Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels
Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels
f Neutrium
ARTICLES PODCAST CONTACT DONATE
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
Lf : Straight Flange
R : Inside Vessel Radius
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
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 2/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
together. Below we present the wetted area and partially filled volume for each type
of head and the cylindrical section.
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 3/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 4/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
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.
expensive head type. The formula for calculating the wetted area and volume are
presented as follows.
A = 2πRc h
3.2 Volume
For the bottom head:
πh2
V = (3Rc − h)
3
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 6/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
π
V = (2Rc3 − h2 (3Rc − h))
3
Where h is defined as the free space between the liquid surface and the top of the
head.
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.
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 7/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
πDi2 1 2ε + 2
Aw = (2 + ln ( ))
8 4ε √
2− 3
ε = √1 − 2
4z 2
Di
For a 2:1 semi-ellipsoidal head ε is equal to 0.866. The wetted area calculated using
this method does not include the straight flange of the head. The length of the
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 8/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
straight flange must be included in the calculation of the wetted area of the
cylindrical section.
4.2 Volume
For the bottom head:
h 2 h 3
(3 ( ) − ( ) )
π
Vp = Di3 C
24 z z
h 3
(3 ( ) − ( ) )
π h
Vp = Di3 C
24 z z
Where,
C = 1/2
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 9/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
t 2
+ 2.3227 ( )
t
C = 0.49951 + 0.10462
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.
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 10/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
calculation of the wetted area and volume of a partially filled torispherical head is
presented as follows.
πDi2 1 2ε + 2
Aw = (2 + ln ( ))
8 4ε 2 − √3
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 11/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
ε = √1 − 2
4z 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:
h 2 h 3
(3 ( ) − ( ) )
π
Vp = Di3 C
24 z z
h 3
(3 ( ) − ( ) )
π h
Vp = Di3 C
24 z z
Where,
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 12/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
Rk − 0.06Do t 2
+ 0.98997 ( )
t
C = 0.30939 + 1.7197 − 0.16116
Di Do Do
t 2
+ 1.3762 ( )
t
C = 0.37802 + 0.05073
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.
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 13/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
to the low strength and poor draining qualities of this head type it is rarely used for
vertical vessels.
Here we present formulae for calculated the wetted area and volume for an
arbitrary liquid level height in a single Bumped head.
A = 2πRc h
6.2 Volume
For the bottom head:
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 14/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
πh2
V = (3Rc − h)
3
π
V = (2Rc3 − h2 (3Rc − h))
3
Where h is defined as the free space between the liquid surface and the top of the
head.
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 15/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
A = πDi h
7.2 Volume
π 2
Vp = Di h
4
Where the vessel has torispherical or ellipsoidal heads the straight flange length of
the head should be included in the cylindrical section length when calculating the
volume or surface area.
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 16/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
8. REFERENCES
1. B Wiencke, 2009, Computing the partial volume of pressure vessels
3. E Ludwing, 1997, Applied Process Design for Chemical and Petrochemical Plants
(Volume 2)
ARTICLE TAGS
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 17/18
3/8/2019 Volume and Wetted Area of Partially Filled Vertical Vessels – Neutrium
Name
Subscribe
https://neutrium.net/equipment/volume-and-wetted-area-of-partially-filled-vertical-vessels/ 18/18