FIBC Stabilization Container for Flood Barrier Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bulk material containers require significant personnel and material resources for constructing and dismantling separating barriers, such as flood protection walls, due to the need for large amounts of bulk materials like sand or gravel, and lack stability when filled with fluids like water or mud.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating fluid-tight stabilization containers within the container's sack, which can be filled with water or mud to provide internal pressure and stabilize the container, allowing it to maintain shape and resist lateral pressure, thus enabling the use of non-self-stabilizing materials for the barrier and simplifying the filling process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bulk material containers are filled with large amounts of bulk material like sand or gravel to construct separating barriers, then the stability and lateral pressure resistance of the barrier is improved, but the quantity of substance required increases significantly and requires heavy equipment for filling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of separating barrierVSAvoidamount of bulk material
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bulk material container is divided into multiple compartments, with at least one compartment designated for fluid filling and at least one for bulk material filling. This segmentation allows the container to achieve stability through fluid pressure while maintaining the option to add bulk material for enhanced lateral pressure resistance, thereby reducing the overall quantity of bulk material needed compared to traditional single-compartment designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If bulk material containers are used for constructing separating barriers, then the barrier functionality is achieved, but the complexity of operation increases due to requirements for heavy equipment like excavators or cranes for filling and emptying

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebarrier functionalityVSAvoidfilling and emptying process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The container is segmented into fluid and bulk material compartments with separate filling and emptying systems. The fluid compartment can be filled and emptied using simple pumps through dedicated inlet and outlet openings, eliminating the need for heavy equipment. The bulk material compartment retains its traditional filling/emptying capability, allowing flexible operation without requiring excavators or cranes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes hydraulic principles by filling part of the container with fluid through a pump system. The fluid pressure generated hydraulically provides sufficient stability for the barrier, replacing the need for mechanical filling equipment like excavators or cranes, thereby significantly simplifying the operation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Device complexity

If bulk material containers are designed with traditional single-compartment structure, then the device complexity is low, but the stability when filled with fluids like water or mud is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer structureVSAvoidstability when filled with fluid
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single-compartment structure is divided into multiple compartments: a fluid compartment for hydraulic stability and a bulk material compartment for additional support. This segmentation enables the container to achieve reliable stability when filled with fluids while maintaining relatively simple construction through modular compartment design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables rapid and resource-efficient filling of bulk material containers for constructing barriers without leaving residue, providing stability and lateral pressure resistance for use in flood protection and other applications.

Implementation Method 1

the stabilization container is shaped like a truncated pyramid with a cross section that tapers upwards, so that the bulging stabilization container is clamped in the sack

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP2812493B1Bulk material container with connecting device
Publication Date: 2016.08.17 FLEXIBOX CONTAINER
  • EP2812493B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2812493B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2812493B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a flexible bulk material container (Big-Bag, FIBC) (10) made from a fabric or a film, comprising a fillable sack (12) for constructing a separation barrier (80), in particular a flood-protection wall (82). The sack (12) comprises at least one fluid-fillable stabilisation container (100), which is constructed to be fluid-tight, can be closed air-tightly in the upper subsection thereof and is designed to effect a stabilisation of at least one outer wall or edge (104, 142) of the sack (12) in the filled state. In parallel aspects, the invention relates to a group of pre-assembled containers for rapid filling, to various possible usages for the container and to an effective filling method. The invention is used for the simple and fast provision of a flood-protection wall, which can be filled by a fluid, particularly water, so that no bulk material need be provided for the construction. The flood-protection wall can be constructed and taken down with little expense by filling said flood-protection wall with water, and the stabilisation containers are used for stabilising the container in the filled state.