DE102014104835B4 - LPG storage tank - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid gas storage tank, in particular for above-ground storage of liquefied gas, comprising a container body designed for storage of the liquid gas. In order to provide a liquid gas storage tank which has a visually appealing exterior and offers improved protection against damage, it is provided that an outside container body surface of the container body is coated at least in sections with a film that determines the container body outside and / or protects the container body surface.

Description

The invention relates to a liquid gas storage tank, in particular for the above-ground storage of liquefied gas, comprising a container body for storing the liquid gas, wherein an outer side of the container body surface of the container body is at least partially coated with a container body outer design-determining and / or the container body surface protective film.

LPG storage tanks of the type mentioned as they are for example from the document US 2011/0 259 486 A1 are known and which are designed as a pressure vessel in which liquefied gas can be permanently stored, are usually used when a supply of gas through pipelines is not available. The LPG storage tanks in these cases allow for supply of one or more private households or businesses with gas, which is usually used for heating or cooking. The size of the LNG storage tanks is set close to the buildings to be supplied, taking into account the installation conditions to be met, and connected to the building via supply lines. A filling of the LPG storage tanks takes place in consumption-dependent intervals via a filling valve, via which a supply vehicle can fill the LPG storage tanks as needed.

When installing LPG storage tanks, protect against accidents by taking protective measures to prevent damage to LPG storage tanks and avoid accidents in the event of malfunction. Of particular importance in the above-ground installation of LPG storage tanks is also the expected, acting on the LPG storage tank solar radiation, which can lead to excessive heating of the tank, which may have a gas outlet via a safety valve due to a pressure increase inside the container body. To avoid such gas leakage, known liquefied gas storage tanks have a color of a paint having a low reflection index, so as to prevent a critical overheating. For example, bright colors such as pure white and white-green are used.

Such coloration of the LPG storage tanks, possibly combined with a shading of the LPG storage tanks, currently represents the most viable option to prevent a temperature-related gas leakage through the safety valve above ground LPG storage tanks. The limited choice of color for the design of the liquid storage tank, however, means that this is perceived in the environment of the supplied by the tank building as visually disturbing, which is why additional structural measures are often made to hide the LPG storage tank visually. Such measures, however, as well as a procurement costly and have to be made taking into account the protective measures to be followed and the accessibility to the liquefied gas storage tank, in particular an unimpeded filling must be given. In addition, the LPG storage tanks are subjected to regular checks, the tank is also to check for corrosion, which may occur, for example., When an applied on the container body surface corrosion protection due to mechanical impact, for example. When filling the container body, was damaged.

The invention has for its object to provide a liquid gas storage tank, which has a visually appealing appearance and offers improved protection against damage and against IR radiation.

The invention solves the problem by a liquid gas storage tank with the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

Characteristic of the liquid gas storage tank according to the invention is that the film comprises an IR protective film, which is designed to reflect at least 35% of the incident IR radiation.

The design of the film in the case of its primary use for the design of the optical impression of the container body is such that the appearance of the liquid gas storage tank is characterized by the design of the applied film. The film gives the container body an optically independent impression, which differs from the impression of currently known, usually monochrome liquid gas storage tanks provided with safety markings. In order to achieve a formative effect of the film on the appearance of the liquid gas storage tank, the film is advantageously applied to the area of the container body surface which is visible in the position of use, with a large-area attachment is preferred.

The film arranged on the container body surface also fulfills a protective function of the container body surface against damage due to mechanical effects, so that in addition to an effect on the exterior of the container body, this also increases the resistance of the container body. Alternatively, the film can also be used alone to protect the Container body surface can be used without this unfolds the optical impression of the container body formative effect. This can be achieved, for example, by transparent films or by films which are color-matched to the color of the container body. The protective effect can be determined via the thickness of the film and the choice of material.

The application of the film as the container body surface covering coating is preferably carried out in a manner that makes a nondestructive detachment of the film impossible. Particularly preferably, the film, which may also be designed to be self-adhesive, attached by means of a film adhesive cavity-free on the container body surface, so that the ingress of liquid, for example. Rainwater is effectively prevented. The use of the film makes it possible to adapt the liquid gas storage tank via a freely selectable design of the film to the environment of the established LPG storage tank, so that the liquid gas storage tank has a more appealing appearance compared to known container bodies. In addition, the film serves to protect the container body surface from damage and improves the corrosion protection of the LPG storage tank, the film can also be used alone to protect the container body surface.

In the case of using the film for determining the optical impression of the LPG storage tank is provided according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention that the film is designed to design the container body outside as a colored and / or printed design film. The use of a printed design film makes it possible to give the liquid gas storage tank basically any appearance, since the design film can be personalized in a previously carried out printing process. It is conceivable, for example, the use of plant motifs for printing the design film. After attachment to the container body surface, the thus coated container body blends optically into a suitably planted environment. Basically, the use of an individually printable design film allows any configuration of the LPG storage tank and thus - if desired - also an adaptation to the environment of the LPG storage tank.

A design film provided only for the design of the container body exterior already provides protection of the container body surface in the areas coated by the container body. In addition to protection against mechanical damage, the corrosion protection of the liquefied gas storage tank is increased in these areas, since the coated surface is also protected against corrosive influences. The design of the film, which is intended to serve solely for the protection of the container body surface, regardless of design properties, can in principle be carried out in any desired manner. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the film is designed to protect the container body surface as impact-absorbing protective film. The use of such a protective film, which has the ability to absorb these impact or impact impacts, so as to protect the underlying container body surface from damage, provides a particularly high protection of the container body. The protective film can be used over the entire surface or only partially, for example, in particularly exposed areas for coating the container body surface and thus prevents mechanical damage in a special way, which can also lead to container corrosion.

As stated, the film, in particular the design film and / or the protective film, can basically be designed in any desired way, taking into account the function to be performed. According to the invention, it is provided that the film, in particular the design film, preferably has a formable digital printing film and an overlying, transparent laminate which offers protection against IR radiation, and / or the protective film for reflection of at least 35%, preferably at least 55%. , Particularly preferably at least 75% of the incident IR radiation is formed. The invention thus achieves that the container body is protected regardless of the color choice of the container even with direct sunlight against such warming, which lead to the pressure-reducing gas outlet via the safety valve. The use of IR radiation-reflecting films allows a particularly high design variety both in the placement of the film on the container body surface, which can be done without taking into account the expected sunlight, as well as in the printing of the design film, including the subjects without consideration of the resulting resulting reflection behavior can be selected for the LPG storage tank.

The design of the protective film is also basically arbitrary. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the protective film has a thickness of at least 200 μm, preferably 250 μm to 350 μm, particularly preferably 300 μm. A corresponding embodiment of the protective film provides a high protective function of the container body surface, wherein the film can be attached at the same time in a simple manner to the container body surface. Overall, a cost-effective surface protection of the container body surface can be achieved with a protective film designed in this way.

As an alternative to a full-surface bonding, the arrangement of the protective film can in principle be carried out in any areas of the container body, such surface areas preferably being provided with the protective film, which have a higher risk of damage. Such an area is in particular the area around the filling valve of the container body, in which there is the risk of damage from the impact of the filling gun during filling. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is therefore provided that the protective film is arranged in the region of a filling valve of the container body, in particular an area of at least 0.05 m ² , preferably 0.05 m ² to 0.2 m ² , particularly preferably 0 , 1 m ^{2 of} the container surface is covered around the filling valve.

A corresponding coating of the container body ensures cost-effective and at the same time sufficient protection of the area of the container body surface around the filling valve, so that damage during filling by the filling gun can be largely excluded. The surface to be covered around the filling valve can basically have any shape, for example, be arranged in a circle around the filling valve or else have a rectangular shape.

In order for the design film to give the container body exterior an impression which determines the visual impression and thus shape the appearance of the liquefied gas storage tank, it is already sufficient to coat the container body with the design film in the usually visible area with respect to the position of use. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the film, in particular the design film covers the container surface to at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, more preferably substantially over the entire surface. A corresponding arrangement of the design film ensures to a particular extent caused by the design foil embossing appearance of the LPG storage tank. For the arrangement of the design film, this, as well as the protective film, for example, be attached to the container surface with a heat-activated adhesive film, which then a homogeneous connection to the substrate is made. In a full-surface bonding while a complete coating of the container body is achieved, with sub-migration of the film, d. H. the penetration of moisture between the film and the container surface are particularly effectively prevented. In addition, the container body has increased protection against mechanical damage and corrosion. The ability to additionally provide different areas of the coated container body surface with a protective film, the protection of the LPG storage tank can be increased in a complementary manner.

The printing of the design film with the intended for the design of the container body surface motif can basically be done in any way. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the design film has a digital printing. A corresponding design film has a high degree of detail and allows the application of photorealistic motifs on the container body surface.

According to the invention, the film, in particular the design film and / or the protective film, has as a further property a suitability for the reflection of IR radiation. According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the container body surface is coated at least in sections, particularly preferably in an area above a median plane with a protective IR-reflecting protective film which at least 35%, preferably at least 55%, particularly preferably at least 75% of the impinging IR radiation reflects. According to the invention, it is provided that a further film, namely an IR protective film, is used to coat the container body surface. The IR protective film can be used as the sole film for coating or applied over a previously applied protective film and / or design film. The use of a separate IR protective film makes it possible, in the case of the need for IR protection, to achieve the design and surface protection of the container body surface using design films and / or protective films without special IR protection, since the desired IR protection by a separate Foil is effected.

The attachment of the IR protective film is preferably carried out above a median plane, which - based on the position of use of the liquid gas storage tank - parallel to the footprint of the liquid gas storage tank through a central axis of the container body. In particular, in accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention used container bodies according to DIN EN 12542, which have a cylindrical shape with curved end faces, a corresponding attachment of the IR protective film with a low material usage provides high IR protection, after lying above the center plane area of the Container body surface may be exposed to solar radiation to a much greater extent than is the case for the lying below the mid-plane area.

The films can basically be formed from any plastic material. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the film, in particular the design film, the protective film and / or the IR protective film is formed from PVC. A corresponding design of the films ensures good adaptability of the film to the container body and a high longevity of the caused by the film coating of the container body. The films may be self-adhesive or may be attached to the container body surface using a separate adhesive, the films may be designed in particular in the manner of known car wrapping films, which allow a homogeneous connection with the container body surface, wherein also from the container body surface projecting components how feet or bumps, such as welds can be covered by the sheets in a reliable manner surface without cavities remain between the film and the container body surface.

In the case of using the film alone for protection against mechanical damage and / or for protection against IR radiation, it is possible to use the protective film and / or IR protective film described above. This can be made transparent according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention in the visible wavelength range, so that in the sole use of such films without affecting the exterior of the container body protection against mechanical damage and / or IR protection can be achieved.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained below with reference to a drawing. In the drawing shows:

1 a side view of a liquid gas storage tank with a design film arranged thereon.

In 1 is a liquefied petroleum gas storage tank 1 shown in a side view. The liquefied gas storage tank 1 points to its above-ground installation in a lower region of a container body 2 a total of four feet 8th on, the container body 2 spaced from the ground. For filling the container body 2 , which has a cylindrical, circular cross-sectional shape and its opposite ends are closed by curved end faces, this has on its upper side a filling valve not visible here, via which the container body 2 can be filled with LPG.

The container body 2 indicates at its container body surface 3 a design foil 4 , which also for coating the feet 8th Use finds. The design foil 4 extends from an underside of the container body 2 , via a plane parallel to the ground and extending through a longitudinal axis of the cylinder body center plane 6 into an upper region of the container body 2 , Above the middle plane 6 is the container body 2 additionally coated with a transparent IR protective film which is not visible here.

In the design film 4 it is a car wrap film on which the motif was previously applied by digital printing. The design foil 4 becomes after its orientation and fixation for coating the container body surface 3 zigzagged, so that this area, without gaps on the container body surface 3 is applied. The film adhesive reacts after heating the design film 4 - Preferably by a Heißluftfön - so that then a homogeneous compound of the design film 4 with the container body surface 3 will be produced. The elasticity of the design film 4 It also makes it possible, the protruding components such as the feet 8th to coat flat. In the area of the filling valve, the container body 2 Furthermore, a 300 micron thick protective film, which in the region of the container body surface 3 To protect the filling valve from damage caused by, for example, the impact of a filling gun.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

LPG storage tank

2

container body

3

Container body surface

4

DesignFilm

6

midplane

8th

stand

Claims (12)

Liquid gas storage tank, in particular for the above-ground storage of liquefied petroleum gas, comprising a container body designed for storing the liquefied gas, an outer container body surface ( 3 ) of the container body ( 2 ) at least in sections with a design that determines the container body exterior and / or the container body surface ( 3 ) protective film ( 4 ), characterized in that the film ( 4 ) comprises an IR protective film designed to reflect at least 35% of the incident IR radiation. Liquid gas storage tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the film for the design of the container body exterior as a colored and / or printed design film ( 4 ) is trained. Liquid gas storage tank according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the film ( 4 ) for protecting the container body surface ( 3 ) is designed as a shock-absorbing protective film. Liquid gas storage tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film, in particular the design film ( 4 ) the container body surface ( 3 ) to at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, more preferably substantially over the entire surface covered. Liquid gas storage tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film, in particular the design film ( 4 ) and / or the protective film for reflection of at least 55%, preferably at least 75% of the incident IR radiation is formed. Liquid gas storage tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective film has a thickness of at least 200 .mu.m, preferably 250 .mu.m to 350 .mu.m, more preferably 300 .mu.m. Liquid gas storage tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective film in the region of a filling valve of the container body ( 2 ), in particular an area of at least 0.05 m ² , preferably 0.05 m ² to 0.2 m ² , particularly preferably 0.1 m ^{2 of} the container body surface ( 3 ) is covered around the filling valve. Liquid gas storage tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the design film ( 4 ) has a digital print. Liquid gas storage tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container body surface ( 3 ) at least in sections, preferably in an area above a median plane ( 6 ) is coated with an IR radiation-reflecting IR protective film which reflects at least 35%, preferably at least 55%, particularly preferably at least 75%, of the incident IR radiation. Liquid gas storage tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container body ( 2 ) has a shape according to DIN EN 12542. Liquid gas storage tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film, in particular the design film ( 4 ), the protective film and / or the IR protective film is made of PVC. Liquid gas storage tank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective film and / or the IR protective film is transparent in the visible wavelength range.

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