Method of construction of prestressed concrete panel wall liquid storage tank and tank so constructed

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9284114-B2
Application number	US-201414462276-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2014
Priority date	Aug 18, 2014
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for the construction of a prestressed concrete tank for the storage of liquids. The method includes erecting precast concrete panels on a foundation in a generally cylindrical shape while allowing an opening to allow the passage of people and equipment there through during the construction of the tank. Anchors are provided along both vertical edges of the opening. Strands are inserted into the anchors along both vertical edges of the opening and wire wrapped under tension over the outer surface of the inner tank wall. In one embodiment, a structural frame is secured within the opening and the strands are anchored to the vertical members of the structural frame. Once the opening in the tank wall is no longer needed, the opening is sealed with concrete panels. The sealed opening is then wire wrapped under tension using strands anchored to the anchors provided along both vertical edges of the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for constructing a storage tank having a generally cylindrical shape, comprising:
a. constructing an inner tank wall comprising concrete panels on a foundation wherein the inner tank wall has an outer surface and an opening in the inner tank wall defined by an opening height and two vertical edges spaced a width apart, the opening provided to allow the passage of people and equipment there through prior to step (e) of the method;
b. anchoring at least a first elongated tensile member to the outer surface of the inner tank wall at a first plurality of locations along one of the two vertical edges adjacent the opening;
c. wrapping the outer surface of the inner tank wall with the at least a first elongated tensile member;
d. anchoring the at least a first elongated tensile member to the outer surface of the inner tank wall at a second plurality of locations along the other of the two vertical edges adjacent the opening such that each of the first plurality of locations is horizontally aligned with each of the second plurality of locations;
e. installing concrete panels in the opening in the inner tank wall to create a sealed opening;
f. anchoring at least a second elongated tensile member to the outer surface of the inner tank wall at a first plurality of locations along one of the two vertical edges adjacent the opening;
g. wrapping the sealed opening with the at least a second elongated tensile member; and
h. anchoring the at least a second elongated tensile member to the outer surface of the inner tank wall at a second plurality of locations along the other of the two vertical edges adjacent the opening.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inner tank wall has an inner tank wall height and the opening height is equal to the inner tank wall height.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the wrapping of step (c) comprises passing the at least a first elongated tensile member back and forth successively between each of the first plurality of locations and each of the second plurality of locations over the outer surface of the inner tank wall; and
the wrapping of step (g) comprises passing the at least a second elongated tensile member back and forth successively between each of the first plurality of locations along one of the two vertical edges adjacent the opening and each of the second plurality of locations along the other of the two vertical edges adjacent the opening over the sealed opening.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the wrapping of step (c) comprises passing each of a first plurality of elongated tensile members successively between each of the first plurality of locations and each of the second plurality of locations over the outer surface of the inner tank wall; and
the wrapping of step (g) comprises passing each of a second plurality of elongated tensile members successively between each of the first plurality of locations and each of the second plurality of locations over the sealed opening.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the anchoring of step (b) comprises attaching a first plurality of anchors to the outer surface of the inner tank wall at the first plurality of locations wherein each of the first plurality of anchors is capable of securely holding two elongated tensile member ends; and inserting an end of each of a first plurality of elongated tensile members into each of the first plurality of anchors;
the anchoring of step (d) comprises attaching a second plurality of anchors to the outer surface of the inner tank wall at the second plurality of locations wherein each of the second plurality of anchors is capable of securely holding two elongated tensile member ends; and inserting an end of each of the first plurality of elongated tensile members into each of the second plurality of anchors;
the anchoring of step (f) comprises inserting an end of each of a second plurality of elongated tensile members into each of the first plurality of anchors; and
the anchoring of step (h) comprises inserting an end of each of the second plurality of elongated tensile members into each of the second plurality of anchors.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first and second pluralities of anchors are attached to the outer surface of the inner tank wall at the first and second pluralities of locations by attaching a first vertical member and a second vertical member, respectively, to the two vertical edges adjacent the opening; wherein the first and second vertical members have the first and second pluralities of anchors affixed thereto, respectively.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising installing a structural frame in the opening wherein the structural frame comprises a first vertical member having a height attached to one of the two vertical edges adjacent the opening; a second vertical member having a height attached to the other of the two vertical edges adjacent the opening;
wherein the first plurality of anchors is attached along the height of the first vertical member; and the second plurality of anchors is attached along the height of the second vertical member.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the structural frame further comprises an upper horizontal member connecting the first vertical member and the second vertical member at an uppermost height; and a lower horizontal member connecting the first vertical member and the second vertical member at a lowermost height.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the structural frame further comprises an intermediate horizontal member connecting the first vertical member and the second vertical member at a height intermediate the uppermost height and the lowermost height.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least a first elongated tensile member and the at least a second elongated tensile member are selected from the group consisting of a strand, a wire, and a tendon.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after step (d) and prior to step (e), constructing an outer tank on the foundation surrounding the inner tank wall and spaced a distance from the inner tank wall.

Assignees

• Hoyle Kimberly Ann Fernandez
• Tsai Chung-Nan Nancy
• Chevron Usa Inc

Inventors

• Hoyle Kimberly Ann Fernandez
• Tsai Chung-Nan Nancy

Classifications

• F17C2209/22

  Assembling processes · CPC title

• F17C2201/0104

  cylindrical · CPC title

• E04B2103/02

  of ceramics, concrete or other stone-like material · CPC title

• F17C3/00

  Vessels not under pressure · CPC title

• F17C2203/012

  on or in the wall, e.g. ribs · CPC title