ATMOSPHERIC TANK

Atmospheric Tank for Methanol

PROJECT NO.1
SHEET 1 OF 1
REV DATE BY APV REV DATE BY APV

Reactor System Sketch

Item Number S-101
Service Methanol Storage Tank
Operating Conditions
Pressure (KPa) 101.325
o
Temperature ( C) 25
Design Conditions
Pressure (KPa) 344.74
o
Temperature ( C) 35
Main Specifications
Geometry cylinderical
Rated volumetric flow
(m3/month)
18160.699
Volume per tank (m3) 2274.189
Inside Diameter (m)
Outside Diameter (m) 5.9138
Minimum thickness (mm)
Height to diameter ratio
Height 11.8277 𝑚
Specification for Construction
Material of Construction Carbon Steel
Insulation Material Aluminum Sheet
Insulation Thickness (mm) 250
Annular Space
Bottom Support Concrete Pads
Orientation Vertical
Type of Closure Ellipsoidal
Closure Thickness (mm) 0.078
Agitator Propeller or
Turbine (420 rpm)
 I. Vessel Function

Vessels are significant in different manufacturing plant. It is used to carry out process

operations such as distillation, drying, filtration, stripping, and reaction. These operations

usually involve many different types of vessels, ranging from large towers up to waste

collection drums. One example of a vessel is a pressure vessel. Atmospheric tanks are also

essential in the operating plant of Dimethyl Carbonate such that most of the raw materials

in the plant are gases.

II. Operating and design temperature and pressure

Table 1.
Operating and Design Conditions
Operating Conditions Design Conditions
Temperature, °C 25 35
Pressure, kPa 101.3 344.74

III. Materials of Construction

The atmospheric vessel design codes and standards include lists of acceptable materials, in

accordance with the appropriate material standards. Atmospheric vessel are constructed

from plain carbon steels, low and high alloy steels, other alloys, clad plate, and reinforced

plastics. Carbon steels are usually used in atmospheric vessel.

IV. Vessel dimensions and orientation

Calculations below show the vessel dimension and orientation starting with tank

capacity. These calculations are based on Towler and Sinnott, 2013.

Flowrate

Normal Volumetric Flowrate

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤
𝑁𝑉𝐹 =
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦

20000 𝑘𝑔/ℎ𝑟
𝑁𝑉𝐹 =
792.921 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

𝑁𝑉𝐹 = 25.22 𝑚3 /ℎ𝑟

As a rule of thumb in designing a storage tank, thirty-day capacity often is specified for

raw materials and products. But depends on connecting transportation equipment

schedules.

ℎ𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠
𝑉𝐹 = 𝑁𝑉𝑅 × 24 × 30
𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ

𝑚3 ℎ𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠
𝑉𝐹 = 25.22 × 24 × 30
ℎ𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ

𝑚3
𝑉𝐹 = 18160.699
𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ

Turndown Volumetric Flowrate

𝑇𝑉𝐹 = 0.5 × 𝑉𝐹

𝑚3
𝑇𝑉𝐹 = 0.5 × 18160.699
𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ

𝑚3
𝑇𝑉𝐹 = 9080.35
𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ

Rated Volumetric Flowrate

 𝑅𝑉𝐹 = 1.1 × 𝑉𝐹

𝑚3
𝑅𝑉𝐹 = 1.1 × 18160.699
𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ

𝑚3
𝑅𝑉𝐹 = 2046.77
𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ

Vessel Volume

In calculating total tank volume, vapor space is considered. Allowing 10% vapor

space inside the tank the total volume of the tank, Vv, should be V divided by 0.90.

𝑉𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑
𝑉𝑉 =
1 − 𝑉𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑

2046.77
𝑉𝑉 =
1 − .1

𝑉𝑉 = 2274.189 𝑚3

Estimated Number of Tanks

Using tank capacity of 90,000 gallons (340.69 m3)

𝑉𝑉
𝑁𝑜. 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 =
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦

2274.189 𝑚3
𝑁𝑜. 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 =
340.69 𝑚3

𝑁𝑜. 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 = 7

Since the calculated value is greater than 10000 gallons or 38 cubic meters, the

recommended tank orientation is vertical or concrete foundation.

Vessel Dimensions

Inside Diameter
 𝛱
𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 × × 𝐷2 × 𝐿 = 𝑉𝑉
4

𝐿 = 2𝐷

𝛱
𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 × × 𝐷2 × 2𝐷 = 𝑉𝑉
4

𝛱
7 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 × × 𝐷2 × 2𝐷 = 2274.189 𝑚3
4

𝐷 = 5.9138 𝑚

Length

𝐿 = 2 ∗ 6.04 𝑚

𝐿 = 11.8277 𝑚

Corrosion Allowance

The value for corrosion allowance where severe corrosion is expected, 4 mm should be

use.

Thickness of the Shell under Internal Pressure

In calculation of the thickness, Towler and Sinnot used the equation specified by the ASME

BPV Code (Sec. VIII D.1 Part UG-27) as shown below:

𝑃𝐷 𝑃𝐷
𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛(1) = ; 𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛(2) =
2𝑆𝐸 − 1.2𝑃 4𝑆𝐸 + 0.8𝑃

Wherein P is the internal design pressure, D is the inside diameter, S is the maximum

allowable stress and E is the joint efficiency. Moreover, based on ASME BPV Code Sec.
II Part D the maximum allowable stress of carbon steel is 12900 psi and the joint efficiency

is 0.85. This constant is used in the calculation below.

tmin,1

𝑃𝐷
𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛(1) =
2𝑆𝐸 − 1.2𝑃

50 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∗ 5862.3 𝑚𝑚
𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛(1) =
2 ∗ 12900 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∗ 0.85 − 1.2 ∗ 50 𝑝𝑠𝑖

𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛(1) = 13.40 𝑚𝑚

tmin,2

𝑃𝐷
𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛(2) =
4𝑆𝐸 + 0.8𝑃

50 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∗ 5862.3 𝑚𝑚
𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛(2) =
4 ∗ 12900 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∗ 0.85 + 0.8 ∗ 50 𝑝𝑠𝑖

𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛(2) = 6.68 𝑚𝑚

On selection of tmin, based on Towler and Sinnot (2013), the highest computed value will

be the preferred thickness of the vessel. Based on the calculations above, tmin1 is greater

than tmin2 thus the preferred thickness for oxygen pressure vessel is tmin 1 which has a

value of 13.40 𝑚𝑚.

𝑡 = 𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛 + 4 𝑚𝑚

𝑡 = 13.40 𝑚𝑚 + 4 𝑚𝑚

𝑡 = 17.40 𝑚𝑚

Outside Diameter
 𝐷𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐷𝑖𝑛 + 2𝑡

𝐷𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 5862.3 + 2 ∗ 17.40

𝐷𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 5897.06𝑚𝑚

𝐷𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 5.90 𝑚

V. Types of Vessel Heads to be used

According to Towler and Sinnot (2013), Hemispherical, ellipsoidal, and torispherical heads

are collectively referred to as domed heads. They are formed by pressing or spinning; large

diameters are fabricated from formed sections. The preferred proportions of domed heads

are given in the standards and codes. Vessel heads can be made in any size, but standard

sizes will usually be cheaper.

Hemispherical Heads

𝑃𝐷
𝑡=
4𝑆𝐸 − 0.4𝑃

50 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∗ 5862.3 𝑚𝑚
𝑡=
4 ∗ 12900 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∗ 0.85 − 0.4 ∗ 50 𝑝𝑠𝑖

𝑡 = 6.69 𝑚𝑚

Ellipsoidal Heads

𝑃𝐷
𝑡=
2𝑆𝐸 − 0.2𝑃

50 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∗ 5862.3 𝑚𝑚
𝑡=
2 ∗ 12900 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∗ 0.85 − 0.2 ∗ 50 𝑝𝑠𝑖

𝑡 = 13.37 𝑚𝑚
Tori Spherical Heads

0.885(𝑃𝑅)
𝑡=
𝑆𝐸 − 0.1𝑃

5862.3 𝑚𝑚
0.885 ∗ (50 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∗ )
𝑡= 2
12900 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∗ 0.85 − 1 ∗ 50 𝑝𝑠𝑖

𝑡 = 11.83 𝑚𝑚

Based on the calculated data above, Ellipsoidal head has the greatest thickness thus it is

preferred to be use in acetic anhydride storage tank.

VI. Openings and Connections required

Motherwell Tank Protection states that opening size ranges from 250mm to 650 mm. For

acetic anhydride storage tank, maximum manway size will be used for optimum use thus

650mm is the size of manway.

VII. Type of Agitator

The type of agitator used shall be determined using the figure below:

Volume = 𝟐𝟑𝟖. 𝟓 𝒎𝟑 Viscosity = 0.00001648

Figure 2. Agitator Selection Guide (Source: Towler & Sinnott, 2013, Chapter 15, pg.665)

Looking the figure above, the type of agitator used is Propeller or Turbine (420

rpm)