Abstract: A thermal energy storage installation including a thermal energy storage tank and a spider diffuser system mounted in said tank. The TES tank comprises an outer wall having a generally cylindrical inner surface surrounding a hollow internal space in the tank. The spider diffuser system comprises a centrally disposed manifold structure that is disposed in vertically spaced relationship relative to a thermocline formed in a temperature stratifiable liquid in the space during operation of the tank. The manifold structure has an internal chamber and includes an opening for introduction of a said liquid into the chamber or discharge of a said liquid from the chamber. The spider diffuser system also includes a diffuser pipe assembly comprising a plurality of elongated diffuser legs. Each of the legs is attached to the manifold structure so as to extend generally radially outwardly from the structure and toward the inner surface of the tank.

Abstract: A concrete storage tank structure comprises a tank including a floor slab having a periphery and a wall having inner and outer faces extending upwardly from the floor slab at a position adjacent the periphery of the latter. The tank structure further includes a shear pad extending outwardly away from the tank from a position adjacent a lower portion of the outer face of the wall. The shear pad and the tank are positioned relative to one another in such a way that a space is provided therebetween and a number of elongated flexible connecting elements are arranged so as to extend through the space in interconnecting relationship relative to the shear pad and the tank. A strip of resilient neoprene elastomeric material is disposed in the space. The shear pad is thus flexibly attached to the tank in such a way that the forces imposed on the wall of the tank by the shear pad during movement of the tank during use are minimized.

Abstract: A plastic lined concrete tank includes a floor, an upright wall having a lower edge adjacent the floor, a plastic wall lining on an interior surface of the wall, and a plastic waterstop structure inhibiting penetration of water between said floor and said lower edge of the wall. The waterstop includes an anchor embedded in the floor and an upper flange which overlaps the lining. A sealed joint is provided between the upper edge of the flange and the lining. The flange and the lining are fused together to form a supporting structure at a position lower on the wall than the sealed joint, whereby outward bending of the flange away from the wall lining at said joint during shifting of the wall relative to the floor is inhibited and outward bending of the flange away from the wall lining at a location remote from said joint during shifting of the wall relative to the floor is promoted. The tank also includes a plastic floor liner and a floor liner attachment member fused to said anchor.

Abstract: A prestressed concrete tank includes a pair of generally parallel, laterally spaced, straight concrete wall sections which are preshrunk by the application of compressive forces. Straight wall sections are constructed on top of a footing covered with a plurality of plastic sheets to reduce friction so that limited longitudinal movements of at least portions of each wall section are facilitated during the preshrinking operation. The ends of the tank comprise semicircular walls which are prestressed using wire tendons extending peripherally around the wall and tightened to impose centripetal forces on the wall and thereby place the same into circumferential compression. The walls each comprise a substantially vertical steel shell diaphragm with a layer of cementitious material such as shotcrete on each side thereof.

Abstract: A prestressed composite tank has a vertical wall that extends around a storage area. The wall is made up of a substantially vertical, preferably metallic diaphragm and a layer of shotcrete on one or both sides of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is formed from a series of side-by-side panels, each of which panels has a vertically extending edge portion on each side thereof. The adjacent edge portions of each side-by-side pair of panels are in intimate, mechanical interengagement and subsequently sealed to thereby present fluid impervious joints between the adjacent panels.

Abstract: A self washing water storage tank has a floor, a cylindrical, generally upright, peripheral concrete wall which sits on the floor and extends around and defines a water storage chamber, and a concrete roof that is mounted atop the wall in substantial covering relationship to the chamber. The roof is essentially flat and has an internal surface which faces the chamber. The tank is arranged such that during the fill cycle the water level rises to a high water level which is above the interior surface of the roof so that such surface is washed during each fill cycle to prevent damage from corrosive gases which may escape from the water and accumulate on the interior surfaces of the tank above the water level.

Abstract: A prestressed concrete tank includes a pair of generally parallel, laterally spaced, straight concrete wall sections which are preshrunk by the application of compressive forces. Straight wall sections are constructed on top of a footing covered with a plurality of plastic sheets to reduce friction so that limited longitudinal movements of at least portions of each wall section are facilitated during the preshrinking operation. The ends of the tank comprise semicircular walls which are prestressed using wire tendons extending peripherally around the wall and tightened to impose centripetal forces on the wall and thereby place the same into circumferential compression. The walls each comprise a substantially vertical steel shell diaphragm with a layer of cementitious material such as shotcrete on each side thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a prestressed concrete tank comprising a foundation having a generally horizontal supporting surface and a wall structure mounted on the supporting surface. The generally horizontal supporting surface is provided with at least two shear blocks which have sufficient height as to project upwardly from the top of the supporting surface. The wall structure supported by the supporting surface partially surrounds the projecting portion of the shear blocks in a fashion so as to allow for the wall structure to be sealingly supported by the supporting surface; at the same time, however, the shear blocks tend to resist shearing forces on the tank caused by backfilling, earthquakes and the like, which could cause displacement and/or rotation of the tank wall structure relative to the foundation.