VESSEL VOLUME CALCULATOR

Simon Learman

Blackmonk Engineering Ltd

www.blackmonk.co.uk

Copyright © 2009 Blackmonk Engineering Ltd

 Blackmonk Engineering Ltd
www.blackmonk.co.uk

Contents

Contents .......................................................................................................2
Introduction...................................................................................................3
System Diagram...........................................................................................4
Calculation Inputs.........................................................................................5
Calculation Output........................................................................................5
Horizontal Vessel Volumes...........................................................................6
Horizontal Vessel Equations .....................................................................6
Vertical Vessel Volumes.............................................................................10
Vertical Vessel Equations .......................................................................11
Nomenclature .............................................................................................14
Examples – Horizontal Vessels ..................................................................15
Description:.............................................................................................15
Solution:..................................................................................................15
Vessel Volume Calculator – Horizontal Vessel Screenshot: ...................16
Examples – Vertical Vessels ......................................................................17
Description:.............................................................................................17
Solution:..................................................................................................17
Vessel Volume Calculator – Vertical Vessel Screenshot: .......................18

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Introduction

This document describes the basis and operation of the Blackmonk

Engineering Vessel Volume Calculator.

The calculation methodology is based on that described in “Computing Fluid

Tank Volumes” Chemical Processing, November 17, 2002, written by Dan
Jones.

The calculator determines the volume occupied by a specified height of liquid

in a cylindrical horizontal or vertical vessel with conical, elliptical, flat, guppy
(horizontal tanks only), torispherical or spherical heads. The vessel diameter
and cylindrical (tan to tan) length are required inputs.

The calculator is applicable to full and partially full vessels. For horizontal
vessels the heads are assumed to be identical. Only the bottom head is
considered for a vertical vessel.

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System Diagram

CYLINDER LENGTH, L
VESSEL HEAD DEPTH, a

VESSEL
DIAMETER, D

LIQUID HEIGHT, h

HORIZONTAL VESSEL

VESSEL
DIAMETER, D
CYLINDER LENGTH, L

LIQUID HEIGHT, h

VESSEL HEAD DEPTH, a

VERTICAL VESSEL

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Calculation Inputs

The following parameters are user specified inputs to the calculation:

Input Description Units

Mandatory user specified length of cylindrical section of
Cylinder length m
vessel (tan to tan)
Vessel diameter Mandatory user specified vessel diameter m
Mandatory user specified vessel head depth (internal
Vessel head depth head depth). Note this input is not used in calculating m
torispherical head volumes
Mandatory user specified height of liquid above the
Liquid height m
lowest point of vessel
Mandatory user specified vessel orientation. Can be
Vessel orientation N/A
horizontal or vertical
Mandatory user specified vessel head type. Can be
Vessel head type conical, elliptical, flat, guppy (horizontal vessels only), N/A
torispherical or spherical
Mandatory user specified knuckle radius parameter.
Knuckle radius parameter Note this input is only used in calculating torispherical N/A
head volumes
Mandatory user specified dish radius parameter. Note
Dish radius parameter this input is only used in calculating torispherical head N/A
volumes

Calculation Output

The following parameter is calculated by the software and displayed to the

user:

Output Description Units

3
Total liquid volume in vessel Total liquid volume in vessel m

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Horizontal Vessel Volumes

Fluid volume as a function of fluid height can be calculated for a horizontal

cylindrical tank with either conical, ellipsoidal, guppy, spherical, or
torispherical heads where the fluid height, h, is measured from the tank
bottom to the fluid surface, see Figs. 1 and 2. A guppy head is a conical head
where the apex of the conical head is level with the top of the cylindrical
section of the tank as shown in Fig. 1. A torispherical head is an ASME-type
head defined by a knuckle-radius parameter, k, and a dish-radius parameter,
f, as shown in Fig. 2.

An ellipsoidal head must be exactly half of an ellipsoid of revolution; only a

hemiellipsoid is valid – no “segment” of an ellipsoid will work as is true in the
case of a spherical head where the head may be a spherical segment. For a
spherical head, |a| ≤ R, where R is the radius of the cylindrical tank body.
Where concave conical, ellipsoidal, guppy, spherical, or torispherical heads
are considered, then |a| ≤ L/2.

Both heads of a horizontal cylindrical tank must be identical for the equations
to work; i.e., if one head is conical, the other must be conical with the same
dimensions. However, the equations can be combined to deal with fluid
volume calculations of horizontal tanks with heads of different shapes. For
instance, if a horizontal cylindrical tank has a conical head on one end and an
ellipsoidal head on the other end, calculate fluid volumes of two tanks, one
with conical heads and the other with ellipsoidal heads, and average the
results to get the desired fluid volume. The heads of a horizontal tank may be
flat (a = 0), convex (a > 0), or concave (a < 0).

The following variables must be within the ranges stated:

• |a| ≤ R for spherical heads

• |a| ≤ L/2 for concave ends
• 0 ≤ h ≤ 2R for all tanks
• f > 0.5 for torispherical heads
• 0 ≤ k ≤ 0.5 for torispherical heads
• D>0
• L≥0

Horizontal Vessel Equations

The specific equations for fluid volumes in horizontal cylindrical tanks with
conical, ellipsoidal, guppy, spherical, and torispherical heads are given below
(use radian angular measure for all trigonometric functions, and D/2 = R > 0
for all equations):

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Conical heads

 K .......... ... 0≤h<R

2 aR2 
Vf = A f L + ×  π / 2 ......... h=R
3  π − K .......
 R < h ≤ 2R
1 R−h
K ≡ cos −1 M + M 3 cosh −1 − 2 M 1 − M2 M=
M R

Ellipsoidal heads

 h 
Vf = A f L + π a h 2  1 − 
 3R 

Guppy heads

2aR2  h  2a
Vf = A f L + cos −1 1 −  + 2 Rh − h 2 (2 h − 3 R )(h + R )
3  R  9R

Spherical heads

πa
 6 3R + a (2 2
)
.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..... h = R, a ≤ R

πa (2 2
)
 3 3R + a .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..... h = D, a ≤ R

 2 h 
 π a h 1 − 3 R  .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .. h = 0 or a = 0, R, − R
  
  3  z  
 R  
2 2 2
Vf = A f L +  a  2 r  −1 R − r w −1 R + r w −1 w 
 
a  3 
cos + cos − 2 + cos
R (w − r ) R(w + r ) r   r   R
    

  w 
3
y 4 w y z 
 − 2 w r 2 − tan −1 +  .......... . h ≠ R, D; a ≠ 0, R, − R; a ≥ 0.01D
 3   z 3 
 
  R 2 2 
a  −1 R − x
∫( )  .......... . h ≠ R, D; a ≠ 0, R, − R; a < 0.01D
2 2
a  2 r − x tan dx − A f z
r 2
− R 2

  w 

a2 + R2
r= a≠0 ; a = ±  r − r 2 − R 2  + ( −) for convex (concave ) heads
2|a|  
w ≡R−h y ≡ 2 R h − h2 z ≡ r 2 − R2

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Torispherical heads

In the Vf equation, use +(-) for convex(concave) heads.

 2 v 1 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... 0 ≤ h ≤ h1


Vf = A f L ±  2 ( v 1,max + v 2 + v 3 ) .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... h1 < h < h 2

 2 [ 2 v 1,max − v 1 (h = D − h) + v 2,max + v 3,max ] .......... .......... .... h 2 ≤ h ≤ D

2kDh−h2  
n2 − w 2
v1 ≡ ∫ n 2 sin −1
 n
− w n 2 − w 2  dx

0  
kD cos α
 2 −1 w g 
v2 ≡ ∫0
n  cos
  n
− cos −1  − w n 2 − w 2 + g n 2 − g 2  dx
n 
 3  2 2  2   3  g2 − w 2
 r cos −1 g − r w + cos −1 g + r w − z  2 +  g   cos −1 w  −  w r 2 − w  tan −1
 3  g (w − r ) g(w + r ) r   r   g   3  z
   

 w z g2 − w 2 wz 2
v3 ≡  + + 2 g (h − h1 ) − (h − h1 ) .......... .......... .......... .......... 0.5 < f ≤ 10
 6 2
g 2 2
 r 2 − x 2 tan −1 g − x dx − z  g 2 cos −1 w − w 2g(h − h ) − (h − h )2  ..... 0.5 < f < 10,000
 ∫( ) z 2  g
1 1 

w


v 1,max ≡ v 1 (h = h1 )
v 2,max ≡ v 2 (h = h 2 )
π a1
v 3,max ≡ v 3 (h = h 2 ) =
6
( 3g 2
+ a 12 ) a 1 ≡ r ( 1 − cos α )

1− 2k 4 f 2 − 8 f k + 4k − 1
α ≡ sin −1 = cos −1 r ≡ fD
2 (f − k ) 2 (f − k )

h1 ≡ k D (1 − sin α ) h 2 ≡ D − h1
n ≡ R − k D + k 2D 2 − x 2 w ≡R−h
g ≡ f D sin α = r sin α z ≡ r 2 − g 2 = f D cos α = r cos α

In the above equations, Vf is the total volume of fluid in the tank in cubic units
consistent with the linear units of tank dimension parameters, and Af is the
cross-sectional area of fluid in the cylindrical body of the tank in square units
consistent with the linear units used for R and h. The equation for Af is given
by:

R −h
A f = R 2 cos −1   − (R − h) 2 R h − h 2
 R 

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Figure 1: Parameters for Horizontal Cylindrical Tanks with Conical,

Ellipsoidal, Guppy or Spherical Heads

1. Both heads of a tank must be identical. Above diagram is for definition of

parameters only.
2. Cylindrical tube of diameter D (D > 0), radius R (R > 0), and length L (L ≥
0).
3. For spherical head of radius r, r ≥ R and |a| ≤ R.
4. For convex head other than spherical, 0 < a < ∞, for concave head a < 0.
5. L ≥ 0 for a ≥ 0, L ≥ 2|a| for a < 0.
6. Ellipsoidal head must be exactly half of an ellipsoid of revolution.
7. 0 ≤ h ≤ D.

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Figure 2: Parameters for Horizontal Cylindrical Tanks with Torispherical

Heads

Solution of Integrals for Spherical and Torispherical Head Equations

The calculator uses Simpson’s Rule to numerically integrate the integrals

required to determine the spherical and torispherical head volumes.

Each integral is evaluated at 11 points starting at the lower limit of integration

and ending at the upper limit of integration.

Vertical Vessel Volumes

Fluid volume in a vertical cylindrical tank with either a conical, ellipsoidal,

spherical, or torispherical bottom can be calculated, where the fluid height, h,
is measured from the centre of the bottom of the tank to the surface of the
fluid in the tank. See Figures 3 and 4 for tank configurations and dimension
parameters.

A torispherical bottom is an ASME-type bottom defined by a knuckle-radius

factor and a dish-radius factor as shown graphically in Fig. 4. The knuckle
radius will then be kD and the dish radius will be fD. An ellipsoidal bottom
must be exactly half of an ellipsoid of revolution. For a spherical bottom, |a| ≤
10

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R, where a is the depth of the spherical bottom and R is the radius of the
cylindrical section of the tank.

The following parameter ranges must be observed:

• a ≥ 0 for all vertical tanks, a ≤ R for a spherical bottom

• f > 0.5 for a torispherical bottom
• 0 ≤ k ≤ 0.5 for a torispherical bottom
• D>0

Vertical Vessel Equations

The specific equations for fluid volumes in vertical cylindrical tanks with
conical, ellipsoidal, spherical, and torispherical bottoms are given below (use
radian angular measure for all trigonometric functions, and D > 0 for all
equations):

Conical bottom

 π  Dh  2  h 
     .......... .......... .......... . h < a
4  a   3
Vf = 
2
π D  2a 
 4  h − 3  .......... .......... .......... h ≥ a
  

Ellipsoidal bottom

 π  Dh  2  h
    a −  .......... .......... ..... h<a
4  a   3
Vf = 
2
π D  a
 4  h − 3  .......... .......... .......... . h≥a
  

Spherical bottom

π h 2  2 
  2a + D − 4 h  .......... ...... h < a ; ( a ≤ D / 2)
 4  2a 3 
Vf = 
π  2a 3 aD 2 
4  3 − + hD 2  .......... ..... h ≥ a ; (a ≤ D / 2)
2 
  

11

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Torispherical bottom

π h 2  2 
  2 a 1 + D 1 − 4 h  .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... 0 ≤ h ≤ a 1
 4   2 a1 3 

 π  2 a 13 a D2   D 
2  π t u2 π u3
  + 1 1  + π u  − kD  + s + −
2 
4  3   
2 2 3

 2u − t t s k 2D 2  t − 2u 
Vf =  + π D(1 − 2k )  s + t u − u2 + +  cos −1 − α  ....... a 1 < h ≤ a 1 + a 2
  4 4 2  2kD 

 π  2 a 1 a 1D12  π t  D 
3 2

 4  3 + 2  + 2  2 − kD  + s
     

 π t3  t s k 2D 2  π D2
+ + π D ( 1 − 2 k )  + sin −1
(cos α ) + [h − (a1 + a 2 )] ...... a1 + a 2 < h
 12  4 2  4
  

1 − 2k 4 f 2 − 8f k + 4 k − 1
α ≡ sin −1 = cos −1
2 (f − k ) 2 (f − k )

a 1 ≡ f D (1 − cos α )
a 2 ≡ k D cos α
D 1 ≡ 2 f D sin α
2
s ≡ (k D sin α )
t ≡ 2 k D cos α = 2 a 2
u ≡ h − f D (1 − cos α )

12

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Figure 3: Parameters for Vertical Cylindrical Tanks with Conical,

Ellipsoidal, or Spherical Bottoms

Figure 4: Parameters for Vertical Cylindrical Tanks with Torispherical

Bottoms

13

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Nomenclature

a is the distance a horizontal tank's heads extend beyond (a > 0) or into (a < 0) its cylindrical
section or the depth the bottom extends below the cylindrical section of a vertical tank. For a
horizontal tank with flat heads or a vertical tank with a flat bottom a = 0.

Af is the cross-sectional area of the fluid in a horizontal tank's cylindrical section.

D is the diameter of the cylindrical section of a horizontal or vertical tank.

DH, DW are the height and width, respectively, of the ellipse defining the cross section of the
body of a horizontal elliptical tank.

DA, DB are the major and minor axes, respectively, of the ellipse defining the cross section of
the body of a vertical elliptical tank.

f is the dish-radius parameter for tanks with torispherical heads or bottoms; fD is the dish
radius.

h is the height of fluid in a tank measured from the lowest part of the tank to the fluid surface.

k is the knuckle-radius parameter for tanks with torispherical heads or bottoms; kD is the
knuckle radius.

L is the length of the cylindrical section of a horizontal tank.

R is the radius of the cylindrical section of a horizontal or vertical tank.

r is the radius of a spherical head for a horizontal tank or a spherical bottom of a vertical
tank.

Vf is the fluid volume, of fluid depth h, in a horizontal or vertical cylindrical tank.

14

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Examples – Horizontal Vessels

The following examples were taken from “Computing Fluid Tank Volumes”
Chemical Processing, November 17, 2002.

Description:

Find the volumes of fluid, in horizontal cylindrical tanks 108" in diameter with
cylinder lengths of 156", with conical, ellipsoidal, guppy, spherical, and
“standard” ASME torispherical (f = 1, k = 0.06) heads, each head extending
beyond the ends of the cylinder 42" (except torispherical).

D = 108”
L = 156”
a = 42”
k = 0.06
f=1

Fluid depth = 36”

Fluid depth = 84”

Solution:

D = 2.742 m
L = 3.962 m
a = 1.067 m

Fluid depth, h = 36” = 0.914 m

Fluid depth, h = 84” = 2.134 m

Calculator results:

Total Liquid Volume (m3)

Fluid depth
(m) Conical Elliptical Guppy Spherical Torispherical
0.914 7.719 9.005 7.305 8.714 7.671
2.134 23.388 26.882 22.533 26.246 22.476

Published results:

Total Liquid Volume (m3)

Fluid depth
(m) Conical Elliptical Guppy Spherical Torispherical
0.9144 7.727 9.013 7.312 8.721 7.679
2.1336 23.396 26.889 22.539 26.252 22.485
Differences in results are just rounding errors in conversion from imperial to SI units.

15

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Vessel Volume Calculator – Horizontal Vessel Screenshot:

INPUTS

Cylinder length L 3.962 m

Vessel diameter D 2.742 m
Vessel head depth a 1.067 m
Liquid height h 2.134 m
Vessel orientation Horizontal
Vessel head type Conical
Knuckle radius parameter k 0.06
Dish radius parameter f 1

OUTPUT

Total liquid volume in vessel 23.388 m3

16

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Examples – Vertical Vessels

The following examples were taken from “Computing Fluid Tank Volumes”
Chemical Processing, November 17, 2002.

Description:

Find the volumes of fluid, in vertical cylindrical tanks 132" in diameter, 156” in
length, with conical, ellipsoidal, spherical, and “standard” ASME torispherical
(f = 1, k = 0.06) heads, each head extending beyond the ends of the cylinder
33" (except torispherical).

D = 133”
L = 156”
a = 33”
k = 0.06
f=1

Fluid depth = 24”

Fluid depth = 60”

Solution:

D = 3.353 m
L = 3.962 m
a = 0.838 m

Fluid depth, h = 24” = 0.610 m

Fluid depth, h = 60” = 1.524 m

Calculator results:

Total Liquid Volume (m3)

Fluid depth (m) Conical Elliptical Spherical Torispherical
0.61 0.951 2.969 2.213 3.426
1.524 8.524 10.990 10.065 11.497

Published results:

Total Liquid Volume (m3)

Fluid depth (m) Conical Elliptical Spherical Torispherical
0.6096 0.949 2.965 2.217 3.422
1.524 8.522 10.988 10.063 11.495

Differences in results are just rounding errors in conversion from imperial to SI units.

17

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Vessel Volume Calculator – Vertical Vessel Screenshot:

INPUTS

Cylinder length L 3.962 m

Vessel diameter D 3.353 m
Vessel head depth a 0.838 m
Liquid height h 0.610 m
Vessel orientation Vertical
Vessel head type Conical
Knuckle radius parameter k 0.06
Dish radius parameter f 1

OUTPUT

Total liquid volume in vessel 0.951 m3

18

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