Calculate the total and partial-fill volume of a cylindrical tank or pressure vessel, horizontal or vertical, with flat, 2:1 ellipsoidal or hemispherical heads. Enter the diameter, length and liquid level to get the contents, ullage and a dipstick chart of volume against level.
What it gives you
- Total volume of shell plus two heads
- Liquid volume at any level, horizontal or vertical
- Ullage (empty volume) and fill percentage
- Dipstick chart from empty to full
- Exact segment and dished-head geometry
Method and standards
The shell is treated as a cylinder and each head by its exact geometry: a 2:1 ellipsoid has a depth of a quarter of the diameter and a volume of π D³/24; a hemisphere has a depth of half the diameter and a volume of π D³/12. Partial volumes use the circular segment area for horizontal tanks and the exact dished-head fill for vertical ones.
How to use it
- Enter the inside diameter and shell length.
- Choose the orientation and head type.
- Enter the liquid level to get the contents and dipstick chart.
Questions engineers ask
- Inside or outside diameter?
- Inside. Capacity depends on the internal dimensions; subtract twice the wall thickness from an outside diameter.
- Are torispherical (Klöpper) heads included?
- Not in this tool. The dished head drawing generator gives the volume of torispherical heads.
- How accurate is the dipstick chart?
- It is exact for the ideal geometry. Real tanks have nozzles, internals and manufacturing variation, so calibrate a gauge against a measured fill for custody transfer.
Need this calculation done properly, with a signed-off calculation pack or FEA behind it? Forgepoint provides mechanical design, analysis and pressure equipment engineering from Manchester, UK-wide.
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