Improvements in fluid storage systems

Abstract

A diffuser plate for diffusing a fluid flow in a fluid storage vessel, comprising: a plate having a plurality of holes for the fluid flow to pass through; and at least one wall that extends away from a surface of the plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A diffuser plate for diffusing a fluid flow in a fluid storage vessel, comprising:
 a plate having a plurality of holes for the fluid flow to pass through; and   at least one wall that extends away from a surface of the plate.   
     
     
         2 . A diffuser plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall is provided on a surface of the plate that is arranged to receive the fluid flow. 
     
     
         3 . A diffuser plate according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the plate is substantially flat. 
     
     
         4 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the plurality of holes are interspaced by the least one wall. 
     
     
         5 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the plate and/or the at least one wall are formed from a thermally conductive material capable of functioning as a heat sink. 
     
     
         6 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one wall has a height arranged to extend substantially to the base of the vessel. 
     
     
         7 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the height of the at least one wall varies across the surface of the plate, such that the at least one wall can extend into a shaped base of the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one wall is arranged to define at least one fluid pathway that extends across at least part of the surface of the plate, wherein the at least one fluid pathway passes one or more of the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         9 . A diffuser plate according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of holes are arranged on the surface of the plate in a pattern that substantially corresponds to the shape of the at least one fluid pathway 
     
     
         10 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one wall has a generally spiral-shaped configuration across the surface of the plate. 
     
     
         11 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one wall is formed from at least one continuous strip of material. 
     
     
         12 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of holes are arranged such that a fluid passing through the holes will have a substantially equal flow distribution across the surface area of the plate. 
     
     
         13 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of holes have a non-uniform distribution across the surface of the plate. 
     
     
         14 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of holes have non-uniform sizes. 
     
     
         15 . A diffuser plate according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of holes decrease in size as their distance from the centre of the plate increases. 
     
     
         16 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim, wherein a region of the plate is devoid of holes, whereby to diffuse a plume of fluid received from a fluid inlet across the surface of the plate. 
     
     
         17 . A diffuser plate according to any preceding claim fabricated using a 3D printer. 
     
     
         18 . A machine readable map, or machine readable instructions, configured to enable a 3D printer to fabricate the diffuser plate of any preceding claim. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus for storing a fluid, comprising:
 a vessel having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and   a diffuser plate according to any of  claims 1  to  17 ;   wherein the diffuser plate is positioned above the fluid inlet in the vessel.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the diffuser plate is positioned in the base of the vessel, such that fluid entering the vessel via the fluid inlet encounters the diffuser plate, preferably at a central region of the plate. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 19  or  20 , wherein the fluid inlet is arranged such that fluid enters the vessel along a substantially central axis of the vessel. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 19  to  21 , wherein the fluid inlet is arranged such that fluid enters the vessel from beneath the vessel. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 19  to  22 , wherein the vessel has a generally dome-shaped base. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 20  to  23 , wherein the vessel is arranged such that its longitudinal axis is substantially vertical. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus according to  claim 19  or  20 , wherein the fluid inlet is provided through a sidewall of the vessel, such that fluid flowing into the vessel encounters the diffuser plate, preferably at an outer region of the plate. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus according to  claim 20  or  25 , wherein the surface of the plate at said region is devoid of holes. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 19  to  26 , further comprising a heater provided inside the vessel, wherein the heater is arranged to extend towards a base of the vessel, whereby to heat the diffuser plate and surrounding fluid. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus for storing a fluid, comprising:
 a vessel having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and   a heater provided inside the vessel, wherein the heater is arranged to extend towards a base of the vessel, whereby to heat fluid adjacent the base of the vessel.   
     
     
         29 . An apparatus according to  claim 27  or  28 , wherein the heater is mounted in a sidewall of the vessel. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 27  to  29 , wherein the heater is angled towards the base of the vessel. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 27  to  29 , wherein the heater is arranged to curve towards the base of the vessel. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 27  to  31 , wherein a tip of the heater extends to a substantially central-axis of the vessel. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 27  to  32 , wherein a tip of the heater is spaced from the diffuser plate. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein a region on the surface of the diffuser plate arranged directly beneath the tip of the heater is devoid of holes. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 27  to  34 , wherein the heater is an immersion heater. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 27  to  35 , further comprising a heat exchanger arranged to provide heat to the diffuser plate and/or fluid adjacent the base of the vessel from an external heat source. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the heat exchanger has a helical configuration. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus according to  claim 36  or  37 , wherein the heat exchanger is arranged to be in physical contact with the diffuser plate. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 27  to  38 , further comprising a temperature sensor arranged to monitor the temperature of fluid at the base of the vessel. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 27  to  39 , further comprising a controller for the heater, wherein the controller is configured to control the heater to maintain at least a predetermined temperature of the fluid in the base of the vessel. 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the predetermined temperature is above about 50 degrees Celsius, and preferably above 52 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         42 . Use of an apparatus according to any of  claims 27  to  41  in a method of sterilising  Legionella  bacteria. 
     
     
         43 . An apparatus for storing a fluid, comprising:
 a vessel having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the vessel has a generally dome-shaped base, and wherein the fluid inlet is arranged such that fluid enters the vessel from beneath the vessel.   
     
     
         44 . An apparatus according to  claim 43 , wherein at least part of the fluid inlet is arranged such that fluid enters the vessel along a substantially central axis of the vessel. 
     
     
         45 . An apparatus according to  claim 43  or  44 , wherein the dome-shaped base of the vessel is arranged to be mounted on a ring stand. 
     
     
         46 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 19  to  45 , wherein the fluid inlet does not protrude into the vessel. 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 19  to  46 , wherein the vessel is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         48 . A method for diffusing a fluid flow in a fluid storage vessel, the method comprising:
 providing a vessel having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;   providing in the vessel a diffuser plate according to any of  claims 1  to  17 ; and   positioning the diffuser plate, in use, above the fluid inlet.   
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 48 , further comprising providing a heater inside the vessel; and arranging the heater to extend towards a base of the vessel, whereby the heater can heat the diffuser plate and fluid adjacent the base of the vessel. 
     
     
         50 . A method for storing a fluid, comprising:
 providing a vessel having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;   providing a heater inside the vessel; and   arranging the heater to extend towards a base of the vessel, whereby the heater can heat fluid adjacent the base of the vessel.   
     
     
         51 . A method for storing a fluid, comprising:
 providing a vessel having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the vessel has a generally dome-shaped base; and   arranging the fluid inlet such that, in use, a fluid will enter the vessel from beneath the vessel.