Fluid storage tank having active integrated cooling

Abstract

A fluid storage tank including heat extraction arrangements is provided. The fluid storage tank includes a passive and an active heat exchanger. A fan draws ambient air through both the active and passive heat exchangers to dissipate heat energy stored in the fluid passing through or stored within the tank.

1 . A fluid storage tank comprising:
 a tank;   a heat extraction arrangement including an active heat exchanger, a passive heat exchanger, and a fan for moving ambient air through both the active and passive heat exchangers.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 1 , wherein the air flow provided by the fan first passes through the passive heat exchanger and then through the active heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 2 , wherein the passive heat exchanger is at least one outer heat extraction fin extending laterally outward from a sidewall forming at least part of the interior cavity of the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 3 , further including at least one inner heat extraction fin extending laterally into the interior cavity of the tank such that it can be contacted by fluid stored within the interior cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one inner heat extraction fin is substantially aligned with the outer heat extraction fin. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 4 , wherein the heat extraction fins include a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 6 , including a plurality of inner and a plurality of outer heat extraction fins that are perforated, wherein the apertures of adjacent ones of the fins are not aligned such that a fluid flow path through the apertures is zig-zagged. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 1 , further including a nucleation arrangement within an interior cavity of the tank, the nucleation arrangement fluidly downstream of the active heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 1 , wherein the active heat exchanger is a liquid to air heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one inner and at least one outer heat extraction fin are welded to a sidewall of the tank. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 1 , further including a check valve upstream of the active heat exchanger, the check valve providing a bypass into an interior cavity of the tank when a predetermined pressure is attained. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 4 , further including an outlet conduit fluidly coupling an outlet of the heat exchanger to the interior cavity of the tank, the outlet conduit directing fluid flow towards the at least one inner heat extraction fin. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 2 , wherein the passive heat exchanger further includes a first outer shroud portion attached to the tank bounding at least part of a first air flow path having a first outlet generally adjacent the fan and a first inlet spaced away from the fan, the passive heat exchanger further including a first plurality of spaced apart outer heat extraction fins extending outward from the tank, the first plurality of spaced apart outer heat extraction fins interposed between the first inlet and the first outlet along the air flow path and positioned between the first shroud portion and the tank, each of the first plurality of outer heat extraction fins including at least one aperture through which the first air flow path passes as the first air flow path extends from the first inlet to the first outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 13 , wherein the passive heat exchanger further includes a second outer shroud portion attached to the tank bounding at least part of a second air flow path having a second outlet generally adjacent the fan and a second inlet spaced away from the fan, the passive heat exchanger further including a second plurality of outer heat extraction fins extending outward from the tank, the second plurality of outer heat extraction fins interposed between the second inlet and the second outlet along the air flow path and positioned between the second shroud portion and the tank, each of the second plurality of outer heat extraction fins including at least one aperture through which the second air flow path passes as the second air flow path extends from the second inlet to the second outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 14 , wherein the active heat exchanger is positioned between the first and second outlets such that air passed through the active heat exchanger is drawn from the first and second outlets. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second shroud portions are provided by a single shroud, the single shroud including an opening between the first and second shroud portions, the opening aligned with the active heat exchanger, the fan forces the air through the active heat exchanger and then through the opening. 
     
     
         17 . A fluid storage tank comprising:
 a tank;   a heat extraction arrangement including:
 an active heat exchanger having a fluid flow path having an outlet in fluid communication with the interior of the fluid storage tank for dispensing fluid to be stored within the tank into the tank, the active heat exchanger having an external periphery in fluid communication with the ambient air surrounding the tank; 
 a passive heat exchanger external to the tank thermally connected to the tank, the passive heat exchanger having a plurality of outer heat extraction fins extending outward from an outer surface of the tank, the outer heat extraction fins in fluid communication with the ambient air; and 
 a fan for moving ambient air through both the active and passive heat exchangers, the fan first passing ambient air through the passive heat exchanger and then passing the air through the active heat exchanger. 
   
     
     
         18 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 16 , wherein the passive heat exchanger further includes a first outer shroud portion attached to the tank bounding at least part of a first air flow path having a first outlet generally adjacent the fan and a first inlet spaced away from the fan, the passive heat exchanger further including a first plurality of spaced apart outer heat extraction fins extending outward from the tank, the first plurality of spaced apart outer heat extraction fins interposed between the first inlet and the first outlet along the air flow path and positioned between the first shroud portion and the tank, each of the first plurality of outer heat extraction fins including at least one aperture through which the first air flow path passes as the first air flow path extends from the first inlet to the first outlet; and
 wherein the passive heat exchanger further includes a second outer shroud portion attached to the tank bounding at least part of a second air flow path having a second outlet generally adjacent the fan and a second inlet spaced away from the fan, the passive heat exchanger further including a second plurality of outer heat extraction fins extending outward from the tank, the second plurality of outer heat extraction fins interposed between the second inlet and the second outlet along the air flow path and positioned between the second shroud portion and the tank, each of the second plurality of outer heat extraction fins including at least one aperture through which the second air flow path passes as the second air flow path extends from the second inlet to the second outlet.   
     
     
         19 . The fluid storage tank of  claim 18 , further including a plurality of inner heat extraction fins internal to the tank, each of the plurality of inner heat extraction fins being aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of outer heat extraction fins. 
     
     
         20 . A method of extracting heat from a fluid comprising:
 passing the fluid through an active heat exchanger that is external to a storage tank for housing the fluid, the active heat exchanger in fluid communication with ambient air surrounding the fluid storage tank;   dispensing the fluid into the storage tank after passing it through the active heat exchanger;   passing the ambient air through a passive heat exchanger thermally connected to the storage tank; and   passing the ambient air through the active heat exchanger after passing it through the passive heat exchanger.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein passing the ambient air through a passive heat exchanger thermally connected to the storage tank; and passing the ambient air through the active heat exchanger after passing it through the passive heat exchanger are performed by a same fan.