Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertic...

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VOLUME AND WETTED AREA OF PARTIALLY FILLED VERTICAL VESSELS
SUMMARY
The calculation of the wetted area and volume of a vertical vessel is
required

for

engineering

tasks

such

fire

studies

and

the

determination of level alarms and control set points. However the

calculation of these parameters is complicated by the geometry of

the vessel, particularly the heads. This article details formulae for
calculating the wetted area and volume of these vessels for various

types of curved ends including: hemispherical, torispherical,

semi-ellipsoidal and bumped ends.

1. DEFINITIONS
A

: Wetted Area

Di : Inside Diameter of Vessel

Do : Outside Diameter of Vessel

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: Liquid level above vessel bottom

: Length of vessel, tan-line to tan-line

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Lf : Straight Flange
R

: Inside Vessel Radius

Rc : Inside crown radius

Rk : Inside knuckle radius
t

: Vessel Wall Thickness

Vp : Partially Filled Liquid Volume

Vt

: Total Volume of head or vessel

: Inside Dish Depth

: Eccentricity of elliptical heads

2. INTRODUCTION
The calculation of the liquid volume or wetted area of a partially
filled vertical vessel is best performed in parts, by calculating the
value for the cylindrical section of the vessel and the heads of the

vessel and then adding the areas or volumes together. Below we

present the wetted area and partially filled volume for each type of
head and the cylindrical section.

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The partially filled volume is primarily used for the calculation of

tank filling times and the setting of control set points, alarm levels
and system trip points.

The wetted area is the area of contact between the liquid and the
wall of the tank. This is primary used in fire studies of process and

storage vessels to determine the emergency venting capacity

required to protect the vessel. Unlike horizontal vessels, it is not

often required to know the surface area of a partially filled vertical

vessel's head and in this article we present formulae for completely

filled heads only.

The volume and wetted area of partially filled horizontal vessels is

covered separately.

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3. HEMISPHERICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

Hemispherical heads have a depth which is half their diameter. They
have the highest design pressures out of all the head types and as

such are typically the most expensive head type. The formula for
calculating the wetted area and volume are presented as follows.

3.1 Wetted Area

A = 2Rc h

3.2 Volume
For the bottom head:

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h2
V =
(3Rc h)
3
For the top head:

V =

(2R3c h2 (3Rc h))

3

Where h is defined as the free space between the liquid surface and
the top of the head.

4. SEMI-ELLIPSOIDAL OR ELLIPTICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

The semi-ellipsoidal heads are shallower than the hemispherical
heads and deeper than the torispherical heads and therefore have
design pressures and expense lying between these two designs.

The most common variant of semi-ellipsoidal head is the 2:1

elliptical head which has a depth equal to 1/4 of the vessel

diameter. The formula for calculating the wetted area and volume
for the 2:1 semi-elliptical head are presented as follows.

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4.1 Wetted Area

D2i
1
2 + 2
Aw =
(2 +
ln (
))
8
4
2 3

4z 2
= 1 2
Di
The wetted area calculated using this method does not include the

straight flange of the head. The length of the straight flange must be
included in the calculation of the wetted area of the cylindrical
section.

4.2 Volume
For the bottom head:

Vp =

D3i C

h
h
(3( ) ( ) )
24
z
z
2

For the top head:

Vp =

D3i C

h
h
(3 ( ) ( ) )
24
z
z
3

Where,
for ASME 2:1 Elliptical heads:

C = 1/2
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for DIN 28013 Semi ellipsoidal heads:

2

t
t
C = 0.49951 + 0.10462
+ 2.3227(
)
Do
Do

The volume calculated does not include the straight flange of the

head, only the curved section. The straight flange length must be
included in the calculation of the volume of the cylindrical section.

5. TORISPHERICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

Torispherical heads are the most economical and therefore is the
most common head type used for process vessels. Torispherical
heads are shallower and typically have lower design pressures than

semi-elliptical heads. The formula for the calculation of the wetted

area and volume of a partially filled torispherical head is presented
as follows.

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5.1 Wetted Area

We can approximate the partially filled surface area of the
torispherical head using the formula for elliptical heads. This

approximation will over estimate the surface area because a

torispherical head is flatter than a ellipsoidal head. This assumption
is conservative for pool fire relieving calculations.

D2i
1
2 + 2
Aw =
(2 +
ln (
))
8
4
2 3

4z 2
= 1 2
Di
The wetted area calculated using this method does not include the

straight flange of the head. The length of the straight flange must be
included in the calculation of the wetted area of the cylindrical
section.

5.2 Volume
For the bottom head:

Vp =

D3i C

h
h
(3( ) ( ) )
24
z
z
2

For the top head:

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Vp =

D3i C

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h
h
(3 ( ) ( ) )
24
z
z
3

Where,
for ASME Torispherical heads:

C = 0.30939 + 1.7197

Rk 0.06Do
t
0.16116
+ 0.98997(
Di
Do
D

for DIN 28011 Torispherical heads:

2

t
t
C = 0.37802 + 0.05073
+ 1.3762(
)
Do
Do

The volume calculated does not include the straight flange of the

head, only the curved section. The straight flange length must be
included in the calculation of the volume of the cylindrical section.

6. BUMPED HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

top

Bumped heads have the lowest cost but also the lowest design

pressures, unlike torispherical or ellipsoidal heads they have no

knuckle. They are typically used in atmospheric tanks, such as
horizontal liquid fuel storage tanks or road tankers. Due to the low

strength and poor draining qualities of this head type it is rarely

used for vertical vessels.

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Here we present formulae for calculated the wetted area and volume
for an arbitrary liquid level height in a single Bumped head.

6.1 Wetted Area

A = 2Rc h

6.2 Volume
For the bottom head:

h2
V =
(3Rc h)
3
For the top head:

V =

(2R3c h2 (3Rc h))

3

Where h is defined as the free space between the liquid surface and
the top of the head.

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Storage Tank Calibration

Petroleum, chemical, LNG, ship tank ISO 9001 , API 653B settlement

7. CYLINDRICAL SECTION - VERTICAL VESSEL

Here we present formulae for calculated the wetted area and volume
for an arbitrary liquid level height in the cylindrical section of a
vertical drum.

7.1 Wetted Area

A = Di h

7.2 Volume
Vp =

2
D h
4 i

Where the vessel has torispherical or ellipsoidal heads the straight

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flange length of the head should be included in the cylindrical

section length when calculating the volume or surface area.

8. REFERENCES
1. B Wiencke, 2009, Computing the partial volume of pressure vessels
2. R Doane, 2007, Accurate Wetted Areas for Partially Filled Vessels
3. E Ludwing, 1997, Applied Process Design for Chemical and
Petrochemical Plants (Volume 2)

ARTICLE TAGS
Bumped

Cylindrical

Partially Filled
Vessel Head

Back

Dished

Hemispherical

Liquid Level

Torospherical

Vertical Drum

Vessel

Volume

Wetted Area

Article Created: November 4, 2014

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