Flexible Fluid Tank Multi-Chamber Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible liquid tanks experience bulging and deformation during transport due to dynamic forces, leading to potential leaks and rendering containers unusable for standard handling systems.
Innovation Solution
A flexible liquid tank design with angled connecting elements that divide the tank into multiple chambers, each surrounded by its own shell, to absorb and distribute hydrostatic and inertia forces, reducing the risk of bulging and deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the flexible liquid tank is made with flexible outer walls to allow volume expansion during transport, then the tank can accommodate liquid surge and center of gravity shifts, but the outer walls bulge and deform under dynamic forces
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is divided into multiple chambers by partition walls, which segment the liquid volume and restrict surge movement. This segmentation prevents the entire tank volume from expanding in one direction, thereby reducing outer wall bulging while still accommodating liquid movement within each smaller chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible membrane walls and partition structures that can deform elastically under pressure but return to their original shape. These flexible elements absorb dynamic forces through controlled deformation, preventing permanent bulging of the outer tank walls while maintaining volume accommodation.
2Ease of operation
If the flexible liquid tank allows free movement of liquid during transport, then the liquid can shift center of gravity naturally, but strong dynamic mass forces create surge that bulges the flexible shell
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the tank into multiple chambers with partition walls, the liquid's ability to shift center of gravity is maintained within each chamber, but the overall surge force is reduced because the liquid cannot move freely across the entire tank length. This segmentation limits the magnitude of dynamic mass forces while preserving essential liquid movement.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible membrane partitions act as intermediaries between liquid chambers, allowing controlled liquid movement and pressure equalization while restraining excessive surge. These intermediary structures transmit and distribute dynamic forces across multiple points, reducing peak forces on outer walls.
3Strength
If high compressive stresses are allowed to act on the outer walls during transport, then the tank structure can withstand the 30-ton liquid weight, but the container walls deform and become unusable for standard handling
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-chamber structure distributes the 30-ton liquid weight across multiple smaller support points and partition walls, rather than concentrating all compressive stress on the outer container walls. This segmentation of load paths reduces the deformation force transmitted to the container structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite wall structures combining rigid support elements with flexible membrane materials. This composite construction provides the necessary strength to withstand compressive loads while the flexible components allow controlled deformation that prevents stress concentration and permanent container wall deformation.
4Ease of manufacture
If the flexible liquid tank is designed as a single large chamber, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the tank experiences significant bulging and deformation under dynamic transport forces
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is constructed with multiple chambers separated by partition walls, which can be manufactured using standardized modular components. This segmentation approach maintains relative manufacturing simplicity through repetition of standard elements while significantly improving resistance to bulging by distributing dynamic forces across multiple structural units.
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
The multi-chamber design significantly reduces bulging and deformation, stabilizes the tank under dynamic forces, and prevents leaks, ensuring the container remains usable for standard handling systems.
Implementation Method 1
absorb and distribute hydrostatic and inertia forces
Implementation Method 2
absorb and distribute hydrostatic and inertia forces
Data Source
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AI summary
Within a flexible fluid tank, having substantially flexible outside walls (2a, 2b, 2c) defining a total volume thereof, at least one connecting element (6) is provided, which is attached with at least one first section to at least one section of one of the outside walls (2a, 2b, 2c) and with a second section is anchored in another location inside the tank (2) and divides the tank into at least two chambers (8), wherein at least one chamber (8) communicates with at least one other chamber (8).