Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Device Comprising a Receptacle for Storing a liquid
Field of the Invention
The invention focuses on an equipment including a container for the storage of
a liquid.
Background
In many cases a liquid is to be kept and stored at a temperature being
different
from the surrounding outer temperature level. For this purpose cladding the
outer surface of the container with insulating materials, which thermally
insulate the container together with the liquid contained in it against the
external space - for example against a basement room. However such
containers are in most cases relatively expensive, inter alia also because the
outer surface of containers is often curved, for example following cylindrical
or
calotte-shaped surfaces, so that the insulating material needs to be adapted
to
such surface in respect of its shape.
Resulting from these disadvantages of the hitherto known state of the art is
the
problem initiating the invention of creating a configuration for a container
for
the storage of a liquid in such a way that the same can be manufactured as
economically priced as possible, notwithstanding good thermal insulation.
Summary of the Invention
For the solution of this problem in connection with a generic container for
the
storage of a liquid the invention provides for that such container does not
exhibit any insulation directly on its outer surface, but is placed inside an
accessible chamber that is covered with plate-shape thermal insulation over
its
entire inside surface.
Thereby plane plates made of thermally insulating materials or with a
thermally
insulating structural configuration can be used, regardless of the type and
shape of the container. The size of the chamber is preferably chosen so that
it
is big enough to walk in also when the container is installed, thus is
providing
enough room for one person. The inside waif of a chamber or of a room can
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always be comprised of plane walls, ceilings, and floors, regardless of the
shape of a fluid reservoir installed inside it, so that plane plates can
easily be
attached to the same, for instance by use of adhesive. Preferably all of the
inside walls of the chamber accommodating the container as well as its ceiling
and its floor are insulated, i.e. are covered with insulating plates.
For insulating materials preferably foamed materials such as foamed
polystyrene or poly(1-phenylethan-1,2-diy1) come into consideration, for
example in expanded form (EPS) like Styrofoam, or in extruded form (XPS)
like Styrodur, the former preferably at walls and/or at the ceiling, the
latter
preferably on the floor. Furthermore also so-called vacuum insulation panels
can be used, at which the actual insulating solid is completely surrounded by
an airtight envelope and evacuated so that thermal conductivity is reduced to
a
minimum. Of course also other substances are conceivable as long as they
is exhibit sufficient thermal insulation properties.
The accessible or walk-in chamber is preferably filled with a gas, for
instance
with air.
it is recommend that the pressure inside the chamber corresponds to
atmospheric pressure.
The chamber is preferably provided with an entrance, for example in form of a
door, a lid, and/or a manhole. The entrance can be sealed up airtight in
closed
condition in order to exclude any heat transfer caused by convection.
The stored liquid may be water, for example hot water in the context of
heating
or as domestic hot water for kitchen. bathroom and/or WC. Also a cooled liquid
like, for example, cold water, which is kept at a pleasant temperature level
in
summer can be stored in such a container.
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The invention is especially appropriate for the storage of liquids containing
water as primary component, i.e. water at a weight proportion of 50 % or more,
for example at a weight proportion of 70 % or more, preferably at a weight
proportion of 90 % or more, in preference at a weight proportion of 95 % or
more, in particular at a weight proportion of 98 `)/0 or more, or even at a
weight
proportion of 99 % or more. This inter alia pertains to liquids mixed with
special
chemicals, for example with a frost protection agent, with rust preventing
agents, antioxidants, and/or substances for influencing any other parameter
such as viscosity, degree of acidity, boiling point, etc.
Generally also various other liquids can be stored in a container according to
the invention when required, for example oils, acids, alkaline solutions or
the
like, in particular when temperature control of the same is desired.
It is within the scope of the invention that the pressure inside the container
is
equal to atmospheric pressure, or greater than the latter. Since the container
according to the invention is manually or automatically checkable for
leakages,
it can be operated at internal overpressure without any risk to the
groundwater
and without any other impairment of the environment.
The chamber according to the invention may be placed belowground, for
instance in form of a basement room or of a hermetically closed basement
compartment, or in form of a cistern-like cavity underground. By embedding
the chamber in soil, particularly below the depth of frost penetration of ca.
80
2S cm or 100 cm can be achieved that the temperature discharge during the
cold
season of the year is decreased because of the reduced temperature
difference between the inside of the chamber and the ambience. A similar
effect is achieved by installation in a basement room, particularly when the
same is for the most part or completely located below ground surface.
On the other hand it is also possible to set up the chamber aboveground, for
example in form of an (auxiliary) building or in a supply chamber or storeroom
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preferably on the ground surface, also however in an attic room or the like,
as
the case may be.
By incorporating it into a building being additionally insulated at its outer
surface the insulating effect at the inner side of the camber can be improved
even more.
Inside the chamber a ladder can be provided for so that a person can step
down inside the chamber. For that purpose indeed also individual rungs could
LC .. be directly fixed in a surrounding wall of the chamber; however such a
measure would produce a large number of thermal bridges, as for each one of
such rungs the insulation would have to be disrupted. Therefore it is better
to
use a ladder with stringers and to affix them at the most at their upper
and/or
at their bottom ends to the chamber. On the other hand also the alternative
exits to directly attach such a ladder or individual rungs at the container
itself,
because in this way no thermal bridges to the outside would be generated.
The chamber should be equipped with some kind of artificial and/or natural
lighting, for example by electric lighting and/or in form of a light well. A
light
switch for artificial lighting inside chamber could be installed outside the
chamber for safety reasons so that no spark formation will occur inside the
chamber when switching on or off_
As far as some natural illumination is desired in case of an aboveground
chamber, at any rate some part of the chamber could be glazed. In that case
however thermo-glass is recommended, therefore a multi-layer arrangement
of glass panes, each with vacuum in between the individual panes. In case of
an underground chamber a light well would be able to let daylight into the
chamber where applicable.
The invention is furthermore distinguished by a heating unit for raising the
temperature of the stored liquid, and/or by a cooling device for lowering the
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temperature of the stored liquid. For that purpose installation of a heat
exchanger near the container or just inside the chamber will suffice; the
actual
heat generation or heat production may take play outside of it.
5 The heating and/or cooling facility, or anyhow a heat exchanger of the
same,
should be placed inside the walkable chamber in such a way that it is enclosed
by the plate-shaped thermal insulation attached to the inner sides of the
chamber walls. Therefore the brought in heat cannot escape to the outside, or
thermal energy discharged for cooling purposes cannot penetrate into the
chamber again respectively.
Preferentially heat exchanger of a heating unit and/or of a cooling device is
placed inside the chamber and/or the container is at least component part of a
heat pump or some other heat circulation system, for example of a solar
1.3 collector heat circulation system, for transporting thermal energy
either into the
chamber or into the container, or for discharging it from there. The
respective
other heat exchanger of a heat circulation system is thereby arranged outside
of the chamber, or anyway outside of the container according to the invention.
The invention may be expanded to the effect that at least one heating unit
and/or a cooling device is component part of a temperature control circuit in
order to regulate the temperature of the liquid inside the container to a
specified temperature value, or to keep it within a range of permissible
temperature values. By such measure can be assured that the temperature of
2= the liquid inside the container always conforms to permissible values,
for
instance also then when a liquid quantum to be replenished initially exhibits
a
different temperature than the stored liquid.
On the other hand can at least one heating unit and/or cooling device be
component part of a temperature control circuit in order to regulate the
temperature of the air inside the chamber to a specified temperature value, or
to keep it within a specified range of temperature values. When the
=
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temperature inside the thermally insulated area of the chamber is kept at the
same level as the setpoint temperature of the liquid inside the container
set up in it, the heat dissipation from the accordingly tempered liquid
through the wall
of the container equals zero.
For the purposes of temperature monitoring and/or control a temperature
sensor should be installed in the walkable room of the chamber outside of the
container. With this for example a fan inside the chamber could be activated
to
equalize the air temperature within the camber in case of overheating in
winter
or in case of temperature being too low during the warm season of the year.
Besides a leakage sensor can be installed in the walkable room of the
chamber outside of the container, for example a sensor detecting the liquid
stored inside the container. A preferred place for such a sensor for instance
would be in a "sump" embedded in the floor of the chamber, thus there where
leaking liquid would accumulate. For that purpose the floor could perhaps be
finished with a slant towards one corner of the chamber, where then the liquid
detection sensor would be located.
Finally it conforms to the teaching of the invention that in the walkable room
of
the chamber outside of the container a pressure sensor is installed. Thereby a
defect in liquid tightness of the container could be detected, in particular
in
case of a pressure vessel and a sealed-up entrance at the same time.
Additional characteristics, details, advantages, and effects on the basis of
the
invention arise from the following description of a preferred embodiment of
the
invention as well as by reference to the drawing.
Brief Description of the Drawing
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section through an equipment according to the
invention for the storage of a liquid to be kept at temperature.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The equipment 1 for the storage of a liquid 2 to be kept at temperature
exemplarily represented by
the drawing is located below the ground surface
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3. However this is not mandatory. The entire arrangement could - with the
exception of a
foundation 4 or some other substructure - also be placed above the ground
surface 3.
A distinctive characteristic of the equipment 1 according to the invention is
a chamber 5, which is
delimited by an enclosure 6.
This enclosure 6 preferably consists of walls 7, a floor 8, and a ceiling 9.
Walls 7, floor 8,
and ceiling 9 are preferably at least self-supporting. For these purposes
multifarious
materials providing sufficient stability come into question. Preferred however
are building
materials such as bricks, stone, or concrete; of course also other materials
are principally
possible like plastics, metals, or even wood, although such materials are
generally inferior
to inorganic, nonmetallic building materials in respect of stability and/or
durability.
The floor 8 of the enclosure 6 respectively the upper surface of the
foundation 4 can be
finished with a slight slant inside the chamber in order to form some sort of
a sump at its
lowermost point for collecting leaking liquid 2 or the like.
Above the highest point of a possibly slanted running floor 8 the chamber 5
has a constant or
invariable horizontal cross section all the way up to the inner surface of the
ceiling 9. This
horizontal cross section is preferably of polygonal shape with straight sides,
for example has a
rectangular or quadratic perimeter.
Principally of course also a circular geometry is imaginable, although this is
not even
promotive for further mounting and installation.
The walls 7 could be made up of several ring-like structural components that
are stacked on top
of one another, each with polygonal perimeter corresponding to the invariable
horizontal cross
section of the chamber 5; such ring-like structural components each could
consist of concrete
and could be
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provided with circumferential groove and/or tongue type indentations and
raised sections at their top and bottom sides complementary to each other,
providing for reciprocal centering.
On the other hand could also be imagined to build at least some parts of
the walls 7 of vertically erected slabs of concrete. A conventional way of
construction
of the walls 7 using bricks or stones is of course also thinkable.
The walls 7 terminate at their upper ends in a preferably horizontal ceiling
9,
for example made of concrete.
In case of a belowground embodiment the ceiling 9 is preferably provided with
an access opening, for example in form of a lid 10 that closes up some sort of
a manhole 11.
In case of aboveground embodiments preferably an access door in a wall 7 is
provided.
An entrance - thus a lid 10 or a door - can be provided with a sealing all the
way around to ensure that the chamber 5 is to a great extend closed up
airtight
in closed condition. An access entrance is either not lockable, or can at
least
anytime be opened from the inside.
At the inner side of the enclosure 6 thermal insulation is envisaged,
particularly
in form of thermally insulating plates 12, 13.
These can be made of different materials, for example foamed material such
as StyrofoamTm or StyrodurTM.
The floor is preferably covered up with plate-type Styrodur material 12, the
walls with plate-type Styrofoam material 13.
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Other materials are imaginable, for example so-called vacuum insulation
panels, in which a
foamed or open-pored core is surrounded by an airtight envelope and then
evacuated so
that heat transfer due to convection cannot occur.
The thickness of insulating plates 12, 13 depends to a certain degree on their
thermal
insulation properties. While for conventional insulation plates without vacuum
a thickness of 5
cm or more is recommended, preferably of 10 cm or more, may for vacuum
insulation panels
a thickness of 1 cm or more already be sufficient, or a thickness of 2 cm or
more.
A lid 10 or an access door is preferably also thermally insulated at the inner
side.
On top of the of insulating plates 12 attached to the floor a liquid-
impermeable layer 14 may
be provided, for instance in form of sheet metal with a folded-up rim 15. This
layer 14 serves
the purpose of guiding leaking liquid to a deepest point or sump 16 at the
floor and to
accumulate it there. There a liquid detection sensor 17 can be installed for
setting off an
alarm in the event of a leakage.
The chamber 5 is walkable through an access opening - thus through a manhole
11 with
lid, or through a door.
In case of an access opening in the ceiling as demonstrated on the drawing a
ladder 18 is
provided below the manhole 11 so that operating or maintenance personnel can
stepdown
into the chamber 5. The ladder 18 is at the most at its upper and/or bottom
stringer ends
affixed to the walls / ceiling / floor of chamber in order to minimize heat
bridges going straight
through the insulating plates 12, 13.
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Preferably is a manhole 11 together with the ladder 18 running beneath it not
arranged at
the center of the ceiling 9, but is offset towards the periphery of the
chamber 5, therefore
near a wall 7.
5 In the case of an access door, or when entering the chamber 5 is not
required, a ladder 18 is
superfluous.
Beside it there is room inside the chamber 5 for the installation of a
container 19, for example
in form of a tank. The container is preferably freestanding within the chamber
5 and is
10 supported by feet 20 or some other base structure that are reaching
though the insulating
plates 12 on the floor and are resting on a solid floor 8 or on a foundation
4. Openings
reaching through a liquid- impermeable layer 14 can be sealed up.
The horizontal cross section of the container 19 can suitably be chosen to
match the
horizontal inside cross section of the chamber 5, for example can itself be
rectangular when
the chamber has a square cross section, of course also with rounded edges
where
applicable. At the other hand this is not mandatory and therefore in a chamber
5 with a
square cross section for example also a container 19 with a round cross
section can be
installed.
The container 19 itself does not need any insulation and therefore can consist
of just one
layer of a stiff material, for example of sheet metal.
A shell 21 of the preferably vertical standing container 19 is closed at the
bottom by a bottom
22, and at the top by a cap or a top cover 23. These parts can either directly
or by way of
bent transition sections 24 be welded together, or can be connected together
liquid-tight in
any other way.
Inside the container 19 is the liquid 2 to be stored. For inflow and outflow
of liquid the
container 19 has an inflow opening 25 and an outflow opening 26, to which in
each case a
pipe can be connected, either directly or via one or more
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interconnected armatures such as pumps 27, valves 28, shutoff dampers,
flowmeters, or the like.
In the case of the equipment 1 represented on the drawing a valve 28 is
connected at the inflow opening 25, and a pump 27 is connected at the outflow
opening 26.
The inflow opening 25 runs preferably in the area of the upper top cover 23
into the container 19.
As far as the outflow opening 26 is also located in the area of the upper top
cover 23 of the container 19, a suction pipe 29 reaching all the way down
inside the container 19 close to the bottom 22 should be provided so that the
pump 27 does not run dry until the container 19 is emptied to a great extent.
Furthermore a filling level sensor 30 can be installed inside the container
19,
which either monitors one or more specified filling level threshold values, or
detects the actual filling level and transmits it in form of a measured value
to
an evaluation, regulating and/or control system.
2
Over and above also a heat exchanger 31 can be placed inside the container
19 in order to provide for the right temperature of the liquid 2 inside the
container 19, thus to heat it up or to cool it down.
c The heat exchanger 31 preferably has the shape of a pipe wound to a
helical
coil 32, which is for example coiled around a vertical helical coil axis.
At both ends of the heat exchanger 31 respectively of the helically coiled
pipe
section 32 two pipes 33, 34 are connected, which are leaving the container
19, preferably at its topside 23. Via the flow temperature and/or the flow
velocity of the heat transfer medium inside the pipes 32. 33, 34 the heat
input
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or heat removal into respectively from the container 19 can be regulated or
controlled.
For temperature control a temperature sensor can be installed inside the
container 19, preferably in its lower section and/or near the opening of a
suction pipe 29.
Further sensors can be provided for in addition. In the chamber 5 outside of
the container 19 for example a temperature sensor can be installed, so that
also the space inside the chamber 5, but outside of the container 19 can be
temperature controlled or at least monitored.
Moreover a pressure sensor cold be installed so that particularly in case of a
pressurized storage container 19 in combination with a sealed access opening
or manhole 11 some leakage of the container 19 can be detected on the basis
of raising pressure inside the chamber 5.
In addition also various other parameters could be monitored by additional
sensors, for example a development of toxic vapors or gases, etc.
Finally at least one preferably electrical light source 35 is envisaged inside
the
chamber 5, which can be electrically activated by a light switch 36,
preferably
by a light switch 36 being installed outside of the chamber 5.
2
13
List of reference signs
1 Equipment 26 Outflow opening
2 Liquid 27 Pump
3 Ground surface 28 Valve
4 Foundation 29 Suction pipe
Chamber 30 Filling level sensor
6 Enclosure 31 Heat exchanger
7 Walls 32 Helically coiled pipe
section
8 Floor 33 Pipe
9 Ceiling 34 Pipe
Lid 35 Light source
11 Manhole 36 Switch
12 Insulation plates
13 Insulation plates
14 Layer
Rim
16 Sump
17 Liquid sensor
18 Ladder
19 Container
Feet
21 Shell
22 Bottom
23 Top cover
24 Transition section
Inflow opening
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