Patent Grant
8261764
The present invention generally relates to powerless charging of liquid storage tanks, and more particularly, to systems, methods, and devices for supplying and storing air in water storage systems without the use of external power.
Liquid storage systems vary widely. Pressurized liquid storage systems, sometimes referred to as hydropneumatic tanks, require that the liquid be held in a storage device with a compressed gas. For example, a pressurized water storage system may comprise water, stored in a water storage tank that is supplied with pressurized air. In the past, this air has been supplied by some type of external source that requires separate power and regular maintenance. A typical external compressed gas source may be a compressor or the like. A compressor may have a pump or motor that requires external power or fuel. Further, the sporadic operation and frequent cycling of the pump or motor decreases reliability of the air compressor and requires that the compressor be serviced regularly.
These systems present challenges to water suppliers. Specifically, providing power and continuing maintenance to an air compressor or similar system is expensive and inefficient. As such, there is a need to provide a system capable of supplying gas to a liquid storage system without the use of external power.
The systems, methods, and devices discussed herein in exemplary embodiments are configured to provide an air supply to a pressurized water storage system without the use of external power. In various exemplary embodiments, the system includes a venturi vented to a gas source, such that the venturi siphons gas from the source when the venturi is subject to a liquid flow condition, and the system stores the siphoned gas in a charging tank to supply a liquid storage system.
In an exemplary embodiment, an air charging system comprises a venturi having an inlet, a vent, and an outlet. The vent of the venturi is in communication with an air source and at least one of the inlet and/or outlet of the venturi. The system also comprises a storage tank coupled to the inlet of the venturi and a charging tank coupled to the outlet of the venturi. The system is configured such that, water from the storage tank is supplied to that venturi, to create an air-water mixture in the venturi which is exhausted to the charging tank.
In an exemplary embodiment, a liquid storage system comprises a liquid storage tank which is coupled to a venturi. The liquid storage system further comprises a charging tank coupled to the venturi and configured to receive a gas-liquid flow from the venturi. The liquid storage system also comprises a liquid supply coupled to the charging tank such that liquid is supplied from the liquid supply through the charging tank to the liquid storage tank.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the Figures, and:
The following is a description of exemplary embodiments of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the scope or applicability of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description is intended to provide convenient illustrations for implementing various exemplary embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, various changes may be made to methods, structures, topologies, and compositions described in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In general, systems, methods, and devices are suitably configured to facilitate supplying gas to liquid storage systems. This supplying may include providing a compressible gas, e.g. air, to a liquid storage system, e.g. a water storage system, to facilitate the supply of pressurized water to a water distribution system. Further, exemplary systems facilitate providing air to water storage systems without the use of external power sources and without loss of liquid volume in the system. As a result, these exemplary systems do not require external equipment to pressurize air, which provides for a water storage and distribution system that is more reliable, more cost effective to operate, and requires less maintenance.
Although described herein in the context of air chargers and water storage systems, it should be understood that the techniques described herein may work in other contexts and that the description herein related to air chargers and water storage systems may be similarly applicable to any apparatus and/or system, wherein stored liquid that must be supplied with a pressurized gas to facilitate distribution. Exemplary gases may include air, hydrogen, oxygen, helium, etc. Exemplary liquids may include water, gasoline, diesel fuel and the like. Similarly, the system may be configured to store compressed gas (e.g., compressed propane, butane or natural gas) and the like.
Air charger systems exist in various configurations, with a variety of components and performance factors. Nevertheless, an exemplary air charger system is briefly described herein. An exemplary air charger system may comprise a venturi, a charging tank, a water supply, and a storage tank. The venturi may be configured to receive a water flow from the storage tank, such that a venturi vent creates an air-water mixture within the venturi. In exemplary embodiments, a valve regulates water flow from the storage tank to the venturi. The air-water is exhausted from the venturi to the charging tank where the air is captured and allowed to pressurize forcing the water in the charging tank back into the water supply. Thereafter, where the water supply is activated and/or a valve at or proximate to the outlet of the charging tank is opened, the air contained within the charging tank is forced into the storage tank by the water supply. Thus, in exemplary embodiments, the system continually creates a captive air source within the charging tank that is supplied to the storage tank, each time water is supplied to the storage tank from the water supply.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment and with reference to
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, air and water must be maintained in storage tank 140 to provide a water supply to a distribution system (not shown). In various exemplary embodiments, the air in the storage tank is maintained at a pressure between approximately 20 psi and 130 psi. In an exemplary embodiment, storage tank 140 may operate with an internal pressure between approximately 60 psi and 70 psi. In an exemplary embodiment, storage tank 140 may operate with an internal pressure between approximately 70 psi and 85 psi. In an exemplary embodiment, storage tank 140 may operate with an internal pressure between approximately 85 psi and 100 psi. To regulate this pressure, an exemplary storage tank may comprise air release 145. Air release 145 may be configured to exhaust pressurized air in storage tank 140. Pressurized air is exhausted when the level of water in the storage tank drops below a certain level exposing the pressurized air to air release 145.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment and with reference to
In an exemplary embodiment, vent 250 may comprise a filter 255. Filter 255 any type of filter suitable for removing particulates and contaminants from the air. Filter 255 may be a canister type, paper type, foam type, mesh type, or any other style filter configured to preclude particulates and contaminants from being drawn into vent 250. Filter 255 prevents contamination of the water that passes through the venturi and is ultimately re-introduced into the storage tank to be supplied to the distribution system.
In an exemplary embodiment, inlet 260 may be configured with a supply of a relatively incompressible fluid, e.g. water, such that the water is supplied to Ai of inlet 260 to throat 265 at a first pressure and first flow rate. The water is passed from inlet 260 through At at a second pressure and second flow rate. The reduction in area from Ai to At causes a pressure drop, such that the second pressure is lower than the first pressure and an increase in flow rate such that the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate. The pressure drop at throat 265 creates a vacuum and/or suction, causing air to be drawn through vent 250 into the water flow at throat 265. This phenomenon is known as the Venturi Effect. This air-water mixture is exhausted from throat 265 to outlet 270.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment and with reference to
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment and with reference to
This configuration allows the venturi to make use of the substantial potential energy of the water stored in the storage tank (e.g., storage tank 140 of
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment and referring again to
As discussed above, venturi 110 is able to convert the potential energy of the water stored in storage tank 140 to kinetic energy via fluid flow, using the Venturi Effect to introduce air into the water stream. As such, an air-water stream is provided to charging tank 120 and is collected and stored. Thereafter, air from charging tank 120 is provided to storage tank 140 without the use of external power to capture and store the air. In an exemplary embodiment, air charger 100 is a closed system, such that water provided from storage tank 140 through venturi 110 is captured in charging tank 120. The water may be contained within charging tank 120 or forced into water supply 130. Where the water is supplied to storage tank 140, the water exhausted through venturi 110 is recaptured in charging tank 120 and supplied to storage tank 140 as water is supplied through water supply 130. As such, the system is substantially air tight, providing for minimal to no water loss. Further, flow through venturi 110 provides substantially continuous fluid flow between storage tank 140, charging tank 120, and water supply 130, such that the risk of freezing is reduced because of the substantially continuous fluid flow.
The description of various embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawing figures, which show the embodiments by way of illustration and not of limitation. While these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the disclosure herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented. Moreover, any of the functions or steps may be outsourced to or performed by one or more third parties. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component may include a singular embodiment.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the invention. The scope of the invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the claims that may be included in an application that claims the benefit of the present application, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, and C” may be used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Although certain embodiments may have been described as a method, it is contemplated that the method may be embodied as computer program instructions on a tangible computer-readable carrier and/or medium, such as a magnetic or optical memory or a magnetic or optical disk. All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are contemplated within the scope of this disclosure.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20110100500 A1 | May 2011 | US |
