Storing, transporting and handling compressed fluids

A system for storage and/or transport of a compressed gas, comprising:

• a plurality of containers designed to hold the compressed gas at a specified operating pressure of at least about 0.25 MPa above atmospheric pressure, each container having opposing end caps and a wall section disposed between the end caps, the wall section having a non-circular cross-section and comprising at least two adjacent and substantially planar sides joined together by a rounded corner, wherein the end caps and the wall section are formed into an integral unit having an interior surface that defines an interior space for receiving the compressed gas, wherein the sides have a wall thickness and are made of a material that is flexible and strong enough to expand outwardly the amount of the wall thickness without exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the container exceeds 10% of the specified operating pressure above atmospheric pressure without external support for the sides, wherein the sides require external support to avoid expanding to the point of exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the container is at about the specified operating pressure,
• wherein each container is located proximate to at least one other container so that at least a portion of the wall section of each container presses directly or indirectly against the wall section of at least one other container while filled with the compressed gas so that one side of a first container provides external support for one side of an adjacent second container;
• and
• a structural enclosure surrounding the plurality of containers, wherein the wall section of some portion of the containers press directly or indirectly against the structural enclosure whereby the structural enclosure provides external support for the containers, wherein the wall section of that portion of the containers that press against the structural enclosure would expand outwardly while under the specified operating pressure were it not for a counterforce provided by the structural enclosure.

An apparatus for storing and/or transporting a compressed fluid, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame comprising a plurality of support members, wherein a portion of the plurality of support members define a void space;
• and
• a tank received in the void space, wherein the tank comprises:
• a pair of opposing heads and a wall section between the heads, wherein the opposing heads and the wall section are formed into an integral unit that has an interior surface that defines an internal volume of the tank and an exterior surface that defines an outermost surface of the tank,
• wherein the wall section comprises four substantially planar sides joined together by four rounded corners,
• wherein the sides have a wall thickness and are made of a material that is flexible and strong enough to allow a center span outward deflection of the sides of at least one wall thickness without exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the tank exceeds 10% of the specified operating pressure without external support for the sides,
• wherein the sides require external support to avoid expanding outwardly to a point of exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the tank is at about the specified operating pressure,
• wherein the rounded corners do not require external support when the pressure inside the tank is at about the specified operating pressure, and
• wherein the tank is sufficiently rigid to be self supporting when empty
• wherein a portion of the wall section rests against one or more support members in said portion of the plurality of support members that define the void space,
• wherein said one or more support members provide external support to said portion of the wall section of the tank that rests against said one or more support members for limiting outward expansion of said portion of the wall section, and
• wherein the frame is designed for holding the tank when the compressed fluid is in the interior space of the tank at a specified normal operating pressure of at least 0.15 MPa greater than atmospheric pressure and preventing the sides from expanding outwardly to an extent that would exceed the elastic limits of the material.

A tank for holding a compressed gas at a specified operating pressure of at least 0.25 MPa above atmospheric pressure at a specified normal operating temperature below 0° C., comprising:

• a pair of opposing heads and a wall section between the heads, wherein the opposing heads and the wall section are formed into an integral unit that has an interior surface that defines an internal volume of the tank and an exterior surface that defines an outermost surface of the tank,
• wherein the wall section comprises four substantially planar sides joined together by four rounded corners,
• wherein the sides have a wall thickness and are made of a material that is flexible and strong enough to allow a center span outward deflection of the sides of at least one wall thickness without exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the tank exceeds 10% of the specified operating pressure without external support for the sides,
• wherein the sides require external support to avoid expanding outwardly to a point of exceeding the elastic limit of the material when the pressure inside the tank is at about the specified operating pressure,
• wherein the rounded corners do not require external support when the pressure inside the tank is at about the specified operating pressure, and
• wherein the tank is sufficiently rigid to be self supporting when empty.