Gas isolated storage system

Abstract

A storage facility includes a storage space, a container handling vehicle, a first upper vehicle support, a first lower vehicle support, a container delivery vehicle, a transit space, and a first separation wall. The storage space encloses a storage and retrieval system including a storage grid configured to store a plurality of storage containers in vertical stacks. The first upper vehicle support extends in an upper horizontal plane above the storage grid. The container handling vehicle is configured: to transport at least one of the plurality of storage containers by a wheel arrangement between at least two locations on the first upper vehicle support; and to vertically displace the at least one storage container by a lifting device. The first lower vehicle support extends in a lower horizontal plane below the first upper vehicle support. The container delivery vehicle operates within a lower section of the storage space above the first lower vehicle support. The container delivery vehicle is configured to receive the at least one storage container from the container handling vehicle and to transport the at least one storage container between at least two locations on the first lower vehicle support by a wheel arrangement. The transit space includes a second lower vehicle support extending in the lower horizontal plane and arranged relative to the first lower vehicle support such that the container delivery vehicle may move between the lower section of the storage space and a lower section of the transit space. The first separation wall separates the storage space and the transit space. The first separation wall includes: a first lower opening sized and positioned to allow the container delivery vehicle to pass through between the lower section of the storage space and the lower section of the transit space; and a first lower closable gate configured to open and close the first lower opening.