MULTI-CHAMBER FLEXIBLE STORAGE TANK
Various aspect of the present disclosure relate to a sealed storage tank. The sealed storage tank includes a first film at least partially defining a first internal chamber of the sealed storage tank. The first film includes a first polymeric layer having a thickness in a range of from about 0.05 mm to about 1 mm. The first film can include an optional first fibrous scrim layer directly contacting the first polymeric layer. The sealed storage tank can further include a second film attached to the first film and at least partially defining a second internal chamber of the sealed storage tank, the second film comprising. The second film can further include a second polymeric layer having a thickness in a range of from about 0.05 mm to about 1 mm. The second film can include an optional second fibrous scrim layer directly contacting the second polymeric layer.
1 . A sealed storage tank comprising:
a first film at least partially defining a first internal chamber of the sealed storage tank, the first film comprising:
a first polymeric layer having a thickness in a range of from about 0.05 mm to about 1 mm; and
an optional first fibrous scrim layer directly contacting the first polymeric layer;
a second film attached to the first film and at least partially defining a second internal chamber of the sealed storage tank, the second film comprising:
a second polymeric layer having a thickness in a range of from about 0.05 mm to about 1 mm; and
an optional second fibrous scrim layer directly contacting the second polymeric layer.
2 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , further comprising a third film attached to an internal surface of the sealed storage tank and bifurcating the internal chamber to form a first chamber and a second chamber, the third film comprising a third polymeric layer.
3 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , wherein the first polymeric layer, the second polymeric layer, or both are substantially translucent or transparent and are at least partially visible through the first fibrous scrim layer, the second fibrous scrim layer, or both.
4 . The scaled storage tank of claim 1 , wherein the first polymeric layer, the second polymeric layer, or a combination thereof independently comprise a polyolefin, a polyketone, a polyester, a polyimide, ethylene vinyl alcohol, a polyvinylidene fluoride, a polyvinylidene chloride, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polytetrafluoroethylene, copolymers thereof, or a mixture thereof.
5 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , wherein a chemical composition of the first film and the second film are the same.
6 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , further comprising a barrier layer disposed adjacent to an interior side of the first polymeric layer, the second polymeric layer, or both.
7 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , wherein the first fibrous scrim layer, the second fibrous scrim layer, or both independently comprise a woven or non-woven material comprising fiber glass, nylon, cotton, cellulosic fiber, wool, rubber, a polyester, a carbon fiber, a polyolefin, a coextruded material, or a mixture thereof.
8 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric membrane is free of a fibrous scrim.
9 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , further comprising a liquid, a solid, a slurry, or a mixture thereof, disposed within the sealed storage tank.
10 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , further comprising a tube extending at least partially through the sealed storage tank.
11 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , further comprising a third film and a fourth film attached to an internal surface of the internal chamber to at least partially form a third chamber.
12 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , further comprising a vent, a port, a valve, or a combination thereof extending through the second film.
13 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , having of volume of up to about 200,000 liters.
14 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , having a volume in a range of from about 4 liters to about 40,000 liters.
15 . The sealed storage tank of claim 1 , wherein:
the first film and the second film are welded together to form a first sheet;
a fourth film, having a substantially similar chemical composition to the first film is welded to a center of a fifth film, having a substantially similar chemical composition to the second film to form a second sheet; and
the first sheet is welded to the second sheet with a third film bifurcating the internal chamber to form a first chamber and a second chamber.
16 . An assembly comprising:
the sealed storage tank of claim 1 ; and
a container, wherein the sealed storage tank is disposed at least partially within to the container.
17 . A method of making the sealed storage tank of claim 1 , the method comprising:
welding the first film to the second film; and
welding an optional third film to an internal surface of at least one of the first film and the second film.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the welding comprises thermal welding.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the third film is stacked upon the second film and the first film is stacked upon the third film prior to welding the first film to the second film and the welding the third film to the internal surface of at least one of the first film and the second film.
20 . The method of claim 17 , comprising:
forming a first sheet by welding an end of the first film to a center of the second film;
forming a second sheet by welding an end of a fourth film, having a substantially similar chemical composition to the first film, to a center of a fifth film, having a substantially similar chemical composition to the second film;
welding an edge of the second film to an edge of the fifth film; and
welding an outside edge of the first sheet to an outside edge of the second sheet.