NL1041307B1 - A large rigid liquid containment system with internal non-rigid flexible multiple liquid holders, in order to store, possibly different, liquids separately and simultaneously, and allow for volume mutations independently of each stored liquid without operational and safety restrictions. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to essential details of the design and to the functional working principles of a non-deformable containment system for the storage of liquids with more than one deformable liquid holder or holder(s) with more than one compartment of a variable volume which are positioned and integrated in this containment system, like a storage tank or cavern, which are or can be part of a larger installation, like a tank terminal or cavern system also including pipes, instrumentation and safety devices. Such containment system for the storage of liquids provided as per this invention with more than one internal liquid holders or compartments thereof can repeatedly hold variable volumes of liquids, varying in composition as well as in volume from one holder or compartment to another, for a longer period, without any liquid coming into contact with the containment system. The invention assures maintaining both the composition, quantity and quality of any and all liquids stored.

Description

TITLE: A large rigid liquid containment system with internal non-rigid flexible multiple liquid holders, in order to store, possibly different, liquids separately and simultaneously, and allow for volume mutations independently of each stored liquid without operational and safety restrictions

The invention relates to the provision of several stand-alone internal liquid holders or one or more liquid holders with one or more separate compartments in a permanently installed large, rigid, liquid containment system, i.e. storage tank or cavern for the storage of liquids, designed and fabricated in such a way that liquids can be added to or retrieved from the liquid containment system, and their dedicated internal liquid holders or compartments and the liquid retained therein repeatedly, over a longer period of time, without physical or other actions having to take place on the tank and any of the internal liquid holders or compartments and their connected in-outflow provisions.

The invention also relates to an internal liquid holder which is designed and fabricated enabling operational actions (storing, filling, emptying, etc.), measuring and metering functions (like level measurement) while complying to all mandatory safety aspects (under and over-pressure, over-filling), needed or desirable for the storage of liquids in storage tanks, on a continuous basis, without the internal liquid holders exercising any impact whatsoever hereupon.

The use of common single wall steel liquid containment systems, like fixed roof tanks, cavern storage etc, especially when such are being used on a commercial, i.e. rental basis for a limited storage period, has the hardly identified problem, especially in case of commercial storage, of being capable of only containing one liquid for one client at any point in time. This is particularly non-attractive when the volume of liquid to be stored is relatively small compared to the total tank or cavern capacity. This tends to be (too) often the case as many storage tanks were built post-second world war, i.e. over 50 years ago. At this time operational flexibility in the total oil to petrol production line was created most easily and cost effectively by using large capacity storage tanks. Subsequent optimizing and economizing of liquid related business resulted over the many years since, in less and less stock being kept in storage tanks. Furthermore, the variety of fuels significantly increased over the last decennia, especially as a result of the introduction of various bio-fuels, each becoming available in quantities (much) smaller than former quantities of fossil fuels. This resulted in a change in storage requirements whereby increasingly more and many, relatively smaller tanks are preferred rather than fewer large tanks.

Such commercially used large rigid tanks also require to be cleaned, especially in case of commercial tank storage, when there is a change of liquid product to be stored, as no liquid owner wishes to risk contamination of his liquid by storing it in a containment system which previously contained a possibly different liquid product. This cleaning of storage tanks is unattractive in view of the associated environmental consequences, the cost, the loss of liquid product which could not be removed prior to the cleaning, the unavailability of the containment system for storing liquids during cleaning and cleaning is undesirable in view of the human labor and safety related aspects.

Traditional steel storage tanks require secondary containment provisions most commonly being bund walled areas, able to contain all liquid which is stored inside the tank in case of tank failure. This bund wall requirement results in tank terminals requiring a lot of space, This is becoming increasingly costly especially in built-up areas and areas with little land availability. The use of one larger non-deformable, rigid liquid containment system with more than one liquid holder each being capable of holding, storing a liquid or one or more holders with internal compartments, each compartment being capable of holding, storing a liquid is in such cases economically more attractive than using more than one smaller liquid containment system.

The use of flexible materials of low (no) permeability for such liquid holders, with or without internal compartments, will become the first containment for the stored liquid. The non-deformable rigid liquid containment system thus will become the second containment to serve as back-up containment in case of a failure of the first containment. This makes bund walls and the associated bund walled areas obsolete. This furthermore allows for the use of concrete walls or rock caverns, without steel lining, to be used as second containment.

Known in the liquid containment industry is the solution whereby flexible liquid holders are designed and constructed such that two or more of such liquid holders fill the entire space in the liquid containment system and thus, most commonly, allow for transportation. Such liquid holders do however not allow for any metering and safeguarding functions, many of which would require to be continuous, to be available and if available these are mostly not functionally operational. They furthermore do not allow for long term operations with partial filling levels and liquid volume fluctuations caused by adding or retrieving liquid from any such holder. Such flexible holders are commonly designed and constructed for use during, short lasting, transportation.

Also know in the industry is the possibility to use liquid holders made of a flexible non-rigid material. Such flexible holders are commonly to be placed inside non-deformable rigid (second) containment systems, which guarantee maintaining the required shape and volume of the liquid holder(s). Liquid holders made of flexible, cloth type of material do not have a fixed shape, the liquid content normally aims at being positioned at the lowest point in gravity and will force the flexible holder to deform to such shape allowing for this lowest position, whereby stress and strain in the material will have arrived at such level that the liquid can be held in such shape, unless the holder bursts.

Liquid holders made of a flexible non-rigid, cloth type of material cannot move under pressure along an inner wall of a non-deformable, rigid containment system for example made of steel, concrete or rock without being exposed to wear and tear. Especially tear initiation of cloth type of materials makes the use in containment systems with rough inner walls like with corroded steel, concrete or rock too risky.

The use of a liquid holder in a non-deformable containment system, like a liquid storage tank, as identically defined in this patent request, is known from international patent publication WO 2010/024662 A1 dated 4 March 2010 by Eenkhoorn Erik, Jeroen application number: PCT/NL2009/000163. This invention concerns a single liquid holder which is placed in a containment system (tank), which is limited to holding only one liquid at any point in time, which holder is in direct contact with the inner wall of the containment system and which holder is subject to, severe, wear and tear when it moves relatively along the inner containment wall.

The use of a liquid holder in a non-deformable containment system, like a liquid storage tank, as identically defined in this patent request, and the particular additional design features being required for the successful functioning and operational use, is also known from unpublished Dutch patent application number NL 1 040 611 filed 17 January 2014 by Accede B.V. This invention still concerns the storage of one single liquid only within a containment system and hence both quoted inventions for liquid storage tanks, identically defined as the containment system of this invention, differ substantially from this invention and all the therein quoted details.

The use of membranes in non-deformable often mobile liquid holders, is known from various patents. There are thus provisions known in the industry, sometimes even patented, that can be placed in a single wall liquid holder or tank, such that the combination of this provision and the single wall liquid holder or tank could reduce the risk of liquid or evaporation losses in the environment. Such known provisions may be aimed at enabling a phased liquid removal from the holder or may possibly allow for measurements or for meeting a safety requirement. These provisions are, in the limited number of cases these occur, always placed on the highest point of both liquid holders and are constructed significantly stronger than the other wall parts of the liquid holder. These known liquid containers and the known membrane provisions, are always designed, constructed and functioning as independent units and will not form an integrated part of a permanently installed complex such as a tank terminal or tank depot for long term operations with frequent changes in liquid volume and liquid flows. All known versions of claimed double-walled liquid holders cannot be applied in liquid holders, which are a permanent part of a larger system of piping, measurement and control systems which are fixated to one or more liquid holders i.e. tanks and of provisions for the safety of the liquid holder as well as of the system, terminal or depot that the holder, tank is part of.

All known versions of claimed double-walled liquid holders furthermore cannot be applied as liquid holders being part of a tank terminal or tank depot shall increasingly, due to safety related, legislative, economic or social reasons:

Be protected against corrosion Have a minimal (no) leakage risk Create a minimal (no) emission

Make a product change or inspection and maintenance possible, after, however preferably without, a simple and rapidly executed cleaning exercise. Operationally be deployed as flexible as possible, possible with even more than one partial load simultaneously, or, for example with a minimal use of energy from a heating system

Make the risk of fire and explosion as low as reasonably possible ("ALARP") and the consequences of which, for the liquid holder as well as for the stored liquid, should be minimalized, in case of a calamity in the area Maintain the quality of the stored liquid, unchanged over the storage period Be able to be altered and improved without major modifications.

Liquid containment systems with or without such membrane provisions, patented or not, are not considered identical to the containment systems subject of this invention and to the inventive details contained herein, including prior intellectual property examiners conclusions on subject identical liquid containment systems as in quoted patents.

This invention relates to essential details of the design and to the functional working method of two or more deformable liquid holders, which can be placed in a rigid non-deformable liquid containment system like a steel or concrete storage tank or rock cavern which is permanently connected to at least one or more pipes allowing for the in- and outflow of liquids in a controllable manner and which can and is most commonly permanently provided with one. or more instruments and, or other provisions for the purpose of safety for example. These deformable liquid holders with auxiliary components, is designed and produced in such a way, that they prevent the rigid (external) containment system, also over a longer period, to come into contact with the liquid held inside the holders, also when the liquid volume in any of the holders changes by liquid flowing in or out of the holder in a controlled manner through the provisions thereto, or with operationally necessary measurement and control or safety related operations, without the need for any manual or mechanical operations on any of the holders thereto. As a result, the relatively non-deformable external containment system, i.e. steel tank, is no longer subject to corrosion processes as would occur if this deformable liquid holder were not placed. In addition, the deformable liquid holder eliminates the need to clean the non-deformable (external) holder, tank.

These deformable liquid holders or compartments thereof are also designed, (pre-) fabricated for and made operational within the non-deformable liquid containment system, in such a way that it ensures that the quantities and qualities of the liquids contained in the holders is maintained unchanged, as liquids and components thereof cannot be lost due to leakage or evaporation and as the liquids in the holders cannot come into contact with air nor can react with any elements arising from air, such as condensed water or bacteria.

The deformable liquid holders or compartments thereof are preferably made of a material or materials being chemically resistant to the range of liquids, possibly, being stored inside these holders or compartments thereof.

In addition these deformable liquid holders are designed and (pre-) fabricated such that they can be rolled up and folded when empty, due to their deformability, and can be placed in the non-deformable liquid containment system via a so-called "manhole" or, for larger deformable holders, via a (temporary) opening in the top of the non-deformable containment system. The holders can also be removed from the containment system in the same manner. The deformable liquid holders are prefabricated outside the permanent containment system and are subsequently placed in the containment system with no or very little man-hours of work inside the holder involved.

In addition these deformable liquid holders are designed and (pre-) fabricated so that they can be filled with a total combined volume being almost equal to the maximum working volume, i.e. capacity of the external liquid containment system, (steel, concrete) tank, or cavern.

In case of two or more holders or holder(s) with more than one compartment being positioned inside a vertically placed cylinder type of liquid containment system, like a traditional fixed roof steel storage tank or a cavern of such type, any of such holders, will be equally cylinder shaped. - The external diameter of any and all of the holders being slightly smaller (0,1 - 2 %) in diameter than the internal diameter of the containment system. Some (0,1 to 5%) of the containment system working storage volume will have to be used for a water fill. This water will fill the inner space of the containment system which is not filled by the liquid holders, which water fill is to ensure the floating condition of each of the holders. The water fill will ensure the absence of wear and tear of any of the holders as there is no contact between the holders and the inner wall of the containment system due to the presence of water along the full circumference of each holder. The floating condition of each holder furthermore assures the possibility of a holder being positioned underneath one or more other holder(s), some of which may be filled with liquid to any filling level within their designed range, to be filled without being subjected to large back-pressures caused by friction forces between the inner containment wall and the holders above the holder which is to be filled. - The height of each of the holders may vary amongst the holders and may range between 1 to 100% of the containment working height, subject to the containment system being provided with additional overfill protection ancillaries in case the total combined height of the holders exceeds the working height of the containment system. The combined height of the holders or compartments of a holder may exceed the height of the containment system to allow for more flexibility in any or all of the storage capacities of the holders, i.e. compartments. - The material of the horizontal cylinder shaped sidewall of the holders or compartments thereof, when not filled to their maximum capacity, will be partially folded conforming to the liquid volume content of such holder and such folded material will be positioned in the inside of the containment wall. When liquid is being removed from any holder, the material of the deformable liquid holder will fold away from the inner containment wall such that no wear and tear can take place of the material of the deformable holder. When liquid is added to a liquid holder, the volume of this holder will increase as the spare material will be unfolding to its designed diameter to the hydrostatic pressure naturally being created by the increased liquid level. The water being positioned in between the holders outside wall and the containment inner wall allows and enhances the folding and unfolding of the holder material and is thereto essential. The inner wall of the containment system may be provided with a, thin layered, very open structured cladding or material to enhance the build-up of a water layer in between the inner containment system and the external walls of the liquid holders or compartments thereof. - The top and bottom circularly shaped discs of the deformable liquid holder are designed and fabricated such that these are rigid during storage operations and such that these provide sufficient floating capacity to ensure a both flat top and bottom liquid surface levels and support the loading caused by the spare folded material and of the provisions like bellows ensuring the full liquid enclosure of the inner deformable liquid holder. These rigid floating top and bottom circularly shaped parts of the deformable holders may be made of a so called three dimensional thermoplastic or rubber material which obtains its rigidity and floating capacity by inflation by air or a gas, like nitrogen. Alternatively the top and or bottom discs of the liquid holders or compartments thereof may be created by several smaller low weight rigid fixed shaped panels. The rigidity of the top and bottom circularly shaped discs of the liquid holders or compartments thereof is to support maintaining the cylinder shape of the liquid holder or compartment thereof and thus avoid re-positioning of liquid holders or compartments, completely or partially, thereof relatively to each other, as may be caused by for example differences in specific gravities of the stored liquids. The rigidity targets of top and bottom discs of liquid holders or compartments thereof may be optimized for example in discs being both top in one compartment and bottom in another compartment of a holder, or in full contact top and bottom discs of two adjacent liquid holders. One or more of the circularly shaped discs of any of the liquid holders or compartments thereof may be increased in weight or otherwise subjected to external (gravity) forces such that the water level outside the liquid holders or compartments thereof reaches the highest point of all liquid holders or containments thereof, or any other possibly desired level, such to minimize risks of wear and tear or the loss of storage capacity. - Liquid holders or compartments of a holder which are positioned over any lower positioned holder or compartment may be reduced in volume and may be designed and constructed such that they allow for the passage of a bellow from the external top of the containment system to any holder or compartment below subject overlaying holder or compartment thereof. Such bellow provision or equivalent provision may be required to allow for instrumentation and, or safeguarding functionality. - Liquid holders or compartments thereof will be provided and connected with flexible liquid in- and outflow hoses or piping inside the containment system to allow for the vertical displacement of any liquid holder or compartment thereof inside the containment system subject to its filling rate and the filling rates of the other liquid holders or compartments thereof inside the containment system and to allow for the operationally required controlled in- and, or outflow of liquids of any of the liquid holders or compartments thereof.

In case of two or more holders or holder(s) with more than one compartment being positioned inside a horizontally placed cylinder type of liquid containment system, like a traditional fixed volume steel tank, also called "bullet" or a horizontal cavern, any of such liquid holders or compartments thereof will be equally cylinder shaped identically to vertically placed cylinder type of containment systems, with the following differences: - Parts of the liquid holders or compartments which are not directly positioned in the close proximity of the inner wall of the containment system, with the only separation being some water layer possibly supported by an open mesh, distance material cladding the inner wall of the containment system, being made of a three dimensional material, which becomes rigid by inflation with air or any other inflating gas, or of a permanently rigid material, are now placed vertically. Such parts, which are normally rigid due to inflation with air or other inflating gas, may be supported by provisions being a preferably rigid and strong, non-deformable, part of the containment system. - The top side of the liquid holders or compartments thereof may also be made of a three dimensional material which becomes rigid when inflated by air or other inflating gas, such that the maximum height which can be reached in cases of 100% fill of any of the liquid holders or compartments thereof a designed maximum height inside the containment is reached which could allow for a working, operator access platform being positioned inside the, and at the top of the, containment system. - The liquid holders or compartments thereof may be provided with additional inflatable elements which allow for, improve and, or make the controlled outflow of stored liquid more efficient. - Further differences between vertically and horizontally placed containment systems with two or more liquid holders or compartments thereof are considered obvious to the specialists in this field.

The invention furthermore contemplates in supplying internal liquid holding provisions, meaning devices or elements for non-deformable liquid containment systems, also known as storage tanks or caverns, of random shape or size, which only contain liquid, i.e. no air nor vapor, and which are designed and fabricated with such parts or ancillaries that liquid-tight connections are obtained there where instruments, safety devices and other provisions , like for the controlled in- and, or outflow of the liquid, which require a through-pass in the in the otherwise completely closed wall, floor or roof of the liquid containment system, storage tank or cavern.

The invention furthermore contemplates the possible uncontrolled or uncontrollable in-flow of water, also called ground water, into the containment system and allows for such water to be distracted from the containment system in a controlled such that the liquid holding operations benefit from such controlled water quantity balancing. The invention is thereto designed and constructed such that this inflowing water remains outside the liquid holders or compartments thereof and does not have any contact at any time or place with the stored liquids.

The internal liquid holding provisions, i.e. devices or elements for non-deformable liquid containment systems are therewith not closed holders for liquids, but allow for controlled in- and out-flow of liquids, for functional contact between metering devices and the liquid, or for liquid condition changes or movements necessary for safety reasons. The internal liquid holding provisions, i.e. devices or elements for non-deformable liquid containment systems, are thus not stand-alone liquid holders or compartments thereof and in addition, can only execute the functions related to the invention and be advantageous when it is completely integrated in the liquid containment system for which the internal liquid holding provisions, i.e. devices or elements specifically have been designed and built.

The deformable liquid holders or compartments thereof have no parts nor components outside the liquid containment system, i.e. tank or cavern and operate without any control or metering devices while also not consuming any energy requiring a supply source (i.e. no electrical power supply and no combustion engines are required) with the possible exceptions of the air (inflating gas) supply for such parts of the liquid holders or compartments thereof made of 3-dimensional materials requiring air or an inflating gas to become rigid, or of the water fill for the creation of floating properties of the liquid holders or compartments thereof inside the containment system.

The invention shall hereafter be illustrated by means of the drawings with several design examples of the liquid holding element, whereby features and other advantages will become apparent.

Fig. 1 shows a non-deformable containment system for the storage of liquids comprising a vertically placed cylinder (1) a fixed roof mounted on it (2) and a bottom (3) all of which are often made of steel, sometimes concrete. This containment system has one or more connections fixed (welded) to the roof (4) on which instruments (5) for measuring the liquid level, the liquid temperature or on which provisions for taking samples of the liquid or for the provision of safety related equipment can be mounted. In addition, the containment system is equipped with one or more connections (6) on the side wall, positioned relatively near the bottom of the liquid holder. These connections serve for the in- and out-flow of water (6) or liquid (7a and 7b) from the internal variable volume liquid holders, two of which are shown here (8 and 9). These connections (7a and 7b) are nearly always connected to the internal hoses or flexible piping (10a and 10b) which are permanently fixed to their dedicated liquid holder (10a to 8 and 10b to 9). The containment system holds water (11) to keep the liquid holders or compartments thereof afloat, for which purpose some loading (15) of the top of the highest positioned liquid holder or compartment thereof may be used to maintain a desired water level inside the containment system. An open wire mesh type of sheet material (12) may be used to guarantee the presence of water over the entire internal wall of the containment system there where membrane material of the liquid holders is near. The liquid holders (8, 9) are provided with inflatable circularly shaped top and bottom discs (14) made of a 3-dimensional material which can be inflated by an external air or other inflatable gas source through provision (16). The containment system can furthermore be provided with stored liquid detectors (13) being positioned outside the liquid holders or compartments thereof inside the containment system possibly at various heights.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of a non-deformable containment system for the storage of liquids comprising a horizontally constructed cavern of cylinder type of shape (21). The liquid holders or compartments are placed next to each other, figure 2 shows one of such holders, the others being similar to the one in figure 2. Each holder being provided with inflatable 3-dimensional sides (14) providing rigidity to the holder. The containment system can be filled with some water (see Fig.l 11) primarily because of the natural inflow of such especially when the containment system is positioned below ground water level. The liquid holders or compartments thereof will float on such water when containing liquids of a less specific gravity than water. The liquid holders or compartments thereof will be held in place by tension belts (17) (for example) which are attached to the containment floor and to a dedicated provision (18) thereto on the liquid holder. Any and all liquid holders (8) are provided with a dedicated air or other inflating gas filled chamber (20) positioned over the liquid holder. Such air or other inflating gas holding chamber may be constructed within the liquid holder by means of an internal membrane, totally separating liquids and air or other inflating gas, or by using a dedicated closed air or other inflating gas holder internally or externally of the liquid holder. The top of the liquid holder and possible air holder on top of such can be provided with a fixed formed or an inflatable provision (19) which guarantees a round shape such that water flowing into the containment system from its roof is routed to the lowest part (floor) of the containment system.

Fig. 3 shows a front view of a non-deformable containment system for the storage of liquids comprising a horizontally constructed cavern of cylinder type of shape (21). This figure shows a working platform (22) being positioned over the liquid holder (8) and its dedicated air chamber (20) which is in this application also provided with a roof made of a 3-dimensional inflatable material becoming rigid due to inflation.

Summary of the invention 1. A non-deformable containment system for the storage of liquids with more than one deformable liquid holder or holder(s) with more than one compartment of a variable volume which are positioned and integrated in this containment system, like a storage tank or cavern which is or can be part of a larger installation, like a tank terminal or cavern system, by means of connecting pipes, instrumentation and safety devices, whereby each liquid holder or compartment holds a for that holder or compartment dedicated liquid, which may differ both in composition and, or in volume from the liquids possibly being held, stored in the other holders or compartments within that containment system with such provisions and liquid-tight connections to allow for continuous, long term operations, including frequent controlled volume changes by liquid in- and outflow, and safeguarding; the membranes of the deformable liquid holders or compartments thereof are designed and dimensioned in such a way in relation to the containment system, that the liquid will be naturally positioned at the lowest point of gravity in the holder or compartment as allowed and constrained by the non-elastic features, the shape and dimensions of the membrane material; the liquid holders or compartments press via a relatively thin water layer against the inside wall of the containment system due to the hydrostatic pressure of the stored liquid, where such containment inner wall is available near the external wall of a liquid holder or compartment thereof; the other parts of the liquid holders or compartments which are not near to and not separated by a thin water layer from the inner containment wall will be rigid during all operations by using three-dimensional inflated materials thereto; characterized, in that liquid holders or compartments thereof change in volume, proportional to the quantity of liquid being removed or added from the holder or compartment, without air or possible vapor originating from the stored liquid, are going to come into or are present in the liquid holders or compartments thereof, and in that liquid holders or compartments thereof can range in volume from 0 to 100% of the containment volume, such to increase the operational and, or commercial flexibility of the total containment system and each liquid holder or compartment thereof while providing for an overfill of the containment system against the total volume of the liquid holders or compartments thereof exceeding 100% of the containment system volume, and in that those parts of liquid holders or compartments thereof, which ensure a liquid-tight connection of the liquid holders or compartments thereof with the, external, connections of the containment system, can vary in length or in shape to the extent that the liquid holders or compartments thereof can contain a varying liquid volume as well as a varying position inside the containment system subject to the fill rate of the other liquid holders or compartments thereof, and in that the liquid holders or compartments thereof are made of a material that is chemically resistant against the liquid in the holder and is hardly permeable, and that the liquid holders or compartments thereof avoid contact between the stored liquids and the inside wall of the containment system such that all parts of the holder sensitive to corrosion are protected against such corrosion especially when the stored liquid would contribute there and such that cleaning of the inside wall of the containment system is hardly or not at all necessary, due to the design, construction as well as the integrated installation of the liquid holders or compartments thereof in the containment system, and in that the liquid holders or compartments thereof keep any and all the air separated from the stored liquids due to its design, construction and integrated installation in the containment system these form part of, ensuring that no components or elements present in the air can migrate in or react with the liquids and that the liquids cannot transfer components to the air present in the holder through evaporation for example, and in that the liquid holders or compartments thereof can be inserted into or removed from both new and existing containment systems while the containment systems also allow for the safe access by humans if such would be required subject to adherence to safety ensuring protocols. 2. Liquid holders or compartments thereof according to claim 1, whereby the liquid holders or compartments thereof are fixated to the containment system, in such a way that no, or less, material of the liquid holder or compartment thereof moves along the inside wall of, and remain better positioned inside, the containment system. 3. Liquid holders or compartments thereof according to claim 1 and 2, whereby liquid detection, not responding to water, is added between the liquid holders or compartments thereof and the containment system, whereby a possible leak or other loss of liquid can be detected by the liquid detection before leading to a leak or loss of liquid of the containment system to the external surroundings. 4. Liquid holders or compartments thereof according to claim 1, 2 and 3, whereby the bellow type of connecting ancillaries of the liquid holders or compartments thereof and the connection provisions in the containment system are connected to a closed (air) blather with variable volume being positioned inside the containment system, in such a way that air or vapor present in the bellow type of connections, can transfer to or can be filled from the (air) blather when there is a volume change of the liquid. 5. Liquid holders or compartments thereof according to claim 1, 2, 3 and 4, whereby the liquid holders or compartments thereof are provided with one or more inflatable chambers, designed and constructed, such that a desired external flow of water which may flow into the containment system is routed in a preferred way or such that the discharge of stored liquid from a liquid holder or compartment thereof can be done at a minimum required speed. 6. Liquid holders or compartments thereof according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, whereby such liquid holders or compartments thereof are kept in a floating condition inside the containment system due to the containment system being filled with sufficient water thereto and the liquid holders or compartment systems thereof being designed and constructed that these allow a thin water layer to be present between their outer membrane and the inner containment wall.

Claims (6)

A non-deformable constructed container for storing liquids containing two or more deformable liquid containers or container (s) with more than one compartment, with variable volumes, placed and integrated into the constructed container, such as a storage tank or cave which is available or part of a larger installation, such as a tank terminal or cave system, via connecting lines, instrumentation and safety devices, wherein each liquid container or compartment can contain a liquid specific to that container or compartment, which is both in composition and or the volume of liquids that may be kept, stored in the other containers or compartments therein within the same constructed container that, due to these features and fluid-tight connections, allow continuous, long-term operations, including frequent volume changes in each container or compartment due to controlled fluid in - and outflow, in a safe and environmentally protective manner; the membranes of the deformable liquid containers or compartments thereof are designed and dimensioned relative to the constructed container such that the liquid is naturally positioned at the lowest center of gravity in the container or compartment as permitted and limited by the non-elastic properties , the shape and dimensions of the membrane material of the container used; the fluid containers or compartments press against the inner wall of the constructed container via a relatively thin layer of water because of the hydrostatic pressure of the stored fluid, where such gaps are available between the inner wall of the constructed container and the outer wall of a fluid containers or compartment thereof; the remaining parts of the liquid containers or compartments that are not near and not separated by a thin water layer from the inner wall of the constructed container will be rigid during all liquid-containing functions of containers or compartments thereof, preferably using three-dimensional materials which are inflating become shape-retaining and stiff; characterized in that the liquid containers or compartments thereof change in volume, proportionally and simultaneously with the amount of liquid that is removed from or added to the container or compartment without the introduction of air or vapor, possibly originating from the stored liquid or may be present in these containers or compartments thereof, and that the fluid containers or compartments thereof may vary in volume from 0-100% of the constructed container volume, so that the operational and commercial flexibility of the constructed container and any liquid container or compartment thereof can be optimally utilized, while there is an additional overfill protection of the constructed container such that the total volume of the liquid containers or compartments thereof cannot and never become more than 100% of the volume of the constructed container, and that the liquid containers or compartments thereof are made of a material that is chemically resistant tooth is against the liquid that will be able to be located in the container and is not or hardly permeable, and that the liquid containers or compartments thereof prevent contact between the stored liquids and the inner wall of the constructed container so that parts of the constructed container are susceptible to corrosion are protected against such corrosion, especially if the stored liquid would contribute to this and in such a way that cleaning of the inner wall of the container is hardly necessary at all, due to the design, construction and integrated installation of the liquid containers or compartments thereof in the constructed container, and that the liquid containers or compartments thereof separate some and all of the air from the stored liquids due to their design, construction and their integrated installation in the constructed container of which they are part, and ensure that no components or elements which may be present in the air, may migrate into or react with the liquids and that the liquids cannot transfer any components to any air present in the constructed container by, for example, evaporation, and that the liquid containers or compartments thereof may be introduced into or removed from both new and existing constructed holders, while the constructed holders also provide safe access for people when protocols that guarantee safety are complied with. Liquid containers or compartments thereof according to claim 1, wherein the liquid containers or compartments thereof are fixed in the constructed container such that no or less material of the container moves along the inner wall of, and remains better positioned in, the constructed container. 3. Liquid containers or compartments thereof according to claims 1 and 2, wherein a non-water-responsive liquid detection is added between the liquid containers or compartments thereof and the constructed container, whereby any leaks or other moisture loss of a container can be detected before this can lead to a leak or loss of fluid from the constructed container to the external environment. 4. Liquid containers or compartments thereof as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein bellows-type fittings are connected on the one hand to the liquid containers or compartments thereof and on the other hand to a fixed connection with the constructed container, are also connected to a closed (air) storage container with variable volume positioned within the constructed container, such that air or vapor in the bellows-type connections is moved from or to this (air) storage tank upon a volume change of the liquid. Liquid containers or compartments thereof according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein the liquid containers or compartments thereof are provided with one or more inflatable containers or chambers forming part of the liquid container, designed and constructed such that possibly uncontrollable external water flows result can be discharged in a desired manner in the constructed container or in such a way that the discharge of stored liquid from a liquid container or compartment thereof can be done with a minimum required speed. Liquid containers or compartments thereof according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, which float inside the constructed container in a floating state as a result of the sufficiently filled state of the constructed container and the existence of a thin water layer between the outer membranes of the liquid containers or compartments thereof and the inner wall of the constructed container, which water layer may possibly exist due to a coating of the inner wall of the constructed container with a layer of very open material made of thin wire