GAS ISOLATED STORAGE SYSTEM
The invention concerns a storage facility comprising a gas isolated storage space containing an automated storage and retrieval system and a method for using such a storage facility.
1 . A storage facility for an automated storage and retrieval system, the storage facility comprising:
a storage space comprising a storage and retrieval system, the storage and retrieval system comprising:
a storage grid configured to store a plurality of storage containers in vertical stacks; and
a first vehicle support;
a transit space comprising a second vehicle support attached to, or integrated with, the first vehicle support;
a handling space comprising a third vehicle support attached to, or integrated with, the second vehicle support;
a first separation wall separating the storage space and the transit space, wherein the first separation wall comprises a first opening for allowing a container delivery vehicle to pass through, and a first closable gate configured to open and close the first opening; and
a second separation wall separating the transit space and the handling space, wherein the second separation wall comprises a second opening for allowing the container delivery vehicle to pass through, and a second closable gate configured to open and close the second opening.
2 . The storage facility of claim 1 , further comprising a container delivery vehicle operating on the first vehicle support, the second vehicle support, and the third vehicle support, the container delivery vehicle being configured to receive at least one storage container.
3 . The storage facility of claim 1 , wherein, when the gates of the first separation wall and the second separation wall are closed, the first separation wall and the second separation wall divide the storage facility into three fluid-tight sections, wherein the three fluid-tight sections are the storage space, the transit space, and the handling space.
4 . The storage facility of claim 1 , wherein the handling space comprises a container delivery station arranged at or near a base of the storage facility and a container guiding column extending between the third vehicle support and the delivery station.
5 . The storage facility of claim 4 , wherein the container guiding column is configured to guide containers having been inserted into the guiding column by the container handling vehicle to or from the delivery station.
6 . The storage facility of claim 4 , wherein the container guiding column comprises a lower platform onto which the containers are placed prior to being moved into the delivery station.
7 . The storage facility of claim 4 , wherein the container guiding column comprises a conveyor belt.
8 . The storage facility of claim 1 , wherein the first separation wall and the second separation wall are opened by a pushing force exerted by the container delivery vehicle.
9 . The storage facility of claim 1 , further comprising a gas regulating device, in fluid communication with the storage space, configured to regulate a gas composition of a gas within the storage space.
10 . The storage facility of claim 9 , wherein the gas regulating device is configured to inject a gas into and/or extract a gas from the storage space.
11 . The storage facility of claim 9 , where the gas regulating device comprises:
a gas container, wherein the gas container is configured to convert an initial gas composition in the storage space from an initial flammable gas concentration to a final flammable gas concentration, the final gas concentration being less than the initial flammable gas concentration; and
at least one gas inlet allowing fluid communication between the gas container and the storage space.
12 . The storage facility of claim 11 , wherein the gas regulating device is installed outside the storage space and configured to at least partly replace the initial gas composition within the storage space with a converted gas composition by guiding the gas from the gas container into the storage space via the at least one gas inlet.
13 . The storage facility of claim 1 , further comprising one or more flammable gas sensors, such as one or more O 2 gas sensors, for measuring of the concentration of a flammable gas.
14 . The storage facility of claim 13 , wherein the handling space comprises an oxygen gas sensor configured to monitor oxygen concentration in the handling space at a level considered safe for humans.
15 . The storage facility of claim 13 , wherein the transit space comprises an oxygen gas sensor configured to monitor degree of leakage between the storage space and the transit space and between the handling space and the transit space.
16 . The storage facility of claim 13 , wherein the storage space comprises an oxygen gas sensor configured to monitor that oxygen concentration remains below a predetermined maximum concentration.
17 . A method for accessing a storage container in a storage facility of an automated storage and retrieval system, the method comprising the steps of:
retrieving a storage container from an enclosed storage space using a container delivery vehicle;
opening a first closable gate in a first separation wall, wherein the first separation wall separates the storage space and a transit space;
moving the container delivery vehicle from a first rail system in the storage space to a second rail system in the transit space through the first opening;
closing the first closable gate;
opening a second closable gate in a second opening in a second separation wall, wherein the second separation wall separates the transit space and a handling space;
moving the container delivery vehicle from the second rail system in the transit space to a third rail system in the handling space; and
closing the second closable gate.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first closable gate and/or the second closable gate are opened or closed by a motor.
19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising regulating a time interval between the closing of the first closable gate and the opening of the second closable gate.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the retrieving the storage container comprises:
picking up the storage container stored within a storage grid using a lifting device; and
lowering the storage container vertically down to the container delivery vehicle.