Transportable water storage system

Abstract

A transportable liquid storage system includes a plurality of silos, each adapted to be transported in a horizontal transport orientation and moved to a vertical operating orientation at the work site. The silos are arranged in at least two adjacent rows, and each silo is releasably and rigidly attached to all silos adjacent thereto such that the plurality of silos forms a rigid silo structure, and an outlet port on each water silo is connected to a conduit, the conduit having a discharge at a selected location. The silos include an overflow chamber at a top end thereof to allow each silo to fill to capacity on uneven ground, and a hollow base which facilitates leak containment and detection.

1 . A transportable liquid storage system comprising:
 a plurality of silos, each silo adapted to be moved on a transport vehicle in a horizontal transport orientation to a work site and moved to a vertical operating orientation at the work site with a silo base resting on the ground;   wherein the silos are arranged in at least two adjacent rows, and each silo is releasably and rigidly attached to all silos adjacent thereto such that the plurality of silos forms a substantially rigid silo structure; and   wherein an outlet port on each water silo is connected to a conduit, the conduit having a discharge at a selected location.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each silo is releasably and rigidly attached to all silos adjacent thereto by upper and lower releasable locking devices mounted on the silos. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein each locking device comprises a first lock mechanism on a first silo and a corresponding second lock mechanism on an adjacent second silo, and wherein the first lock mechanism is adapted to releasably engage the second lock mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a valve at an outlet port of each silo, and wherein the conduit network is connected to each valve. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one stabilizer leg movably mounted to at least one silo, the at least one stabilizer leg movable from a stored position adjacent to a wall of the at least one silo to an operating position extending outward from the at least one silo and outward from the silo structure and contacting the ground. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each silo comprises a main chamber and an overflow chamber extending upward from a top end of the main chamber, the overflow chamber having a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the main chamber, and wherein the outlet ports on first and second silos are connected to the conduit at the same time such that liquid flows between the first and second silos, and such that a first liquid level in the first silo on higher ground is at a top of the main chamber, and such that a second liquid level in the second silo on lower ground is in the overflow chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the cross-sectional area of the overflow chamber is less than about 20% of the cross-sectional area of the main chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  comprising a vent opening in an upper portion of the overflow chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein each silo comprises an aeration conduit extending from a lower portion of the main chamber to an aeration chamber located above the main chamber, and a pump operative to pump liquid from the lower portion of the main chamber into the aeration chamber above a level of liquid in the aeration chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the aeration chamber is provided by the overflow chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one silo comprises a main chamber and a hollow base attached to a lower end of the main chamber, and wherein an entirety of the lower end of the main chamber rests on the hollow base when in the vertical operating orientation such that liquid leaking from the lower end of the main chamber collects in the hollow base, and a liquid detector located in the hollow base and operative to send a leak signal to a leak indicator when liquid is detected in the hollow base. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the hollow base is removable to provide access to repair leaks in the lower end of the main chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a floor of each silo slopes to the outlet port. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein each silo has a lower outlet port and an upper outlet port above the lower outlet port and wherein a floor of each silo slopes to the lower outlet port. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a lower scrubber operative to direct a pressurized stream of liquid on lower portions of an inner surface of the main chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  comprising an upper scrubber operative to direct a pressurized stream of liquid on upper portions of an inner surface of the main chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the upper and lower scrubbers comprises a plurality of rotating nozzles, and a high pressure liquid source connected to the nozzles to rotate the nozzles and provide the pressurized stream of liquid. 
     
     
         18 . A water silo apparatus adapted to be moved on a transport vehicle in a horizontal transport orientation to a work site and moved to a vertical operating orientation at the work site, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongate main chamber with an outlet port in a lower portion thereof;   a hollow base attached to a lower end of the main chamber, wherein an entirety of the lower end of the main chamber rests on the hollow base when in the vertical operating position such that liquid leaking from the lower end of the main chamber collects in the hollow base;   a liquid detector located in the hollow base and operative to send a leak signal to a leak indicator when liquid is detected in the hollow base;   an overflow chamber extending upward from a top end of the main chamber, the overflow chamber having a cross-sectional area that is less than about 20% of a cross-sectional area of the main chamber; and   a vent opening in an upper portion of the overflow chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the hollow base is removable to provide access to repair the lower end of the main chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising an aeration conduit extending from a lower portion of the main chamber to an aeration chamber located above the main chamber, and a pump operative to pump liquid from the lower portion of the main chamber into the aeration chamber above a level of liquid in the aeration chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the aeration chamber is provided by the overflow chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein a floor of the silo slopes to the outlet port. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the silo has a lower outlet port and an upper outlet port above the lower outlet port and wherein the floor slopes to the lower outlet port. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 18  comprising a lower scrubber operative to direct a pressurized stream of liquid on lower portions of an inner surface of the main chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  comprising an upper scrubber operative to direct a pressurized stream of liquid on upper portions of an inner surface of the main chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein at least one of the upper and lower scrubbers comprises a plurality of rotating nozzles, and a high pressure liquid source connected to the nozzles to rotate the nozzles and provide the pressurized stream of liquid.