Insulated storage tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally insulated storage tanks are cumbersome, difficult to maneuver, and often cannot fit through standard doorways, making them challenging to install in basements or other hard-to-reach areas, while also being inefficient in thermal regulation and costly to manufacture and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A modular, thermally insulated storage tank design featuring a cylindrical structure composed of freestanding insulating panels supported by an outer jacket, with an inner liner and insulating lid, capable of regulating temperature and incorporating optional components like plumbing boards, sensors, and heat exchangers for efficient liquid storage and recirculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional thermally insulated storage tanks are manufactured as single-piece units, then thermal insulation performance is maintained, but they become cumbersome and difficult to maneuver through standard doorways
Solution Approach 1:
The storage tank is divided into multiple modular sections that can be assembled together. Each section can be maneuvered separately through standard doorways and then connected to form the complete tank, combining good thermal insulation with ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular sections are designed to nest within each other during transport and storage, reducing the space required for handling and installation while maintaining thermal insulation integrity when assembled.
2Loss of energy
If the storage tank is designed with thick insulation layers, then thermal efficiency is improved, but the overall size and weight increase making it harder to install
Solution Approach 1:
The tank utilizes composite insulation materials that provide high thermal resistance with reduced thickness. The modular design allows for optimized insulation layers in critical areas while keeping overall dimensions manageable for installation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the storage tank is made as a large prefabricated unit, then manufacturing is simplified, but it cannot fit through standard doorways to reach basement installations
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is segmented into standardized modular sections that are easier to manufacture individually and can be transported through standard doorways. The sections are designed with connection features that simplify assembly on-site.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular sections are designed to be flexible in arrangement, allowing the tank configuration to adapt to different installation spaces and access routes while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through standardized components.
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 modular design allows for easy assembly and installation in tight spaces, enhances thermal efficiency, and reduces manufacturing and installation costs, while effectively storing and recirculating both hot and cold liquids for domestic or commercial use.
Implementation Method 1
a modular, thermally insulated storage tank design featuring a cylindrical structure composed of freestanding insulating panels
Implementation Method 2
incorporating optional components like plumbing boards, sensors, and heat exchangers for efficient liquid storage and recirculation
Data Source
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AI summary
An insulated storage tank incorporating modular panels includes a structural rigidity to store large volumes of hot and cold liquids. The insulated storage tank includes a plurality of insulating panels disposed on an insulation substrate in a circumferential pattern, the insulating panels each in proximate contact with two other panels forming a cylindrical wall. The insulating panels are a rigid structure and provide structural support to an inner liner disposed within the cylindrical wall and operable to be filled with a hot or cold liquid. The cylindrical wall of insulating panels is further supported by a thin outer support jacket. The insulated storage tank has a lid disposed on the insulating panels thereby sealing the contents of the insulated storage tank.