US 12,304,726 B2
Liquid storage tank and method of producing the same
Mauro Pedretti-Rodi, Canobbio (CH)
Assigned to Energy Vault, Inc., Westlake Village, CA (US)
Filed by Energy Vault, Inc., Westlake Village, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 28, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/817,755.
Claims priority of application No. CH000992/2023 (CH), filed on Sep. 11, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0417161 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. B65D 88/54 (2006.01); B65D 88/00 (2006.01); B65D 88/52 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 88/54 (2013.01) [B65D 88/005 (2013.01); B65D 88/52 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid storage tank, comprising:
a storage unit configured to expand into a droplet shape, the storage unit comprising a flexible wall of a liquid impermeable material assembled from a plurality of membrane sections;
a vertical support post coupled to a tip of the flexible wall with an upper attachment ring and coupled to a bottom area of the flexible wall with a lower attachment ring, the upper attachment ring and the lower attachment ring forming a fluid tight seal between the flexible wall and the vertical support post, the flexible wall extending symmetrically about the vertical support post;
a first liquid connection port positioned on the flexible wall and proximate to the bottom area, the first liquid connection port being in fluid communication with an interior volume of the storage unit and configured to allow a liquid to flow out of the storage unit;
a second liquid connection port positioned on the flexible wall and proximate to the tip, the second liquid connection port being in fluid communication with the interior volume of the storage unit and configured to allow the liquid to flow into the storage unit;
an air connection port positioned on the flexible wall, the air connection port being in fluid communication with the interior volume of the storage unit and configured to receive a flow of air therethrough to maintain the flexible wall in an expanded condition as the liquid is withdrawn from the storage unit; and
one or more flexible tension members positioned on an outer surface of the flexible wall and extending from the tip to the bottom area, the one or more flexible tension members being configured to exert a pressure along a line of contact between the one or more flexible tension members and the flexible wall to reduce an amount of stress exerted on the flexible wall by the liquid within the storage unit.