Pile Underground Fluid Storage Assembly
A pile underground fluid storage assembly is disclosed which allows the labor of installing two systems to be shared, therefore reducing installation costs. The assembly includes a foundation pile for structural support of the building structure along with storage tanks for storage of fluids at various temperatures as required for building operations, with the tanks being located within the interior space of the pile. The assembly further reduces maintenance and repair costs by making the underground tanks accessible. It also prevents underground storage tank floating issues when groundwater levels exceed storage tank fluid levels.
1 . A storage pile assembly, comprising:
an at least partially hollow cylindrical foundation pile comprising a longitudinal central axis;
one or more fluid tank assemblies concentric with the central axis disposed inside the foundation pile;
piping for supply and return of fluids to the one or more tank assemblies; and
wherein the foundation pile is driven into the ground and the tank assemblies reside within a section of the foundation pile that is at least two to twenty meters below ground level.
2 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid tank assemblies further comprise;
a first tank;
a second tank within the first tank; wherein a first space between the first tank and the second tank creates a first capacity for storage of a first volume of fluid;
a third tank within the second tank; wherein a second space between the second tank and the third tank creates a second capacity for storage of a second volume of fluid; and
wherein the third tank creates a third capacity inside the third tank for storage of a third volume of fluid.
3 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid stored inside the one or more fluid tank assemblies is either a liquid or a gas.
4 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid stored inside the one or more fluid tank assemblies is either pressurized or non-pressurized.
5 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more volumes of fluid stored inside the one or more fluid tank assemblies of the one or more fluid tank assemblies are of different temperatures.
6 . The storage pile assembly of claim 2 , wherein the temperature of the first volume of fluid is at a lower temperature than the second volume of fluid; and
wherein the second volume of fluid is at a lower temperature than the third volume of fluid.
7 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein one or more surfaces of the one or more fluid tank assemblies are thermally insulated.
8 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein each individual tank of the one or more fluid tank assemblies further comprise an inlet pipe for supplying fluid, and an outlet pipe for fluid flowing out.
9 . The storage pile assembly of claim 8 , wherein the inlet pipe extends to a location near a bottom of the individual tank, and the outlet pipe is at a location near a top of the individual tank.
10 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , further comprising heating elements within each of the one or more fluid tank assemblies for heating fluid contained within each of the one or more fluid tank assemblies.
11 . The storage pile assembly of claim 10 , wherein the heating elements comprise components from the group of: electric heat tape, electric heat trace, heat exchangers, heating pipes, and heat exchange mechanisms.
12 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , further comprising sensors from the group of: temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and flow sensors for monitoring conditions within each section of the one or more fluid tank assemblies.
13 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein a shape of each storage section is configured to minimize heat transfer between the one or more fluid tank assemblies.
14 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein a shape of each storage section is configured to maximize heat transfer between the one or more fluid tank assemblies.
15 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more fluid tank assemblies is a storage tank.
16 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid tank assemblies is removeable from the pile for maintenance or replacement.
17 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , further comprising insulation inside a top section of the pile above the one or more fluid tank assemblies.
18 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , wherein a top of the pile is capped, sealing an interior of the pile and the one or more fluid tank assemblies from outdoor elements from the group of: water, dirt, insects and all other elements that may degrade or damage the one or more fluid tank assemblies.
19 . The storage pile assembly of claim 8 , wherein the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are insulated.
20 . The storage pile assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a structural support plate at the top of the pile for support of a building or structure; and wherein the support plate comprises an opening for inlet and outlet pipes to extend from the interior of the pile to systems outside of the pile.