load-bearing panels, each adapted to be installed on an intended liquid-containing side of an A-framed segment;   a subkit for a liquid-containment pool expansion compensation grid network, comprised of a plurality of tie-bars and hub-pad assemblies, wherein
 said grid network is adapted to couple opposing sides of said user-defined pool for industrial liquid, at the footing of opposing said substantially A-framed segments, such that outward expansion forces due to the increase of contained industrial liquids and/or increases in liquid temperature are effectively resisted, 
 said plurality of tie-bars is disposed across the base of said user-defined pool for industrial liquid in a crisscross pattern, 
 each pair of in-line tie-bars are coupled via an intervening hub-pad assembly, and 
 each hub-pad assembly comprises a thru-bar and a pass-through plate, hereinafter referred to as a cross-tie member, in order to facilitate the free movement of intersecting tie-bar lines so that intersecting tie-bar line do not interfere with each other; and 
   a continuous layer of liquid-impermeable sheeting adapted to be disposed over the bottom surface for a user-defined pool for liquid, said sheeting adapted to be extended over all of a user-defined first perimeter boundary,
 wherein said liquid-impermeable sheeting is adapted to be secured at intervals on the non-liquid-side of said plurality of substantially A-framed segments. 
   
     
     
         71 . The liquid-containment system kit of  claim 70 , wherein:
 each of said plurality of load-bearing panels is selected from the group consisting of fabric, cargo netting, and variable-sized welded wire mesh; and   each said pliable load-bearing panel is adapted to transfer the weight of contained liquid via said liquid-impermeable sheeting into a downward force exerted on said at least one purlin, thereby providing a stabilizing ballast for the associated substantially A-framed segment.   
     
     
         72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . The liquid-containment system kit of  claim 70 , wherein said restorable collapsibility of each of said substantially A-framed segments is accomplished with hinges disposed at or near the apex of each of said substantially A-framed segments. 
     
     
         74 . The liquid-containment system kit of  claim 70 , wherein each of said plurality of substantially A-framed segments is adapted to be detachably coupled on each end to an adjacent substantially A-framed segment. 
     
     
         75 - 77 . (canceled) 
     
     
         78 . The liquid-containment system kit of  claim 70 , further comprising a plurality of pairs of mated substantially rigid corner A-framed segments adapted to substantially form a predetermined angle at the point where the corner A-framed segment of each of said mated pairs is substantially buttressed to the other at the predetermined angled mating edges, wherein:
 each of said corner A-framed segments is has substantially rigid cladding over said at least one purlin on said intended liquid-containing side of said corner A-framed segment;   said shape of each of said corner A-framed segments is restorably collapsible in order to facilitate the stacking of A-framed segments, to make storage and transport easier; and   the non-angled end of each of said plurality of said corner A-framed segments is adapted to be positioned substantially end-to-end with an adjacent said A-framed segment in order to help define a perimeter boundary around a user-defined pool for industrial liquid.   
     
     
         79 . The liquid-containment system kit of  claim 78 , wherein each of said mated pairs of corner A-framed segments is adapted to be detachably coupled to a ground-level rigid ballast member, said ballast member adapted to hold each of the corner A-framed segments of a mated pair of corner A-framed segments in position at said predetermined angle. 
     
     
         80 . The liquid-containment system kit of  claim 79 , wherein each said ballast member is substantially made of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, precast concrete, aluminum alloy, steel, hard plastic, wood products, and fiberglass. 
     
     
         81 . The liquid-containment system kit of  claim 79 , wherein:
 each said ballast member contains a weighting material to help anchor each said ballast member and its associated corner A-framed segments in place on the ground; and   each said ballast member is weighted with a material selected from the group consisting of concrete, dirt, water, and metal.   
     
     
         82 . The liquid-containment system kit of  claim 70 , further comprising components for a backup portable, modular, liquid-containment system kit, said backup liquid-containment system kit adapted to provide a second liquid-impermeable layer under said user-defined pool for industrial liquid and to provide a second elevated perimeter boundary outside of said user-defined first perimeter boundary; the backup liquid-containment system kit comprising:
 a plurality of elongated, substantially rigid curb members, wherein:
 each of said curb members is comprised of sheet material, 
 each of said curb members is shaped to form a substantially inverted “V” channel when resting on the ground, 
 said shape of each of said curb members is adapted to facilitate the nestable stacking of one or more of said curb members in order to make storage and transport easier, and 
 said plurality of said curb members are adapted to be positioned substantially end-to-end, forming corners as necessary such that the ends of said curb members used to form a corner are proximal to each other, in order to be able to define a perimeter boundary around a target storage container of liquid; and 
   a continuous layer of liquid-impermeable sheeting adapted to be disposed over the surface under and around a target storage container of liquid, said sheeting adapted to be extended over all of a second elevated perimeter boundary.   
     
     
         83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . The liquid-containment system kit of  claim 70 , wherein said plurality of hub-pad assemblies for said liquid-containment pool expansion compensation grid network are comprised of:
 a cross-tie member substantially made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, UHMW, or other relatively low-friction material,
 wherein each of the four ends of each said cross-tie member has an attachment point for a tie-bar attachment; and 
   a slide pad substantially made of a material selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, UHMW, and other relatively low-friction material,
 wherein said slide pad has four guide slots adapted to slidably receive pins disposed in the cross-tie members. 
   
     
     
         85 - 120 . (canceled) 
     
     
         121 . The liquid-containment system of  claim 27 , wherein said plurality of coupled substantially A-framed segments form an elongated cavity within said first perimeter boundary structure, further comprising heating equipment to prevent the formation of ice along said first perimeter boundary. 
     
     
         122 - 124 . (canceled) 
     
     
         125 . The liquid-containment system of  claim 27 , further comprising at least one substantially A-framed auxiliary equipment support member, sized to be positioned to straddle over said first perimeter boundary without making direct contact with said first perimeter boundary comprised of said plurality of substantially A-framed segments, wherein:
 said auxiliary equipment support member has an equipment-support platform disposed at the top of said auxiliary equipment support member; and   said auxiliary equipment support member has a ladder or set of stair steps for personnel access to said equipment-support platform.   
     
     
         126 - 154 . (canceled)