Reservoir Having Wave Suppression Plate

Abstract

A new and improved fluid storage reservoir that includes a wave suppression plate is provided. The wave suppression plate inhibits entraining air into fluid stored within the fluid storage reservoir by inhibiting wave formation and splashing of the fluid at the fluid-to-air interface within the fluid storage reservoir. The wave suppression plate is configured to inhibit mixing between a portion of fluid having a lower entrained amount of air below the wave suppression plate and a portion of fluid having a higher entrained amount of air above the wave suppression plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid storage reservoir comprising:
 a tank defining a fluid storage cavity in which fluid can be stored, the tank defining a bottom and a top; and   a wave suppression plate positioned between the bottom and the top and offset from both the top and the bottom separating the fluid storage cavity into a top portion above the wave suppression plate and a bottom portion below the wave suppression plate, the wave suppression plate having at least one opening that allows for fluid flow between the top and bottom portions.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 1  further comprising an inlet and an outlet, the inlet and outlet being positioned below the wave suppression plate and in direct fluid communication with the bottom portion of the fluid storage cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening in the wave suppression plate has a surface are of between about 50% and 125% of the entire surface area of the outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings each having a cross-sectional area equal to a circle having a diameter of between about 0.1 inches and 0.256 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 1 , further comprising a predetermined volume of fluid stored within the fluid storage cavity defining a fluid-to-air interface, the wave suppression plate being positioned below the fluid-to-air interface. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 5 , wherein the wave suppression plate is positioned between 40 and 140 mm below the fluid-to-air interface. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings are substantially equally spaced. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein each opening has a cross-sectional area equal to a circle having a diameter of between about 0.1 inches and 0.256 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary plate offset from the wave suppression plate and positioned between the wave suppression plate and the top of the tank with the secondary plate positioned within the top portion. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary plate overlaps the at least one opening such that the secondary plate covers at least 75% of the surface are of the at least one opening. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary plate extends outward beyond the periphery of the at least one opening by at least ¼ inch in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of flow fluid through the at least one opening. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary plate is spaced from the wave suppression plate by a distance D1, wherein the secondary plate extends outward in a direction generally perpendicular to the flow of fluid through the at least one opening by at distance at least equal to distance D1. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid storage reservoir of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings. 
     
     
         14 . A method of inhibiting the entrainment of air within a fluid storage reservoir, the method comprising:
 separating a fluid storage cavity defined by an tank of a fluid storage reservoir into a top portion and a bottom portion with a wave suppression plate having at least one opening fluidly communicating the top portion with the bottom portion.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising redirecting the fluid flow after it flows from the bottom portion to the top portion using a secondary plate spaced apart from the wave suppression plate, the secondary plate being positioned within the top portion and between the wave suppression plate and a top of the tank. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising drawing fluid out of the tank through at least one outlet of the tank, the at least one opening having a cross-sectional area that is at least 50% the cross-sectional area of the at least one outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wave suppression plate is positioned between 140 mm above and 140 mm below a fluid-to-air interface within the tank.