DE212022000149U1 - Solar carport - Google Patents

Abstract

Solar carport, comprising: at least one support structure (12) and a roof (20) supported by the at least one support structure (12), the roof (20) being arranged so that it supports at least one solar panel, the at least one support structure (12) is formed from a GRP material and includes an outer shell enclosing an interior volume, and at least one hydrogen storage located in the interior volume for storing hydrogen fuel for delivery to a vehicle.

Description

Field of invention

The invention relates to an improved solar carport for the generation and storage of energy for grid support, for businesses, for home use and/or for charging electric vehicles, as well as for the storage and distribution of hydrogen for hydrogen-powered vehicles.

background

Carports are known as covered structures that provide a roof or canopy under which one or more vehicles can be parked to provide some protection to the vehicle. It is also known that the roof of such structures is used to place solar cells and/or solar thermal panels, for example for generating electricity and/or heating water, and such structures may be designed to provide a accommodate small numbers of vehicles, or they can cover large parking areas that accommodate large numbers of vehicles. Existing solar carports are typically constructed of steel and feature supporting structures that connect to and support a roof to which a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel is attached to generate electricity. All other associated components such as electrical components (e.g. cables, inverters and/or charging ports) or water drainage devices are either attached to the outside of the solar carport or housed inside or separately from the carport.

There is a need for carports that can effectively support PV solar technology or solar thermal panels with associated equipment over large spans and that can contribute to the sustainability of existing properties and especially new property developments by meeting the requirements for the use of sustainable and renewable materials and production and storage of renewable energy.

WO 2019/064010 A1 reveals a solar carport with hollow support structures.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a carport, in particular a solar carport, according to claim 1. In a further aspect, the invention provides a carport according to claim 6. The invention provides a carport in which the support structure(s) preferably consists of a hollow GRP (fiber reinforced plastic/fiber reinforced polymer) structure in the form of an outer shell, which is elastic and easy to manufacture and contains an interior space or an interior volume which can advantageously be used to accommodate a variety of different components related to the functionality of the system, as explained below. The interior volume can be used for the storage of hydrogen fuel and/or for the inclusion of liquid electrolytes to form a flow battery, in particular for the storage of electrical energy generated by the PV solar cells provided on the roof of the carport. In one embodiment, the invention provides a solar carport comprising at least one support structure, the at least one support structure comprising a trunk portion disposed on a surface and a branch portion coupled to or integral with the trunk portion, the trunk portion and the branch portion each having a hollow interior which, when coupled together, defines an interior volume or cavity within the support structure. The support structure may comprise at least one support plate and/or beam disposed on the branch portion of the support structure and supporting at least one solar panel for absorbing solar energy.

At least one electrical component connected to the at least one solar module may be arranged in the interior of the support structure. The invention advantageously integrates energy storage, e.g. in the form of a battery or storage of fuel such as hydrogen, into the at least one support, protecting the components used for such storage from the external environment and restricting access to the components. Embodiments of the invention also advantageously combine power generation, e.g. in the form of PV solar cells, with energy storage, e.g. in the form of a flow battery, and/or the provision of energy for vehicles, e.g. in the form of charging electric vehicles (EVs) and/or dispensing hydrogen fuel.

Each support structure may include a substantially upright central body portion for attachment to the ground and a branch portion for supporting the roof, the branch portion including at least one laterally extending branch member shaped to have a substantially flat top surface for supporting the roof forms. Preferably, the upper surface represents a substantially flat surface on which a substantially flat roof structure can be supported, which e.g. B. is advantageous for supporting large spans of flat solar cells. However, other shapes of roof structures may also be supported and the tops of the support structures may be shaped accordingly. The term “floor” here can refer to surfaces other than the floor itself, such as: B. an above-ground level of a parking garage or a roof or other platform on which vehicles can be parked and the carport can be installed. It is clear that the carport can also be used in facilities that accommodate various types of vehicles, including but not limited to cars, vans, motorcycles, bicycles, scooters and the like, and that it includes a shelter and optionally an electric charging device and /or can offer a hydrogen filling station for all of these vehicles. The support structures may also be arranged to support a roof structure in other applications, e.g. B. over water, e.g. B. in a reservoir, river, sea or lake, where the support structures can be either fixed or floating.

In one embodiment, the branch and trunk parts of the support structure each consist of a one-piece molded continuous fiber construct. Alternatively, the entire support structure can also consist of a single molded part. This has the advantage that assembly is easy and structural weak points at the connection points are avoided. These structures can advantageously be used to create a single continuous volume within the support structure to provide internal volume for storage of components such as: B. storage tanks for electrical components, water, gases and / or battery electrolytes, as described below. The branching section may consist of one or two branching elements which extend laterally in opposite directions. In a preferred embodiment, the branching section and the body section are each made from a continuous fiber-reinforced plastic.

In a preferred embodiment, the branch section has a variable moment of inertia. This increases the overall strength and achievable spans of the section and reduces deflection along its length. The roof structure may also have a variable moment of inertia along its length to increase the strength and achievable span of the roof. In some embodiments, the branch region may be reinforced with carbon fibers, flax fibers or other high modulus materials to further improve the above parameters.

The roof may include a plurality of roof panels, each extending in a direction to form a span between two spaced support members, each roof panel disposed parallel to and connected to an adjacent roof panel. Each roof panel may include a substantially flat base and side walls extending substantially perpendicularly from the base to form a U-shaped cross-section, with the roof panels (also referred to herein as "shells") arranged such that the Side walls of adjacent roof elements abut each other and are connected to each other along the length of the span. This arrangement has been shown to provide rigidity to the roof and allows the roof to reach large spans (e.g. 15-18 m) between adjacent support structures. At least one roof panel, and preferably every second (i.e., alternating) roof panel, is provided with a laterally extending flange extending from a distal edge of at least one sidewall and arranged to abut the distal edge of the sidewall of an adjacent roof panel . This further increases the rigidity of the roof and can also be used to create a watertight seal between adjacent roof panels. The roof elements can be made from materials such as: B. GRP, e.g. B. fiberglass, with a core made of balsa wood, foam or PET or other lightweight core material, but are not limited to. This arrangement has been shown to produce a lightweight but rigid roof structure that is also resistant to water.

In some embodiments, the solar panel is a PV panel. In a preferred embodiment, the solar module is connected to the power grid via the cavity in the support structure. This synergistically protects the power connection from the external environment while shielding the environment from the electrical power connection.

In some embodiments, the solar module is a solar thermal module that provides hot water.

In some embodiments, a battery system may be housed in the cavity of the support structure. In a preferred embodiment, the battery system may include a charging station for electric vehicles. In embodiments that include both PV solar panels and a battery system, the energy generated by the PV solar panels may be used to charge the battery system. In some embodiments, the body portion and/or the branch portion of the support structure houses a flow battery that includes storage tanks for storing cathodic and anodic liquid electrolytes, a pair of electrodes separated by a membrane, and one or more pumps for circulating the electrolytes past the membrane. The electrolyte storage containers can be accommodated or integrated in the same support structure or in separate support structures. In other embodiments, the hollow support structures may be used to accommodate cylinders and/or tanks for storing hydrogen for delivery to hydrogen-powered vehicles. In the embodiments described below, the embodiments intended for the storage of hydrogen can alternatively also be used for the storage of other fuels, such as. B. liquid gas can be used, but is not limited to this.

Brief description of the drawings

• 1 zeigt eine Solar-Carport-Anordnung;
• 2 zeigt eine Querschnittsansicht einer Anordnung von Schalen zur Verwendung als Dachstruktur in einem Solar-Carport;
• 3 zeigt eine Seitenansicht einer Tragstruktur 12 und eine Draufsicht auf die Grundfläche der Basis der Struktur;
• 4 zeigt schematisch das Innere einer Trägerstruktur, in der Wasserstoffspeicher untergebracht sind, und 4a zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die Linie a-a in 4;
• 4b zeigt eine alternative Konfiguration einer Trägerstruktur, die schematisch das Innere der Trägerstruktur zeigt, in der Wasserstoffspeicher untergebracht sind, und 4c zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die Linie a-a in 4b;
• 5 zeigt schematisch eine alternative Anordnung einer Trägerstruktur, die einen integrierten Wasserstoffspeicher beherbergt, und 5a zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die Linie a-a in 5;
• 6 zeigt schematisch das Innere einer Trägerstruktur, die so konfiguriert ist, dass sie eine Durchflussbatterie zur Speicherung von erzeugter elektrischer Energie bereitstellt, 6a zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die Linie a-a in 6, und 6b zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die Linie b-b in 6; und
• 7 zeigt schematisch eine alternative Anordnung von Tragstrukturen 12, die so konfiguriert sind, dass sie eine Durchflussbatterie bereitstellen, 7a zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die Linie a-a in 7, 7b zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die Linie b-b in 7, und 7c zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die Linie c-c in 7.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• 1 shows a solar carport arrangement;
• 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an arrangement of shells for use as a roof structure in a solar carport;
• 3 shows a side view of a support structure 12 and a plan view of the footprint of the base of the structure;
• 4 shows schematically the interior of a support structure in which hydrogen storage is housed, and 4a shows a cross section through the line aa in 4 ;
• 4b shows an alternative configuration of a support structure, schematically showing the interior of the support structure in which hydrogen storage is housed, and 4c shows a cross section through the line aa in 4b ;
• 5 shows schematically an alternative arrangement of a support structure that houses an integrated hydrogen storage, and 5a shows a cross section through the line aa in 5 ;
• 6 schematically shows the interior of a support structure configured to provide a flow battery for storing generated electrical energy, 6a shows a cross section through the line aa in 6 , and 6b shows a cross section through the line bb in 6 ; and
• 7 schematically shows an alternative arrangement of support structures 12 configured to provide a flow battery, 7a shows a cross section through the line aa in 7 , 7b shows a cross section through the line bb in 7 , and 7c shows a cross section through the line cc in 7 .

Detailed description of the embodiments

Numerous modifications, adaptations and variations of the embodiments described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art who will appreciate the advantages of the present disclosure, and such modifications, adaptations and variations resulting in additional embodiments of the present invention also fall within the scope of the appended claims .

The solar carport described in the embodiments below enables the generation of renewable energy for business and domestic use and/or for charging electric vehicles. The embodiments also provide additional or alternative energy storage in the form of gas tanks, such as. B. hydrogen tanks and / or battery systems, which can either be located in the support structures 12 of the carport itself or both. If the carport is designed to store hydrogen, it can also allow the stored hydrogen to be delivered to hydrogen-powered vehicles. The system contains many novel and innovative design advantages, which are explained in more detail below.

1 shows a carport 10 with a plurality of support structures 12 which are arranged at intervals along the length of the carport 10 and are separated by a span between the support structures 12. The support structures 12 support a roof 20 arranged to support or accommodate solar panels or solar thermal boxes for generating electricity or heating water, etc. The support structures 12 are typically separated from one another by distances (ie, spans) of 8 to 14 m, and these spans typically correspond to a number of adjacent vehicle parking spaces on the ground below. Different spans can be achieved between the structures, in some cases spans of around 18 m can be used. Depending on the system, the roof 20 can extend between a single support structure 12 and a building instead of between several support structures 12.

Each support structure 12 is arranged so that the roof 20 is at an angle appropriate to the location (typically a few degrees) to the horizon zontal support, preferably to maximize solar radiation and thus increase solar yield. Means may be provided to adjust the angle of the solar panels relative to the roof 20 or the angle at which the roof 20 is supported by the support structures 12 relative to the ground. The support structure 12 consists of a hollow structure, which is typically formed from glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) or fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) to form a fuselage section 14 and a branch section 13. The composite material of the hollow structure can be reinforced with carbon fibers or other fibers, especially with sustainable materials such as hemp fibers, flax fibers and/or basalt fibers. Sustainable plant-based epoxy resins can also be used for construction. In the arrangement of 1 the fuselage portion 14 stands substantially upright and substantially central to the support structure 12 and extends vertically about a central vertical axis of the structure (not shown), although other configurations of the support structure 12 may also be provided, for example as related below 4b described. Like in the 1 and 3 As shown, the fuselage section 14 is secured to the ground to anchor the carport structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the branch section 13 extends from the fuselage section 14 to form two branches 13a, 13b which extend outwardly in opposite directions from the fuselage section 14 and form a flat upper surface 13c which provides support for the roof 20 forms (in an exploded view in 1 shown, separated from the support structures 12 on which it rests in the assembled carport structure). In some embodiments, as shown, the branches 13a, 13b are substantially equal in length in their lateral extension from the trunk, while in other embodiments (not shown) they may vary in length so that the branch portion 13 extends predominantly only in the direction of the trunk one or another branch 13a, 13b can extend. The arrangement of the branches 13a, 13b is usually such that the roof 20 covers the length of one or two car parking spaces arranged perpendicular to the span direction, plus a small additional overhang to provide additional weather protection for the vehicles parked in these parking spaces offer.

The use of materials such as GRP/FRP to form a hollow structure enables the support structures 12 to be protected in the event of damage, e.g. B. due to collisions with vehicles using the carport 10, by cutting out and replacing damaged parts of the shell of the structure. Parts of the structure can also be replaced in the same way for other reasons, e.g. B. to replace or update EV charging ports as needed, allowing flexibility in the functionality of the carport 10.

The supporting structure can consist of a single component or, as in 3 shown, the fuselage section 14 and the branch section 13 may be separate components that are connected to each other, e.g. bolted. At least some sections of the support structure 12 may be provided with a composite core to increase the structural rigidity, which may be formed e.g. from PVC or PET foam.

Like in the 1 and 2 As shown, the roof 20 itself may be formed from one or more roof panels extending between adjacent support structures 12 in the spanwise direction, and preferably from a plurality of such roof panels extending in parallel between adjacent support structures 12. Each roof member may be in the form of a shell 22, 24 comprising a flat base 25 and side walls 26a, b extending substantially perpendicularly from the base 25, as shown in cross section in FIG 2 shown. 1 and 2 12 show a portion of the roof 20, the portion depicted comprising three parallel sheets 22, 24, 25 with a length arranged to extend between two adjacent support structures 12. In some embodiments, a complete roof 20 can, for example, B. include nine parallel panels, each typically the length of the span between adjacent support structures 12, although other arrangements are possible (e.g., roof panels that have the length of two or more spans, or roof panels that run along the Span between support elements are connected to each other).

As in 2 shown, in a preferred embodiment, the sheets 22, 24 forming the roof 20 are arranged next to one another and connected to one another along their side walls 26a to form the roof 20. The sheets 22, 24 may be bolted or otherwise connected together to form a rigid roof structure. Typically, the panels 22, 24, 25 are joined together to form a complete roof span and then connected (e.g. bolted) through their ends to the vertical support structures 12 to form the carport 10. The sheets 22, 24, 25 can be made of GRP/glass fiber and have a foam core or a core made of PET plastic (e.g. from recycled plastic bottles) or another lightweight foam core material.

As in 2 shown, every second sheet 22, 25 can be typically 50 mm wide Flange 27 may be provided along the distal edges of their extending side walls 26a, b. Alternating sheets 24 can then be placed against the flanges 27 of the adjacent sheets 22, 25. This provides increased rigidity and can also be used to form a watertight seal between adjacent sheets 22, 24, 25. In some embodiments, this waterproof seal may also form a drainage path to direct rainwater into a storage container within the support structure 12 on which the roof 20 rests. It has been shown that this arrangement of sheets 22, 24, 25 results in a stable roof structure that can support a greater weight of solar modules than conventional carport roof structures. Alternatively, each of the sheets 22, 24, 25 may be identical, and the flange 27 may be formed on one of the side walls 26a, 26b of each sheet 22, 24, 25, so that the side wall 26a, 26b of each sheet 22, 24, 25 , which is provided with a flange, abuts the side wall 26a, 26b of an adjacent sheet 22, 24, 25, which is not provided with a flange, and rests against the flange of the adjacent sheet 22, 24, 25.

If the roof elements are designed as sheets 22, 24, 25 (as in 2 shown), such panels 22, 24, 25 may be mounted in one of two orientations, that is, (i) in an "upright" configuration with the bottom 25 at the bottom and the side walls 26a, 26b extending upward; or (ii) in a “reverse” configuration (as in 2 shown), in which the bottom 25 is at the top and the side walls 26a, 26b extend downwards. The choice of orientation may depend on the type of solar module technology supported by the roof 20, e.g. B. photovoltaics, solar thermal energy or others. For PV solar modules, an inverted configuration may be preferred to create a flat surface that allows airflow under the PV solar modules for cooling. In this case, the PV panels can be attached to the trays with screws or clamps. In a system with solar thermal panels, it may be preferred to place these panels in an upright configuration using the trays so that the panels sit in the trays and the side walls 26a, 26b help place the panels even though the panels are always can still be screwed or clamped to the trays.

It becomes clear that instead of the in 2 Other shapes of the roof structure can also be provided in the arrangement shown. For example, the roof structure can consist of one or more beams with a suitable cross section, e.g. B. T-beams or I-beams.

In 3 a support structure 12 is shown in more detail. As already mentioned, the support structure 12 extends between the distal tips of the two branches 13a, 13b over a distance that is typically slightly more than the length of one or two parking spaces, depending on the configuration of the carport 10 in relation to those below parking spaces. The width of the support structure 12 in the vertical direction (ie in the span direction) can typically be in the range of 400 mm.

In the in 3 In the embodiment shown, the fuselage section 14 and the branch section 13 are designed as separate components and are screwed together or connected in some other way. The bottom of the fuselage section 14 is anchored to the ground, in this case by bolts 16. 3 also shows a top view of the base surface 30 of the fuselage section 14 of the support structure 12, from which it can be seen that the fuselage section 14 has a hollow structure with a substantially elliptical cross section. In one embodiment, the fuselage section 14 is anchored to the ground by providing a flange (not shown) that extends inwardly from the perimeter of the bottom of the fuselage section 14 where it meets the ground, creating a substantially horizontal surface , which rests on the ground within the hollow fuselage section 14. The flange can then be attached to the floor surface, e.g. B. using several screws before the branch section 13 is connected to the fuselage section 14 (so as to allow access to the interior of the fuselage section 14 before the branch section 13 is attached), or alternatively the inner flange can be via an access plate or provided in the fuselage section 14 Inspection hatch must be accessible. This arrangement provides a mechanism for attaching the support structure 12 to the ground while not being visible from the outside of the structure.

In the end view (not shown), the undersides of the branch sections 13a, 13b are elliptical and become concave as the branch section merges into the trunk part. The upper surface 13c of the branch section 13 is flat, but typically inclined a few degrees from the horizontal, as shown in FIG 3 shown.

Inspection hatches may be provided on the side or top of the support structure 12 to provide access to screws, cables and other equipment housed in the support structure 12, such as. B. Antennas, inverters, data recorders, cellular transmitter receivers, Wi-Fi boosters and other electronic devices. In general, the support structure 12 can be used to accommodate antennas internally or externally for all types of telecommunications are used, including Long-Term Evolution (LTE) for wireless broadband communications for mobile devices and data terminals, which are currently based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA technologies. The support structures 12 described offer the advantage of not being made of metal, which avoids interference with radio signals, which is the biggest obstacle for all radio technologies, especially for the latest developments in 5G.

As in 3 As shown, the branch sections 13a, 13b of the branch section 13 form a variable inertia support in which each branch section 13 tapers towards its distal tip so that the weight of each branch section 13 (and its moment of inertia) decreases towards its tip and the load is reduced towards the ends of the cantilever branch sections 13. This is particularly evident in the arrangement of 3 achieved by the tapering curve on the underside of the branch section 13 relative to the flat top 13c.

The above-described hollow volume of the support structures 12 may advantageously be used to provide a battery storage compartment for storing one or more batteries used to store electricity generated by the carport's PV solar panels and/or for use in charging of electric vehicles, and/or as backup batteries to maintain the electrical functionality of the carport in the absence or failure of another energy supply. In particular, the hollow structure can be used to store lithium ion (Li-ion) or lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO) batteries in the spaces provided in the hollow internal volume of the structure. The battery system may include connection means on the outside of the support structure (e.g. in the form of an electric vehicle charging station or other type of power connection for a variety of known uses), or the battery may be used to power other functions of the carport, such as: B. charging stations for mobile devices or electronic displays for use as information displays, advertising spaces, user interfaces, payment points for charging or parking electric vehicles, etc. The battery can be charged by one or more solar panels located on the roof 20 of the carport 10 above the support structure 12 are located. Variations of these arrangements are discussed below with reference to 6 and 7 described in which a flow battery is integrated into the hollow structure of the support structure itself, instead of housing a conventional preformed Li-ion or LiFePO battery in the hollow structure.

Alternatively, a charging station for electric vehicles can be provided in the support structure 12, which is supplied with power via a connection to the power grid; In this case, all required components can be accommodated in a storage compartment within the support structure 12 as required. In this case, the required components can be accommodated in a storage compartment within the support structure 12 as required. In this arrangement, the power supply can also be provided via the PV panels housed in the carport 10. In some cases, the network can also be powered by batteries stored in the support structure and/or by vehicles connected to an electric vehicle charging station, e.g. B. to support the network when it is heavily loaded.

The 4 to 7 show various additional arrangements of support structures 12 and other features included in the carport 10 of 1 can be used.

The 4 and 5 show arrangements in which the hollow structure of a support structure 12 is used to store hydrogen, in particular for delivery to hydrogen-powered vehicles, such as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles or vehicles with hydrogen internal combustion engines.

4 shows an arrangement in which the hollow beam structure 40 is substantially as described above and in which the internal cavity within the structure is used to accommodate one or more hydrogen storage tanks 41, 42, 43, 44 for storing hydrogen used to power hydrogen powered vehicles. Such vehicles can be conveniently parked near or under the carport structure. 4 shows two tanks 42, 43 located in the central part of the hollow support structure 40 and further tanks 41, 44 located in the branch sections of the structure. It will be appreciated that any of the tanks depicted may be provided in combination or individually as an alternative. Although two tanks 41, 44 are provided in the respective branch sections 13a, 13b, which may result in a more even load distribution on the hollow support structure 40, in some examples one or more tanks 41, 42, 43, 44 may be provided in only one of the branches 13a, 13b of the hollow support structure 40. The tank or tanks 41, 42, 43, 44 provided within the hollow support structure 40 may be configured to have any shape, in particular a shape that provides the required structural integrity and/or efficiently utilizes the available space within the hollow support structure 40. In an example, as shown the tank or tanks 41, 42, 43, 44 may be substantially cylindrical, particularly when the tanks 41, 42, 43, 44 store hydrogen under high pressure.

4a shows a cross section of the hollow support structure 40 through the line aa in 4 and shows that the tank 42 is positioned within the hollow support structure 40 so that it is completely surrounded by the material of the hollow support structure 40. In this way, the external material of the hollow beam structure 40 can be designed to provide the tank 42 with adequate impact protection, thermal protection, fire protection, chemical protection, etc., as required for the hydrogen storage devices to meet the required safety standards, as explained in more detail below becomes.

In the in the 4 and 4a In the arrangement shown, the tanks 42 and 43 extend substantially from the ground to the top of the hollow support structure 40. However, in other examples, these tanks 42, 43 may be above ground level, in particular above a height at which they would be impacted by a direct impact of a vehicle the hollow beam support structure 40 could be damaged. This protects the tanks 42, 43 from the risk of damage and possible breakage in the event of a collision of a vehicle with the hollow support structure 40. Likewise, all tanks 41, 44 located in the branches 13a, 13b of the hollow support structure 40 are like that Tanks 41 and 44 shown are protected from damage because they are located above the height of the vehicles for which the carport structure is intended. By accommodating one or more tanks 41, 44 in these branches 13a, 13b, the available space within the hollow support structure 40 is used sensibly, while the tanks 41, 44 are not exposed to the risk of a direct impact by a vehicle.

If the hollow beam structure 40 is made of a GRP material, it can be advantageously repaired in the event of impact damage, for example by cutting out and replacing damaged sections of the structure with new GRP panels.

The hollow support structure 40 can also be provided with suitable means (not shown) for filling the tank(s) 41, 42, 43, 44 with hydrogen and for delivering the stored hydrogen to vehicles. These means may include compression and refrigeration means for delivering hydrogen to vehicles at a pressure of up to, but not limited to, about 700 bar and will be known to those skilled in the art. The tanks 41, 42, 43, 44 provided in the hollow support structure 40 can be designed to store hydrogen at a pressure between 20 and 200 bar (2 to 20 MPa). During the refueling process, hydrogen from the tanks 41, 42, 43, 44 can be fed via a compressor into a smaller high-pressure storage tank immediately before refueling so that the hydrogen can be fed into one at a pressure of up to 700 to 1000 bar (70 to 100 MPa). Vehicle tank can be refilled. Alternatively, a compression system may be used to deliver the hydrogen fuel directly from the tanks 41, 42, 43, 44 in the hollow beam structure 40 into the vehicle's fuel tank without the need for a high pressure buffer. It goes without saying that one or more high-pressure accumulators may be provided in one or more of the support structures 12 to serve as high-pressure tanks during a refueling operation.

Although the supporting structures 12 of 1 , 3 and 4 each have an upper branch section 13 with two laterally extending in opposite directions 13a, 13b, the branch sections 13 can be arranged in different configurations. In particular, the hollow support structure 40 can have only a single laterally extending branching element. If only a single branching element is provided, the single branching element may be one of the branches shown in these figures, e.g. B. either the upper branch 13a or the lower branch 13b as in 3 shown.

4b shows an alternative example of a hollow support structure 46, which is used to accommodate hydrogen storage in a similar manner as in 4a is arranged, in which the hollow support structure 46, however, comprises a body part and only a single, laterally extending branching element 46a, which essentially corresponds to the upper branching element 13a of FIG 3 corresponds to the structure shown. The arrangement in 4b is generally similar to that in 4 shown and the same reference numbers are used to identify the same components. In the in 4b In the arrangement shown, the hydrogen storages are arranged in the form of tanks 41, 42 and 43 within the hollow support structure 46, the tank 41 being arranged in the branching element 46a and the tanks 42 and 43 in the body part of the hollow support structure 46. 4c shows a cross section of the hollow support structure 46 through the line aa in 4b and shows the tank 42, which is arranged in the body part of the hollow support structure 46, and the tank 41, which is located in the branching element 46a, both tanks 42, 43 being completely surrounded by the material of the hollow support structure 46, so that the outer material of the hollow support structure 46 can be configured to provide the tank with appropriate impact protection, thermal protection, fire protection, chemicals protection etc. is provided as explained below.

It is clear that an arrangement of the hollow support structure 46 with only a single laterally extending branching element 46a, for example as in 4b shown, can be used in any of the other described embodiments of a car port structure and can be used instead of the arrangement of the hollow support structure 46 shown in one of the figures.

5 shows a similar arrangement as in 4 , however, in which the hollow support structure 50 is used to provide an integrated storage tank for storing a volume of hydrogen 52. To meet the relevant safety requirements, the hollow structure may be a GRP structure as described above, and the inner surface of the hollow structure may be provided with additional protective material to create a robust integrated storage tank for the safe and effective confinement of hydrogen. Such a protective material can be selected to provide impact protection, thermal protection, fire protection, chemical protection, etc., as explained in more detail below.

5a shows a cross section of the hollow support structure 50 through the line aa in 5 and clarifies that in this arrangement, substantially the entire internal volume of the hollow beam structure 50 can be used as an integrated storage tank, although any part of the hollow beam structure 50 can be used to form such an integrated storage tank. In an alternative arrangement, e.g. B. only the upper portions of the structure may be used so that the hydrogen is stored in the volume of the hollow support structure above a height at which the structure could be damaged by a direct impact of a vehicle on the support structure, as in connection with 4 described.

As with the arrangement of the 4 to 4c The hollow support structure 50 can also be provided with suitable means (not shown) for filling the tank or tanks with hydrogen and for releasing stored hydrogen to vehicles.

In 6 1 shows an arrangement in which a battery is provided within the hollow support structure 60, and in particular in which the battery is provided as a flow battery. In the arrangement shown, the flow battery is provided as an integral flow battery in which the hollow volume of the hollow support structure 60 is used to provide integral electrolyte storage tanks, as described below, formed from the support structure itself, but the flow battery may also be implemented using separate storage tanks , which are housed and mounted within the hollow volume of the support structure.

As in 6 shown, the hollow hollow support structure 60 is provided with a tank for the positive electrolyte (anolyte) 61, a tank for the negative electrolyte (catholyte) 62 and an electrochemical cell 63. The electrochemical cell comprises two electrodes 64, 66 which are separated by a semi-porous membrane 65. 6a shows a cross section along line aa in 6 and illustrates the membrane 65, which is arranged between the two electrodes 64, 66. 6b shows a cross section along line bb in 6 and illustrates the surface of the membrane 65 and its shape in this particular example. It can be seen that in this case the membrane extends over the entire height of the hollow support structure 60 and has a smaller width, which corresponds to the depth of the hollow support structure 60.

Pumps 67a, 67b are provided to pump the respective electrolytes from the electrolyte containers 61 through the electrochemical cell 63 and past the membrane 65 where ion exchange occurs to convert chemical energy into electricity. The electrolyte pumped by the pumps 67a, 67b through the electrochemical cell 63 flows back into the respective electrolyte containers 61, 62 via the respective return lines 68a, 68b.

The battery may be used to store electrical energy generated by solar cells on the roof 20 of the hollow beam structure 60, as described above, and/or to store electricity supplied from the power grid or generated in other ways, in particular by other forms of renewable energy generated on or near the site where the carport structure is located. The battery can also be used to power electric vehicles located under or around the carport structure, such as: B. from a charging station (not shown), which is provided in the trunk of the support structure and is therefore easily accessible to a vehicle parked under the carport. The battery can be used alternatively or in addition to feeding electricity into the grid. An inverter 69 may be provided to convert direct current (DC) from the battery to alternating current (AC) needed for charging electric vehicles or powering other loads or transmitting power.

In one example, the flow battery may be a vanadium flow battery or a vanadium redox battery that uses vanadium-based electrolytes and carbon-based electrodes. Alternatively, the flow battery can also be a zinc-bromine battery. However, other battery chemicals and flow battery methods are also conceivable that take advantage of the ability to conveniently store the relevant components in the cavity of the hollow support structure 60.

The electrolyte tanks 61, 62 can be conveniently accommodated in the respective opposite branches of the hollow support structure 60, and the substantially vertical body part of the support structure can be used to accommodate the electrochemical cell 63. In this way, the cavities of the branch sections, which make up a significant part of the internal volume of the support structure, advantageously provide volumes for the electrolyte stores, the volume of which determines the storage capacity of the battery, and the essentially vertical body part expediently offers a large linear contact area between the electrolyte stores for ease the electrochemical reaction along the electrodes as the electrolytes circulate.

By using electrolyte tanks integrally formed in the hollow structure of the hollow support structure 60 and particularly in the branch portions, it is possible to maximize the effective use of the cavity within the structure and increase the energy density of the battery.

Furthermore, due to the configuration of the hollow beam structure 60, in some flow battery arrangements it may be possible to use gravity to assist in the circulation of electrolyte from the tanks 61, 62 through the electrochemical cell 63, particularly when the electrolyte tanks 61, 62 are located in the branches of the hollow beam structure 60. The pumps 67a, 67b may then be used to assist in the recirculation of electrolyte through the tanks 61, 62.

7 shows a further arrangement of a flow battery system in which several individual support structures 70, 72, 74 of the car port structure are used as different elements of the flow battery. In particular shows 7 an arrangement in which three adjacent support structures 70, 72, 74 are used to provide a negative electrolyte tank, an electrochemical cell and a positive electrolyte tank, respectively. The flow battery works in essentially the same way as in the arrangement of 6 , but the elements of the flow battery are housed in various parts of a carport structure that includes a plurality of hollow support structures 70, 72, 74. For example, the three support structures 70, 72 and 74 may support a roof structure (not shown) over at least all three support structures 70, 72 and 74, which in turn may support an array of solar cells (not shown) as described above, and space for parked ones Vehicles under the roof and between the support structures 70, 72 and 74 can offer. By arranging the battery over multiple support structures 70, 72 and 74 used to support the roof of the carport and extending between them, the carport structure provides a battery with a larger overall volume that can accommodate the electrolytes and electrochemical cell , and in this way the battery can be equipped with a larger storage capacity. This arrangement also has the advantage of combining the structural elements of the carport with the elements that form the flow battery in order to efficiently use the space on the site of the carport.

The flow battery arrangement of 7 works in essentially the same way as the arrangement of 6 , except that the electrolyte tanks and electrochemical cell are housed in separate hollow structures and connected by appropriate umbilicals to allow electrolyte to circulate between the structures to operate the flow battery. The support structures 70 and 74 are used to provide a negative electrolyte tank and a positive electrolyte tank, respectively, which may be formed integrally from the hollow structure of the support structure 70 itself to maximize the available tank volume within the support structure 70, or may be formed using a or several storage tanks are formed, which are accommodated within each support structure 70. 7a shows a cross section of the support structure 70 through the line aa in 7 and shows that in this arrangement, substantially the entire internal volume of the hollow support structure 70 may be used as an integrated storage tank, although it will be understood that any portion of the hollow day structure 70 may be used to form such an integrated storage tank. For example, in an alternative arrangement, only the upper portions of the structure may be used to store the electrolyte in the volume of the hollow structure above a height at which the structure could be damaged by a direct impact of a vehicle on the support structure. 7c similarly shows a cross section of the support structure 74 through the line cc in 7 and shows that in this arrangement essentially the entire internal volume of the hollow structure 74 is used as an integrated storage tank for storing the negative electrolyte can be det, although it is also clear here that other configurations are conceivable, such as in connection with 7a described.

The support structure 72 is arranged to form the electrochemical cell through which the electrolyte circulates by means of the pumps 77, 78. 7b shows a cross section along line bb in 7 and illustrates the membrane 75 arranged between two electrodes 81, 83. In the arrangement shown, the membrane 75 runs vertically between the top and bottom of the interior of the support structure 72 to divide its cavity into two sections and the negative electrolyte 71 on one side from the positive electrolyte 73 on the other side. The operation of the flow battery occurs according to the same principle as the arrangement in 6 . The pump 77 discharges the negative electrolyte 71 from the negative electrolyte container 71 located in or within the support structure 70 through a volume within the support structure 70 via a supply line 84 connected between the support structure 70 and the support structure 72 Support structure 72 circulates on a first side of the membrane 75 and past the electrode 81. The circulating negative electrolyte 71 is returned to the negative electrolyte tank 71 via a return line 85 connected between the support structure 72 and the support structure 70. Similarly, the pump 78 circulates the positive electrolyte 73 from the positive electrolyte container provided by or in the support structure 74 through a volume via a supply line 86 connected between the support structure 74 and the support structure 72 within the support structure 72 on a second side of the membrane 75 and past the electrode 83. The circulating positive electrolyte 73 is returned to the positive electrolyte container 73 via a return line 87 connected between the support structure 72 and the support structure 74. The electrodes 81, 83, the membrane 75 and/or the electrolytes 71, 73 may be the same as those in the arrangement of 6 can be used, or they can be selected from other materials and chemical compositions suitable for the operation of the flow battery. Although the positive and negative electrolyte tanks and the electrochemical cell in 7 As shown as occupying the entirety of the respective support structures 70, 72 and 74, it can be envisioned that the tanks and cell may be housed in any suitable portion of the respective structures. In addition, the tanks and the cell may be accommodated in more or less than the three support structures shown, for example, by accommodating the positive electrolyte tanks in two or more support structures and the negative electrolyte tanks in two or more support structures and these four or more tanks are connected to a separate support structure configured to provide the electrochemical cell.

Although the supply lines 84 and 86 are shown as supplying electrolyte to the upper part of the electrochemical cell and the return lines 85 and 87 as returning electrolyte from the lower part of the electrochemical cell to the electrolyte tanks, other configurations of supply and return lines 85, 87 can be provided for the circulation of electrolyte through the electrochemical cell. For example, the electrolyte may be supplied at the bottom of the electrochemical cell, pumped up through the cell, and returned to the electrolyte tanks from the top of the supply structure 72. Similarly, the supply lines 84 and 86 and the return lines 85 and 87 are shown connected to the bottom of the negative and positive electrolyte containers of the support structures 70 and 74, but other configurations may be used. For example, the electrolyte can be supplied from above and returned downwards, or vice versa. It will also be appreciated that although two pumps 77, 78 are shown for circulating the electrolytes, various circulation arrangements may be provided, including different pump arrangements, different types of pumps, and/or different numbers and locations of pumps.

Additionally, in some arrangements it is possible to use gravity to assist in the circulation of electrolyte from the reservoirs through the electrochemical cell. For example, gravity can be used to assist in the delivery of electrolyte from the bottom of the electrolyte containers into the electrochemical cell by directing electrolyte from the bottom of the containers into the cell.

An inverter 89 may be provided, as in conjunction with 6 described.

The hollow support structures shown in the figures can be made from various materials that enable them to provide the level of protection required for a particular application. Hydrogen storage, as used in the 4 and 5 For example, those described must meet certain safety requirements, including standards for burst testing, impact testing, pressure, leakage, fatigue, temperature, fire testing, and others. Similar security requirements also apply to those in the 6 and 7 electrolyte storage described, which must meet, among other things, standards with regard to impact resistance, leak testing, chemical resistance and/or temperature testing.

By incorporating hydrogen or electrolyte storage into the hollow support structures, the design of the support structures themselves can provide some or all of the required protection. In some cases, such tanks can be provided as separate components that already meet the safety and performance requirements and are housed in the hollow support structures. The support structures can be made of GRP and reinforced with carbon fibers, aramid fibers or various forms of flax or hemp fibers. In this case, the support structure can provide additional protection for the individual tanks, e.g. B. provides additional impact, temperature, fire or chemical protection. The cavities between the support structure and a tank housed therein can be filled with foam to provide, for example, additional thermal insulation, impact protection or fire protection. Any material provided in the hollow support structure may also be selected and arranged to provide sound insulation, for example to reduce the sound generated in the flow battery assembly 6 to isolate pumps 67a, 67b shown or other devices housed in the support structures. Such sound insulation can be achieved in particular by foam fillings at selected points within the hollow support structure, if appropriate.

Where a single tank is housed within the support structure, the material of the support structure may also provide additional protection to a tank that would otherwise not meet the prescribed requirements, so that the combination of the tank design and the support structure meets the prescribed requirements for the overall installation.

Suitable tanks for hydrogen storage can e.g. B. used in hydrogen-powered vehicles, and such tanks can be used or adapted for installation into the support structures. Such tanks can be made from polymer-based materials and may contain composite materials with an epoxy resin matrix. In particular, the epoxy resin can ensure the required fire protection in a composite material. Suitable composite materials can be reinforced with carbon fibers, glass fibers or synthetic aramid fibers such as Kevlar in strands or fabrics. Alternatively, tanks can be made from stainless steel or aluminum reinforced with carbon, glass or aramid fibers wrapped around, for example, a cylindrical metal tank to provide adequate strength and impact resistance. In other examples, an aluminum or steel liner with glass, aramid, or carbon fibers may be used to form a metal matrix composite. In some examples, suitable tanks are made of carbon fiber lined with a polymeric material. Combinations of steel and/or composite materials can produce tanks capable of storing hydrogen at pressures of up to 700 bar (70 MPa).

When a tank is installed in a hollow support structure, the support structure can provide additional structural integrity to the tank, thereby improving the overall performance of the tank.

If the hollow support structure 50 acts as an integrated storage for hydrogen (as in 5 ) or battery electrolytes (as in 6 and 7 ) used, the support structure may be constructed of a GF'K material and lined with a suitable composite material designed to provide the required compressive strength and meet other performance criteria described above.

Suitable tanks for electrolyte storage in flow batteries as described in the arrangements of 6 and 7 can be made of polymer, stainless steel, or other suitable materials commonly used for electrolyte storage in flow batteries. When the hollow support structure is used as an integrated storage tank for electrolyte storage in flow batteries, the support structure may be made of a GRP material and internally lined or coated to provide the structure with appropriate chemical resistance to enable it to be used as a storage tank. For example, chemically resistant adhesives, resins, or gel coatings may be applied to the interior of the structure to provide a suitable interior surface for use as an electrolyte storage tank, and/or the interior of the support structure may be lined with any suitable material that provides the provides the required chemical resistance.

Although hydrogen storage in the 4 and 5 than from the flow batteries in the 6 and 7 separate systems, hydrogen storage and flow batteries can be combined in the various support structures of a single solar carport system. In other words, a carport system can comprise a plurality of the hollow support structures shown, supporting a roof extending between them. extends, preferably supporting solar cells for electricity generation, and providing space between and around the support structures for vehicles to park beneath the roof structure. One or more of the support structures may be used to provide one or more flow batteries as described above, while other support structures may be used to provide hydrogen storage. In this way, the carport facility can both generate and store electricity, as well as charge and supply hydrogen to vehicles. In some cases, a single support structure may include both hydrogen storage and battery storage, and a single support structure may provide both hydrogen dispensing and EV charging points.

Furthermore, by providing hollow support structures that can accommodate either electrolyte storage for a flow battery or hydrogen storage, it is possible for these storage to be interchangeable so that electrolyte storage can be replaced by hydrogen storage and vice versa. In this way it is possible to provide a carport system that is flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of a particular location over time and also future-proofs for changing technologies. For example, the use of hydrogen storage in a solar carport system may become more important with the increasing use of technologies to produce hydrogen from solar energy; in this case, greater capacity may be required to store hydrogen, which is produced on-site from the solar energy generated by the carport system itself.

By designing the support structures as described above to provide appropriate structural protection against shock, fire, etc., the structures can be suitable for both hydrogen storage and electricity storage. Similarly, by selecting appropriate storage tank materials and designs, whether built into the support structures or integrally formed from the support structures themselves, the storage tanks can be configured to be used for either hydrogen or flow battery storage. Electrolyte are suitable without having to replace the tanks. The support structures can then be reconfigured if necessary in the future to convert a support structure from a hydrogen storage to a flow battery or vice versa without the need to replace the tanks.

The outer surface of the support structures described can be used to create space for advertising and/or other means of communication with the user, such as. B. screens that provide information or instructions, flexible electronic or TFT panels that are flush with the surface of the support structure, or user interfaces such as touch screens for processing payments for electric vehicle charging, parking, etc. The contoured support structures (in 1 shown in more detail) can be coated with a plastic or PVC film to display advertising or other trademarks or information.

From the above description it is clear that the carport can be formed from support structures with various advantageous properties, and the arrangements described in connection with the figures can be implemented in any combination.

The hollow nature of the structure allows, without limitation, the following to be integrated into the design of the structures: cables, conduits, electrical components, water pipes, water storage, battery integration. The carport and hollow support structures can also be used as Wi-Fi or cellular signal boosters, as the support structures are preferably not made of conductive materials (and preferably made of GRP or other FRP) and thus do not act as an antenna or interfere with Wi-Fi or other signal boosters located within the hollow space of the support structures. This is a significant advantage over traditional carport structures, which are typically made of steel and also do not provide interior space for housing such equipment. In some embodiments, the interior space of the support structures can be used to house cellular or Wi-Fi antennas or boosters instead of traditional antennas located elsewhere in the environment.

Although reference is made in this description to the use of GRP or other GRP materials to form the support structures of the carport, other suitable materials may also be used, preferably other non-electrically conductive materials, particularly if these can be used to form a hollow support structure of the type shown, to achieve similar advantages to those described.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2019064010 A1 [0004]

Claims (25)

Solar carport, comprising: at least one support structure (12) and a roof (20) supported by the at least one support structure (12), the roof (20) being arranged so that it supports at least one solar panel, wherein the at least one support structure (12) is formed from a GRP material and comprises an outer shell that encloses an inner volume, and at least one hydrogen storage located in the interior volume to store hydrogen fuel for delivery to a vehicle. Solar carport after Claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrogen storage is designed for storing hydrogen at a pressure between 2 and 20 MPa. Solar carport after Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the at least one hydrogen storage is made of stainless steel which is covered with carbon fiber. Solar carport according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one hydrogen storage is formed in one piece by the internal volume of the at least one support structure (12). Solar carport according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one support structure (12) comprises a delivery device for delivering hydrogen stored in the storage tank to a vehicle. Solar carport, comprising: the at least one support structure (60) and a roof (20) supported by the at least one support structure (60), the roof (20) being arranged so that it supports at least one solar panel, wherein the at least one support structure (12) is formed from a GRP material and comprises an outer shell that encloses an inner volume; at least one electrolyte storage tank for storing a liquid anolyte (61) and catholyte (62); an electrochemical cell (63) having a pair of electrodes (64, 66) separated by a membrane (65); and at least one pump (67a, 67b) arranged to circulate the anolyte (61) and the catholyte (62) between the storage tank(s) and the electrochemical cell (63) to form a flow battery , wherein the at least one electrolyte storage tank is arranged within the internal volume of the at least one support structure (60). Solar carport after Claim 6 , wherein an anolyte storage is provided in a first support structure (70), a catholyte storage in a second support structure (72) and the electrochemical cell in a third support structure (74). Solar carport after Claim 6 , wherein the at least one support structure (70, 72, 74) comprises a substantially upright central fuselage section (14) for attachment to the ground and a branch section (13) for supporting the roof (20), the branch section (13) comprising two branches (13a, 13b) extending laterally in opposite directions, and wherein separate anolyte and catholyte storage tanks are arranged within the respective (13a, 13b) of the support structure (70, 72, 74) and the electrochemical cell between the anolyte - and catholyte storage tanks and in particular in the fuselage section (14) is arranged. Solar carport after Claim 7 , wherein the membrane (65) is arranged so that it is arranged substantially over the entire height of the support structure (70, 72, 74). Solar carport according to one of the Claims 6 until 9 , wherein the at least one electrolyte storage tank is integrally formed by the internal volume of the at least one support structure (70, 72, 74). Solar carport according to one of the Claims 6 until 10 , wherein the at least one electrolyte reservoir comprises an acid-resistant lining or coating formed on an inner surface of the GRP material. Solar carport according to one of the Claims 6 until 11 , wherein the at least one electrolyte storage is formed from a polymer or stainless steel material. Solar carport according to one of the Claims 6 until 12 , wherein the flow battery is arranged to store electrical energy producible by at least one roof-mounted PV solar module. Solar carport according to one of the Claims 6 until 13 , wherein the at least one support structure (70, 72, 74) comprises a charging station for electric vehicles that is powered by the battery. Solar carport according to one of the Claims 6 until 14 , wherein the at least one support structure (70, 72, 74) comprises a hydrogen storage device located in the interior in order to store hydrogen fuel for delivery to a vehicle. Solar carport according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each support structure (70, 72, 74) comprises a substantially upright central body portion (14) for attachment to the ground and a branch portion (13) for supporting the roof (20), the Branch section (13) comprises at least one laterally extending branch. Solar carport after Claim 16 , wherein the at least one laterally extending branch is shaped to form a substantially flat upper surface for supporting the roof (20). Solar carport after Claim 17 , wherein the branching portion (13) comprises two branches (13a, 13b) extending laterally in opposite directions and is formed from a single piece of GRP material. Solar carport after Claim 18 , wherein the at least one storage tank is arranged above ground level within at least one of the laterally extending branches. Solar carport according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the roof (20) comprises a plurality of sheets (22, 24, 26), each extending in a direction so as to form a span between two spaced support elements, each sheet (22, 24, 26) is arranged parallel to an adjacent roof element and is connected to it. Solar carport after Claim 20 , wherein each sheet (22, 24, 26) includes a substantially flat base (25) and side walls (26a, 26b) extending substantially perpendicularly from the base (25) to form a U-shaped cross section , wherein the sheets (22, 24, 26) are arranged so that the side walls (26a, 26b) of adjacent roof elements abut one another and are connected to one another along the length of the span. Solar carport after Claim 21 , wherein at least one (22, 24, 26) and preferably every second sheet (22, 24, 26) is provided with a laterally extending flange (27) which extends from a distal edge of at least one side wall (26a, 26b). extends and is arranged to rest against the distal edge of the side wall (26a, 26b) of an adjacent roof element. Solar carport according to one of the Claims 20 until 22 , whereby the roof elements are made of GRP, e.g. B. glass fiber, are formed with a foam or PET core. Solar carport according to one of the preceding claims, further with at least one solar module mounted on the roof, in particular a PV solar module or a solar thermal module. A solar carport according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one solar thermal panel mounted on the roof and a storage tank located in the cavity of the at least one support structure, the at least one solar thermal panel being arranged to heat water for storage in the storage tank.

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