Modular Stormwater Tank Assembly for Faster Underground Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stormwater detention systems are in need of cost-effective and efficient solutions that can be easily installed underground, particularly in urban areas where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
A modular stormwater detention tank composed of prefabricated concrete pieces with arches and domes, supported by footing members, allowing for easy assembly and interlocking to form an enclosure with a flat top surface, which can be used to manage stormwater runoff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional stormwater detention systems are used, then stormwater can be detained and released at a controlled rate, but the cost of manufacture and installation is high
Solution Approach 1:
The detention tank is divided into multiple modular pieces that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This segmentation allows for standardized production of individual modules, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while enabling flexible assembly to achieve the required detention capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses replicated modular units that can be mass-produced using standardized molds and manufacturing processes. By creating multiple identical or similar modules that can be assembled in different configurations, the system achieves cost efficiency through economies of scale in manufacturing.
2Reliability
If underground detention tanks are installed to store excess rainwater, then flooding and erosion are prevented, but the installation process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is segmented into pre-fabricated modular pieces that can be manufactured off-site and transported to the installation location. This allows parallel manufacturing and site preparation, reducing overall installation time while maintaining the integrity and reliability of the detention system.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular pieces are pre-manufactured with integrated features such as connection elements, reinforcement, and structural components already in place. This preliminary preparation of components before installation significantly reduces on-site construction time and complexity while ensuring quality standards are met.
3Strength
If modular pieces with arches and domes are used, then structural strength is increased, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular pieces incorporate arches and domes which are curved structural elements. These geometric forms naturally distribute loads more efficiently than flat surfaces, providing enhanced structural strength and load-bearing capacity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized curved formwork.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A modular stormwater detention tank (10) made with a plurality of modular pieces (12), and a plurality of modular footing members (14). The plurality of modular pieces each have four legs (16) supporting a flat rectangular top surface. The plurality of modular pieces are configured and arranged to abut one another to form an enclosure with a perimeter sidewall, and a flat top surface. One of the plurality of modular pieces includes an inlet for the stormwater. The plurality of modular footing members are configured to support the plurality of modular pieces, and to interlock adjacent modular pieces in position. Means for attaching the top surfaces of the modular pieces to one another may also be provided.