Engineering Practice

A Primer on Rectangular Tanks

This type of tank is often preferred to cylindrical tanks when space is limited. Follow
this guidance to calculate the relevant dimensions and ensure safe construction
Keith Kachelhofer
Hargrove Engineers + Constructors

ith the increasing age of

many chemical process
plants, a challenge often
arises when it comes
time to find suitable real estate to
erect and install new storage tanks.
Throughout the chemical process
industries (CPI), storage tanks are
most often thought to be cylindrical
tanks with flat bottoms and coned
roofs, or leg- or lug-supported cylindrical tanks with dished heads. However, rectangular tanks may provide
a viable alternative for facilities that
need to store a product under atmospheric pressure but have limited
space available to erect a traditional
cylindrical tank.
While abundant sources of information are available for cylindrical
tanks, engineering guidance related
to the specification or design of rectangular tanks is less readily available.
For most CPI engineers, the biggest
challenge associated with rectangular tanks is how to specify them and
how to identify the most economical
method of fabrication. As of today,
there is no specific published code
for rectangular tank design and fabrication. However, the American Petroleum Institute (API) does publish
API Bulletin 2V: Design of Flat Plate
Structures [1], which provides relevant engineering support.
Rectangular tanks are constructred from flat plates that have been
welded together with structural
beams added to provide rigidity. The
plate reinforcement can be implemented using vertical or horizontal
stiffeners. This article discusses several detailed design options for the
flat plates, stiffeners and stiffened
panels that are used to construct
rectangular tanks. The structural design of rectangular tanks is primarily an engineering function for meChemical Engineering

FIGURE 1. This photo shows a reinforced nozzle on a rectangular tank during onsite construction.
Note the weep hole located at the bottom of the reinforcement pad

chanical and structural engineers.

However, having a fundamental understanding of what is involved with
the design process can greatly help
chemical engineers and related professionals during the evaluation and
specification process. The installation of nozzles (Figure 1) presents a
variety of challenges, which are discussed below.

Safety first

Rectangular tanks should always be

engineered in the anticipated corroded condition where the shell
plates would be at their anticipated
smallest allowable thickness. This
will require a corrosion allowance for
the wetted surfaces and possibly for
the exterior surfaces, as well. If the
tank is to be insulated, there might
be a concern about moisture becoming trapped under the insulation
and causing localized pitting and
corrosion on the exterior of the tank.
Analysis of a plate typically starts
with a few assumptions: The plate

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april 2015

is initially flat, the thickness is small

compared to other dimensions, the
material is elastic, and deflection
does not exceed one half the thickness of the plate. As a general rule of
thumb, engineers can make the following assumptions:
Rectangular tanks with capacities
less than 30 ft3 typically do not require stiffeners
Tanks with capacities from 30300
ft3 in volume will require vertical or
horizontal stiffeners
Tanks above the 300 ft3 capacity
should have vertical and horizontal
stiffeners or may have to incorporate stays. Stays are horizontal circular rods (Figure 2) with each end
welded to the parallel plates used
to form the tank. The stays help
keep each plate from experiencing excessive deflection, and the
strategic use of stays in the tank
design can help to keep overall
material costs to a minimum
The governing condition for determining the need for stiffeners will be
61

Rectangular tank

"Stay"

"Stay" or connecting rod

Tank shell plate

FIGURE 2. Cylindrical rods are welded to parallel plates to

minimize deflection, as shown here. The use of stays is beneficial
when the outside stiffeners are too large

the height of the tank. As the height

of the tank increases, so does the
static pressure on the tank. In turn,
the size and quantity of structural
steel beams required for reinforcement will increase. The key to an
economical design is a final tank
design that uses the lightest-gage
plate material while still providing
sufficient reinforcement to ensure
needed rigidity.
The size and number of stiffeners
depends on the thickness of the tank
wall and the spacing of the stiffeners.
There is a tradeoff between the plate
thickness and the number of stiffeners added to the plate. For instance,
there could be a cost savings associated with reducing the plate thickness, but the savings may be offset
by the labor required to install plate
stiffeners. There are two methods of
reinforcing the plate through the
use of vertical or horizontal stiffeners.

The method of horizontal reinforcement is a more direct procedure.

Reinforcement incorporating vertical
stiffeners requires an assumption of
the shell plate thickness and spacing
between the stiffeners, which can be
an iterative process.
Figure 3 shows a rectangular tank
with a top rim stiffener and two vertical stiffeners. Since the plates used
to construct the tank are flat, they inherently are not rigid structures when
transverse static loads are imposed
on the surface. Therefore, structural
beams must be attached in order to
keep the plates from experiencing
excessive deflection. Areas of particular concern are the regions of unsupported plate that exist between
the tank corners and between the
stiffeners themselves. It is here that
the design engineer can combine
the properties of the tank wall with
those of the selected stiffener (Fig-

Top stiffener

Vertical stiffener

Region of unsupported
plate

FIGURE 3. Shown here is a rectangular tank with vertical stiffeners. Note the region of unsupported
plate between the vertical stiffeners
62

Chemical Engineering

ure 4) to develop a composite beam,

which will have a higher structural
rigidity than just the structural member alone. A common method is to
consider a section of steel plate having an equal distance between stiffeners.
Determining the spacing between
vertical stiffeners is an iterative process. An initial assumption is made
for the stiffener spacing followed by a
mathematical evaluation of the plate
deflection and stress. The anticipated plate deflection and stress are
associated with published constants,
which are a function of the ratio of
the sides of the plate. Depending on
how the plate is statically supported,
these constants (along with the
ratio of the sides) and specifically tailored formulas can be used to determine the plate deflection and bending stress.
If the deflection is excessive (that
is, greater than one half of the plate
thickness) and stress is greater than
the values published in Table 1, then
the stiffeners must be spaced more
closely together.
Figure 5 shows a rectangular tank
with a top rim stiffener and one horizontal (intermediate) stiffener. The
advantage of this design is that the
intermediate stiffener is located in
proximity to where the average load
is acting on the surface plane. One
stiffener can be attached at the point
of loading and act as a beam with a
uniform distributed load. The design
incorporating horizontal stiffeners is a
more direct and simplified approach
as opposed to making assumptions
with vertical stiffeners.
Tanks incorporating stiffeners
can use a wide range of structural
shapes, including angle, channel or
structural T's. When using a structural angle for reinforcement at the
top, the angle can be oriented with
the toe out where one face of the
angle is oriented against the shell
plate. But the intermediate stiffener
needs to be attached with the toe
facing into the tank wall (one face
of the angle oriented outward) to increase structural rigidity, as shown in
Figure 6.
Stiffeners are attached to the tank
wall by using either continuous fillet
welds or stitch welds. For top stiffeners, the inner fillet weld must be continuous (Figure 7) in order to keep
the product from becoming trapped
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april 2015

The shaded region indicates an area of

tank shell plate that structural engineers
will use in reinforcement calculations

Top stiffener
Intermediate
stiffener
H

Region of unsupported
plate

0.43H

Y
X

FIGURE 4. Structural engineers will incorporate

a region of the shell plate into the reinforcement
calculation to help reduce the size of the reinforcement beam and reduce cost

or seeping between the tank wall

and the stiffener. The welds outside
of the wetted surface can be stitch
welds. Stitch welds (Figure 8) require
less labor and use less deposited
weld metal. For most applications, a
-in. fillet weld is sufficient with weld
lengths ranging from 2 to 3 in. and
the welds spaced anywhere from
610 in. apart.
The corners of the tank walls are
regions of high stress due to the discontinuity between the two adjoining plates. Thus, the corner joints
will require reinforcement or full penetration welds. Figure 9 shows two
corner joint designs that are commonly used during fabrication of
rectangular tanks.
A third option is to use a formed
corner on the tank shell plate with
a full penetration weld, as shown
in Figure 10. This is a preferred
method for small tanks that use
lighter-gauge steel walls (in the range
of 10-gauge plate to 1/4-in. plate).
The plate is easy to form and the
welds are economical.

Adding nozzles to the design

Nozzles installed in rectangular tanks

are typically not subjected to high
static head pressures, therefore the
Chemical Engineering

FIGURE 5. A rectangular tank is shown with a top stiffener and an intermediate stiffener located at
43% of the height of the tank wall, measured from the bottom of the tank

connection of the nozzle to the tank

shell can typically be completed with
a fillet weld on the outside of the
tank and a fillet weld on the inside of
the tank. Typically, there is no need
for additional nozzle reinforcement.
However, if the nozzle is connected
to any rotating equipment, such as
pump suction piping, then the tank
nozzles should be installed using
full penetration welds, followed with
a capping fillet weld, as shown in
Figure 11.
Since the inherent geometry of
the plate does not permit excessive
loadings, dynamic equipment should
not be suspended directly from the
tank nozzles. If mixers and side-wall
agitators are to be installed on the
tank shell, then a third-party engineering firm should perform finite element analysis on the tank shell and
nozzle to ensure adequate reinforcement of the nozzle and shell plate. If
unsure as to the need for reinforcement, then the recommendations of
API 650, Section 5.7, can be applied
[2]. API 650 recommends that openings in tank shells that are larger
than an NPS 2 flanged or threaded
nozzle be reinforced, as shown in
Figure 1. All shell-opening connec-

tions that require reinforcement (for

example, nozzles, manholes, and
cleanout openings) must be attached by welds that fully penetrate
the shell, according to API 650.The
minimum cross-sectional area of the
required reinforcement must not be
less than the product of the vertical
diameter of the hole cut into the shell
and the nominal plate thickness. The
cross-sectional area of the reinforcement shall be measured vertically,
coincident with the diameter of the
opening. Table 5.6(a)(b) in API 650
provides recommendations for reinforcement plate dimensions. Be
sure to add a 1/4-in. NPT weep hole
in the bottom of the reinforcement
pad (Figure 1) to provide the access
needed to check for any potential
leaks behind the pad.
The bottom plate thickness can
be 1/4-in. or 3/8in. nominal thickness, assuming the plate is entirely
supported by a concrete pad. The
bottom plate needs to extend beyond the shell plate with sufficient
distance to incorporate anchor bolts
if desired. Since most rectangular
tank geometry is not subjected to
high overturning moments, anchor
bolts may not be required.

Table 1. Allowable Design Stress for Plate Material, psi

Material Grade

Design Temperature
100oF

150oF

200oF

250oF

300oF

SA283 C

15,700

15,700

15,700

15,700

15,700

SA36

16,600

16,600

16,600

16,600

16,600

SA516-70

20,000

20,000

20,000

20,000

20,000

SA240-304

20,000

20,000

20,000

20,000

18,900

SA240-304L

16,700

16,700

16,700

16,700

16,700

SA240-316

20,000

20,000

20,000

20,000

20,000

SA240-316L

16,700

16,700

16,700

16,700

16,700

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april 2015

63

Continuous
weld

Tank shell
plate

Cover plate

Continuous weld

Top stiffener

Acceptable configuration
for top stiffener to accept
a tank lid/roof plate

Tank
wall

Stitch weld
Preferred angle orientation for intermediate
stiffener, toe-in

Stitch weld

FIGURE 7. This figure shows top stiffener detail

with a cover plate. Note the channel is oriented on
the X-X (strong) axis. See Figure 13 for details

FIGURE 6. Proper orientation of the top stiffener

and the intermediate stiffener using angled stiffeners is shown here. The stiffener shown at the
top is oriented with the "toe" out, while the intermediate stiffener is oriented with the "toe" in. The
intermediate stiffener is stronger with the "toe-in"
orientation where a region of the tank plate can be
used to resist deflection

If a roof plate is required, then several factors must be considered. Will

the roof be permanently attached to
the top stiffener or will it be bolted? If
the top of the tank is made to be removed, then its weight is very important. Be sure to provide lifting lugs
to facilitate maintenance. The size of
the tank and the need for access for
plant operations and maintenance
will determine if the plate needs to
be designed for personnel working
on the surface.
API 650 recommends a minimum
of 45 lb/ft2 for combined dead load
and live loads. This should be sufficient to allow a person to walk
on the roof without excessive deflection. For applications that may
have hot vapors above the liquid
level, it might be prudent to include1
a corrosion allowance for the inside

of the plate.
The same design procedures that
are used for roof plates are also
used for side plates. First, find a ratio
of sides where there is a minimal
amount of deflection and check the
plate stress. Like the vertical stiffeners used for the tank walls, the
stiffeners for the roof plate will need
to be selected for deflection and
stress. For removable roof plates, a
general recommendation is to start
with 3/16in. or 1/4-in. plate incorporating channel sections, plate or
angle attached, with the X-X axis
parallel to the roof plates, as shown
in Figure 13.

Calculation methodology

There is a simplified method for deter-1

mining the required shell-plate thickness and the required beam sizes
that can be used by CPI engineers.
The procedure yields results that are
both dependable and conservative.
2
As with most design processes, the
first step is to determine the volume
of product that needs to be stored.
Based upon the available real estate3
in the plant, the geometry of the tank
then needs to be established. Knowing the required volume of the tank,
the length of one side can be deter-4
mined using Equation (1):

w=3V

(1)
5

Table 2. Modulus of Elasticity, E

Material Grade

100oF

200oF

Carbon steel

29.3 x 106

28.6 x 106

Austenitic stainless

28.3 x 106

27.6 x 106

Design
L =Temperature
1.5w
L

300oF

400oF

500oF

28.1 x 106

27.5 x 106

27.0 x 106

27.0 x 10

26.5 x 106

25.8 x 106

6
3

LS = 0.67w
6

pmax = h

64

FIGURE 8. On this tank, structural reinforcement is provided by a horizontal 'T' shape that
is stitch-welded to the side wall of a rectangular
stainless steel tank

Where:
w = the length of one side of the
tank, ft
V = the required volume for
storage, ft3
The preferred ratio of sides is: 1.5w
for the longer side and 0.67w for the
shorter side, with the relationships
shown in Equations (2) and (3):
LL = 1.5w

(2)

LS = 0.67w

(3)

Where:
LL = the length of the long wall, ft
LS = the length of the short wall, ft
Next, determine the hydrostatic force
3
on
w = the
V inside surface of the shell
plate. This process involves fundamental statics, where the load imposed on the tank varies linearly with
the depth of the fluid (Figure 12).
pressure at the top of the plate
L The
= 1.5w
is Lequal to zero, and the maximum
pressure is at the bottom of the tank.
To be conservative, the maximum
pressure
will be used for determinLS = 0.67w
ing plate deflection and stress using
Equation (4):

pmax = h

Where:
= density of the fluid, lb/in.3
h = maximum
height
of the fluid, in.
1
lb

0.036 3 ( h 2 )( S.G.)
2
in. will govern the deThe longest wall
Fr =

sign for the tank shell, since this will

provide the largest area of the plate
that will be subjected to hydrostatic
forces. Hydrostatic
act per0.036forces
( S.G.)(h)
t reqd = 0.3( hto) the surface. The prespendicular
a
sure the fluid exerts on the
tank walls
depends upon its depth. In the case

(0.06Fr )(LL )

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4

Chemical Engineering

(4)

april 2015

w=3V

Tank wall

Continuous weld

Reinforcement angle

Continuous weld

LL = 1.5w

Full penetration weld

Continuous weld
Tank wall
Continuous weld

of water, there is 1 lb of pressure

pmaxevery
= h2.31 ft of depth. The force
for
2
on the shell plate can be calculated
using Equation (5):

51

1
lb
Fr ==3 V 0.036 3
w
2
in.

62

Where:
4
h = the maximum height of the fluid
level, in.
FLr ==the
resultant
force,
lb/in.
0.036
( S.G.
)(h)
1.5w
L
t reqd
== 0.3
h)
S.G.
the(specific
gravity of the fluid
2
stored (that is, the ratioa of a specific
fluid density to the density of water),
5
dimensionless
LS = 0.67w

3
7
4

8
5

9
6

(h )(S.G.)
2

(5)
3
1

(0.06F )(L 4 )

3
r
L
The
Itop =use of a horizontal intermedi192
(
E
)
t
(
)
ate stiffener located
between the
nom
pmaxstiffener
= h and the bottom of the
top
6
tank is the simplest approach. It 4is
recommended that
the intermediate
(0.3F
) LL 4 at 0.43H from
stiffener
be r located
Iint =
the
bottom
tank2 [7] where H is
1192( Eof)(the
tlb
nom )
F
0.036
(S.G.
) 5).
the
height
of the 3tankh wall
(Figure
r =
2
in.
The next step is to determine
7
5
the required plate thickness, using
Equation (6):

( )

( )

W
H
0.036( S.G.)(h) (6)
= 0.3( h )

R plate =

t reqd

pH
10 Where:
=
3

8
6

( )

S.G. = the
4 gravity of the fluid
Et specific
(0.06F
r ) LL
stored,
Itop = dimensionless
( E )( tnom )bending stress for9
= the192
allowable
7
the steel plate, psi
2
h = the
maximum height of the fluid
pH
11 level,
= in. 2
4
7

( )

t r ) LL
(0.3F
I
=
int
Table 192
1 provides
( E )( tnom )a list of common10

steel alloys and their respective

8
bending stresses. Table 2 provides
of various
3
12 the
w =modulus
250 ft 3of= elasticity
6.29 ft 75.5in.
grades of steel at various temperaW
9 tures.
R plate The
= modulus of elasticity is a
H measures an objects
11
number that
9
resistance to being deformed elastically when a force is applied.
13

10

w=3V

FIGURE
9. Two corner joint designs are shown here. The preferred method is the use of a reinforceLS = 0.67w
ment
angle with continuous fillet welds

If the tank is in a corrosive environment,

LL = 1.5wthen an appropriate corrosion allowance needs to be added
to the required plate thickness. The
most common corrosion allowances
range
from 1/16 to 3/16 in.
L
S = 0.67w
The next step is to determine the
wrequired
= 3 V moment of inertia for the
stiffener located at the top of the
pmax =(thish is shown in Figure 5). Intank
ertia is a measure of a bodys ability to resist movement, bending or
rotation. The moment of inertia is a
Lmeasure
stiffness in relaL = 1.5w
1 of a beams
lb
h 2 ( S.G.
F
0.036
tion
cross-section.
As a) beams
r =to its
3
2
in.
moment of inertia increases, its ability to bend decreases. For flat plate,
Lchannel,
S = 0.67w
structural T and angle, the
highest moment of inertia is located
on the X-X axis0.036
as shown
in Figure
( S.G.)(h)
tpreqd The
=
0.3
h
(
)
13.
minimum
required
moment
max = h
a
of inertia for the top stiffener
beam
can be found using Equation (7):

( )

LL 4 ) 2
1(0.06Fr )(lb
FIrtop== 0.036 3 ( h )( S.G.)
t nom )
2 192( E )(in.

(7)

Where:
LL = length of 4 the longest tank
wall, in.(0.3Fr ) LL
Iint =
0.036
(h)
elasticity,
) ( S.G.)psi
tEreqd= modulus
= 192
0.3((hE))(oft nom
tnom = the nominal thickness
of plate
a
to be used, in.

( )

The minimum required moment of

4
W
inertia
intermediate
stiffener
R plate(0.06F
=for the
r ) LL
Ilocated
=
H
between
the top stiffener
top
192( E ) t nom )
and the tank( bottom
can be determined using Equation (8):

( )

pH 4 ) L 4
r ( L )
= (0.3F
Iint = Et 3
192( E )( t nom )

(8)

FIGURE 10. The preferred corner joint for lightgauge plate ranging from 10GA to 1/4-in. nominal
thickness. Forming the corners and providing one
full penetration weld helps to strengthen the corner and minimize plate distortions during welding

Be sure to convert your wall length

from feet to inches when using Equations (7) and (8) in order to maintain
consistent units. The top and intermediate stiffeners can be any variety
of structural shapes, such as channels, T-shapes or angles. Figure 13
shows examples of common structural shapes that can be used for
stiffeners. For smaller tanks, structural angles are the most economical
option, and they provide a surface
onto which a cover plate or lid can
be bolted or welded. Larger tanks
will typically incorporate larger structural members, such as channels.
The structural member must have a
moment of inertia that is greater than
what was calculated above for the
top and intermediate stiffeners. The
mechanical properties of structural
members can be found online at the
Engineers Edge website [8].
When selecting a structural member from the tables online provided in
Ref. 8, it is imperative to select a moment of inertia on the X-X axis of the
beam, as shown in Figure 13. This
is typically denoted as Ixx where I is
the moment of inertia of the shape
and the subscript X-X represents the
moment of inertia about the X-X axis.
When possible, try to use the same
structural member for both the top

Table 3. Plate constants for rectangular plates with all edges fixed and
uniform distributed load
W/H

2
pH1.00

= W
plate = t 2 0.1386
R
H0.0138

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

Infinity

0.1794

0.2094

0.2286

0.2406

0.2472

0.2500

0.0188

0.0226

0.0251

0.0267

0.0277

0.0284

LL = 1.5(6.29 ft ) = 9.5 ft 114in.

4
pHEngineering
Chemical
www.chemengonline.com april 2015
=
3
Et
12
3 4 3

65

3
1

w=3V

6
4

Full penetration
weld with fillet
cap weld

LL = 1.5w

LS = 0.67w
8
26

pmax = h

9
1
lb
2
11.
This
figure
shows
details
of
a
nozh
FFIGURE
=
0.036
(
S.G.
)
(
)
r
3
7
zle that2 is attachedin.
to a tank using full penetration
welds and a capping fillet weld on the inside and4
outside of the nozzle

10
stiffener and the intermediate stiff0.036
S.G.
(h)
(
)
to help minimize cost.
8
tener
reqd = 0.3( h )
5
a

Plate deflection and stress

10

11

12

13

66

14

Once the stiffeners have been sized,

it is good practice4 to check the plate
11
(0.06Fand
deflection
stress. The first
r ) Lplate
L
9
Istep
top = in calculating plate deflection
192( E )( t nom )
6
and stress is to determine the length
of the sides supported by adjacent
plates or structural members. Figure
12
4
14 shows
plate with
(0.3Fra) Lrectangular
L
Idimension
10
the width of the
int =
( EW
)( tbeing
7
nom )
plate 192
and
dimension
H being the
height of the plate. Next determine
the ratio of sides using Equation (9):

( )

( )

R plate

W
=
H

13

(9)
11
8

Where:
W = width of unsupported plate, in.
14
H = height
pH 4 of unsupported plate, in.

12
9

Et of unsupported plate is
The width
dependent on the location between
stiffeners. When calculating the worst
15
case scenario
for horizontal tanks,
pH 2 tank shell plate (LL) can
the=longest
13
10
be used
t 2 in place of W as indicated
in the example problem. The ratio of
plate width to plate height is required
to find the appropriate constants 16
in
Table3 3. If a3 calculated ratio is bew = 250
= 6.29 ft ratios
75.5in.
14
11
tween
twoft published
in the
table then interpolation is permitted.
Calculated ratios above 2.0 will default to the infinity values published
in Table 3 [4].
maximum
presLLThe
= 1.5
9.5 ft 114in.
(6.29 ft ) =hydrostatic
12
15
17
sure is determined by Equation (4).
The plate deflection is determined by
Equation (10):
3

LS = 0.67(6.29 ft ) = 4.2 ft

13
50in.
16

in.3

LS = 0.67w

0.036( S.G.)(h)

pa max = h

reqd

0.036( S.G.)(h)

= 0.3( h )

pmax = h
4
0.036
( S.G.)(h)
0.06F
t reqd
= (0.3
( h)r )( LL )
I =
top

Itop =

4
0.06F
(192
( Er))((tLnom
L ))
192( E )( t nom )

Y1

Ylb
0.036 3 ( h 2 )( S.G.
Y)
5
4 4
2
in.
X
0.3FrX)r )LL
(
0.06F
(
(0.06Fr ) LL 4
X
X
L L
78lb I IXint == X
4
1
Itop =1
top 2 (0.3F ) L
lb
2
192
E
t
(
)
r
L
(
)
h
F
=
0.036
(
S.G.
)
X
X
( E )( tnom3 ) 5 h (rS.G.2)
0.036
nom )
8in.3 I(int =) 192( E )( tnom
wFr==3 V192
4
2
in.
192
E
t
(
)
(
)
Y
nom
0.06F
L
Y
(
Y
Y
r)
L
7
Itop =
0.036
(
S.G.
)
(h)
Structural T
Angle
Plate
6h t Channel
192( E )( t nom )
reqd = 0.3( h )
4
0.3F
L
W
FR
(
)
(0.3F
)r LL 4
a
FIGURE 13.r Common
structural shapes used
L
R
=
890.036
Iint
=reinforcement
Iint =
for
are shown here. The X-X axis
(plate
S.G.
)(h)
W
H
6
9
192
E
t
(
)
(
)
192
E
t
(
)
(
)
t reqd)(h)
= 0.3( h )
Risplate
=
LL = 1.5w
nom
considered
to benom
the strongest axis to resist
0.036
( S.G.
Hunder loading. It is important to attach
t reqd = 0.3( h ) (0.3F ) L 4
a
movement
4
r
L
(0.06Fr )(Lbeam
the reinforcement
a
8
Iint =
L ) to the tank shell with the
7
I
=
X-X axis parallel
192( E )( t nom )
top
4
)( ttonomthe) plate
192
pH( E
h
10 4
=
4
LS = 0.67w
W
(0.06Fr )(LL ) = =pH
EtW3
7
R plate = 12. This diagram
Itop =the hydro- 910 R plate
4
3
FIGURE
shows
EtH
(0.06F
192( E )( t nom )
H r ) LL
Istatic
=forces on the tank wall. The maxium height
top
(0.3FW r ) LL 4
of the fluid
level
is( tdenoted
as 'h' and is recom192
(
E
)
W
)
nom
8
pmended
max 9= tohbe
6 in. below
R plate
= the top of the tank wall Iint = 192( E
pH 2 )( t nom )
H
H
4
11
=
0.3F
L
(
)
2 24
r(10)L
pH

pH
pH 4
t
8
Iint =
11
=
4
192( E )10
(tnom ) == Et
3
t2 3
0.3F
(Et
r ) LL
Iint =1
W
4 2
9
( E )(tlbnom
FWhere:
0.036
pH
R plate =
r = 192
3 ) h ( S.G.)
10
=
2
in.
FIGURE
14. Dimensions
of unsupported plate
H
= constant from
12 w
Et 3 Table 3
= 3 250
ft 3 the
= 6.29
ft or75.5in.
located
between
stiffeners
adjacent plate
W 12
3
p = hydrostatic
pressure,
2ft 3 = 6.29 ft
2
9
w =
250
75.5in.
R platepsi=
pH
pH

H == height of the tank shell plate,

in.
H 11
= 2
4
tshown
in Equation (13):
E = modulus
of elasticity, psi (from (2), as
t 2W
pH
10
R
=
=
2
Table
plate 2)
3
0.036
S.G.
(h)
(
)
pH
Et
t reqd
=nominal
0.3H
( h=) thickness
t =11
of the 4tank
LL = 1.5(6.29 ft ) = 9.5 ft 114in. (13)
13
2

pH
a
t
shell plate, in.
LL = 1.5(6.29 ft ) = 9.5 ft 114in.
10
13
=
3
Et
The length of the short side of the
3
12 w = 3 2502 ft 3 = 6.29 ft 75.5in.
w = 3plate
2504deflection
ft = 6.29 ftshould
75.5in.
The
be
less
tank pH
is determined using Equation
pH
11
4
than
the thickness
of the plate
(3),= as shown
in Equation (14):
= (half
0.06F
3 r ) LL
t2
Et
3
Ibeing
=
used
on
the
tank.
The
plate
3
14
top 12
LS = 0.67(6.29 ft ) = 4.2 ft 50in.
wE=)( t nom
250
= 6.29
ft 2 75.5in.
pH
) 11ft using
stress192
is (determined
14
LS = 0.67(6.29 ft ) = 4.2 ft 50in. (14)
= Equation
2
t
(11):
LSince
ft ) = 9.5
114in.
(6.29
13
LL = 1.5(6.29 ft ) = 9.5 ft 114in.
know
the fttank
sides
L =3 1.5we
12 w
250 ft-by-4.2
ft 3 = 6.29 ftft then
75.5in.
pH 2 ) L 4
(0.3F
(11)
are= 9.5
the floor
1 40 ft2. Dividing
lb
lb
r
L
Iint == t 2
Fr = is
0.036 lb 3 7522the
(
1) required
= 101.25 lb
15 area
1
1.5) (12
6.29wft=) =3 250
9.5 ftft315=114in.
3 75
13192(LEL )=
(tnom
volume
of 250in.ft
by the
of in.
Frft= 275.5in.
0.036
(1) =area
101.25
6.29
in.3 tank height is 6.25 in.
Where:
40 ft2 2the required
ft (75
in.) 6.29 ft = 4.2 ft 50in.
14
= 1.5
0.67
( ft ) =force
)9.5 fton114in.
0.67(6.29
ft )Table
= 4.23 ft 50in.
LSLThe
(6.29
13 L
S =
L=
constant
from
reaction
the plate
3
3
W ft = 6.29 ft 75.5in. 16 is calculated using0.036
w = 250
Equation
(5),) as
(
1)( 75in.
R plate = problem 13 L = 1.5(6.29
t reqd
( 75in.) 0.036
(1)( 75in.
) = 0.286in.
=shown
9.5 =ft 0.3
Sample
in114in.
Equation
(15):
14 HLS = 0.67(6.29Lft ) = 4.2 16
ft ft ) 50in.
16,600
psi
t
=
0.3
(
75in.
)
= 0.286in.
reqd
A chemical plant requires a tank
16,600 psi
3
with 250-ft
storage
and an
(15)
1 6.29 ft lb= 4.2 ft 2 50in.
1
lb capacity
2
14
LSrlb
== 0.670.036
(
) 3 75 (1) = 101.25 lb
F
15
Fr = top.0.036
) = 101.25
open
Assume 3the75
tank(1bottom
in.
in.
2 4on a concrete
in.
in. 2
isL resting
pad 114in.
with the
pH
L= = 1.5(6.29 ft ) = 9.5 ft
lb
4
1 14fromL1/4-in.
lb plate.
lb
bottom fabricated
ft ) = 4.2 ft(0.06
50in.
S = 0.67(6.29
) 101.25 lb (114in.)
Et 3 =
75 217(1) = 101.25
3 condiThe15fluid F
isr water 0.036
at ambient
(
) 101.25 in. (114in.) 4 = 0.583
0.06
2
in.
in.
I
=
17
1 2.93x10
lb 6 psiin.
top
tions.
) =lb0.583i
( required
)2(0.3125in.
IFtopr = 192
0.036
(1) = 101.25
15
3 6 75
The objective is to provide
an
engiNext,
the
minimum
plate
(
)
192
2.93x10
psi
0.3125in.
) (1)( 75in.)
2 ( 5in. 0.036
0.036(1)( 75in.
16 )
tthickness
= 0.3(is75in.
) lb using Equa- =in.0.286
t reqd=pH0.3
0.286in.
in.
neering
design
for) the required
shell =lb
calculated
2 ( 75in.
reqd
1
2
16,600
psi
16,600
psi
16
LS= = 0.67
ft 50in.
(6.29 ftand
) = 4.2
75
F
0.036 tion
(1) =shown
101.25
15
plate
thickness
the
(6), as
here
in Equation
r = required
3
2
2
in.
in.
t
0.036
(
1
)
(
75in.
)
5
stiffeners.
The tank dimensions are (16):
16
t reqdusing
= 0.3(Equation
75in.) (1), as
= 0.286in.
in.
determined
0.036
(1)( 75in.)
16
16,600
psi
16
t reqd = 0.3( 75in.)
shown in Equation (12):
(16)
lb
4 = 0.286in.
reqd

15

t reqd = 0.3( h )
pmax = h
6 surface
Free
t

Full penetration weld with

fillet cap weld

LS = 0.67w

( )
( )
( )

Fr =

(( ) )
( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )
( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

( )

psi )
(0.3) 101.2516,600
(114in.

lb
4
18 4
lb2
(
)
101.25
0.3
in.lb(114in.5)
1 3
lb
lb
0.036
(
1
)
(
75in.
)
18
16
(
)
101.25
(
) 4 = 2.918
114in.
0.06
I
=
101.25
) ) I int = 192(2.93x10
0.06
(
1(114in.
)
= (12)
101.25
wF=r = 250(0.036
ft =)6.29
75.5in.
)
6 in.
=
0.3
(
75in.
=
0.286in.
in.
3 ft ( t75
17
reqd
(
)
psi
0.3125in.
= 2.918i
)
in. 16
in.
int
2
in.
in.
6
16,600
psi4
)
192(2.93x10
psi)(0.3125in.
I
=
= 0.5
I
=
=
0.583in.
top
top
6
6
The length
of the long
of lb
the )
192
2.93x10 psi)(0.3125in.)
(
(
192(2.93x10
psiside
0.3125in.
4
)
(0.06
) 101.25
tank17 is determined
using
Equation (114in.
Since) the required lbthickness 4 is
(0.06) 101.254 (114in.)
in.
17
Itop =
= 0.583in.
in.
6
lb
Itop = )
= 0.583i
(
192
2.93x10
psi
0.3125in.
(
)
Chemical
Engineering
www.chemengonline.com
april
6
p
=
0.036
(
2.59
psi2015
72in.
lb
lb
4
LL = 1.5(6.29 ft ) = 9.5
ft (114in.
)
192((114in.
2.93x10
psi)))(==0.3125in.
0.036
1)( (75in.
53 )( 72in.
19)) 101.25
p
=
0.036
2.59
psi
0.06
in.
t
= 0.3( 75in.)
= 0.286in. 3 in.
3

50in.

plate Et18
4
LL = 1.5H
=W2.918in.
(6.29 ftI)int==9.5 ft 114in. 6 in.
9.5 ft
(
192(2.93x10 psi20
0.3125in.
)
=
= 3.53
R plate )=
1
lb
lb
0.43H 2.68 ft
W2 )(1) =9.5
ft
14in. 15 Fr = 0.036 3 ( 75
101.25
202
=
= 3.53
R plate
in.=
in.
2
lb
0.43H 2.68 ft
pH
lb
pH 4
p = 0.036 3 ( 72in.) = 2.59 psi
11
10
= 23
) = 101.25
19
in.
t
Et
14
lb50in.
Lin.
S = 0.67(6.29 ft ) = 4.2 ft
p = then
0.036assume
(
)
=
2.59
psi
72in.
above
1/4-in.
5/160.0284
(
)(2.59 psi)( 32.25 in ) 4
3
21
19
in.
=
0.036
(
1
)
(
75in.
)
5
3 = 0.088
The) required moment
of 4
(21)in.
6
50in. 16 in.
t reqd plate.
= 0.3( 75in.
= 0.286in.
in.
2.93x10
psi) (0.3125in.)
(
0.0284
(
)
2.59
psi
(
32.25
in
)
(
)
21
16,600
psi
16
inertia for
the
beam = 0.088 in.
= top stiffener
3
( 75in.
) wis= 3calculated
6
pH 2ft53 = 6.29
W
9.5 ft
using
Equation
(7),
2.93x10
psi) (0.3125in.
12
(
ft 2 75.5in.
1250
lb
lb ) R
11 = 0.286in.
in.
=
20
=
= 3.53
2 0.036
plate =
75
F
=
(
1
)
=
101.25
15
0 psi
16in Equation
r shown
t
as
(17):
3
0.43H
2.68
ft
2
in.
in.
4
W
9.5 ft 22
lb
plate
deflection
)(2.59
psi)( 32.25isin)less than
20
=
= 3.53The=(0.25
R plate =
) = 101.25
= 6,896 psi
lb
2
0.43H
2.68
0.156 in. (0.3125in.
so the )plate
thickness
4
in. 22 (0.06) 101.25
) 4 ft(17)
(0.25)(in.
2.59(114in.
psi)( 32.25
in) is 4 determined
17
to be sufficient.
=
= 6,896 psi
I =
= 0.583in.
2
4
3 ft ) =69.5 ft
4 L top=3 1.5(6.29
114in.
13
(
0.3125in.
)
12
(
)
192
2.93x10
psi
0.3125in.
L
0.0284
(
)
2.59
psi
( 32.25can
in ) be de(
)
Finally,
the
plate
stress
w
=
250
ft
=
6.29
ft
75.5in.
(
)
0.036
(
1
)
(
75in.
)
5
)
114in.
21
16
= in. from
=
0.088 in.
t reqd = 0.3(475in.)
= 0.286in.termined
3
= 0.583in.
0.3125in.) (11), as
16,600
psi psi ( 32.25 in ) 4 16
(2.93x106 psi) (Equation
(0.0284
)(2.59
)
3125in.
( 75in.) )
21 5
shown
= 0.088inin.Equation (22):
= 0.286in.
in. =
Use an 16
angle (2.5
in. 6 psi
2.5
in. )3
2.93x10
) (0.3125in.
0 psi

13

Buss-SMS-Canzler
Your partner in developing new
products and processes

( )

0.25 in., with a moment of inertia

0.67
50in.
LILS == 1.5
ft ft 114in.
(6.29
(6.29
) )==9.54.2
(0.25)(2.59 psi)( 32.25 in) 4
22
lb
in.ft4ft
(22)
44
lb
xx 0.703
=
= 6,896 psi
(0.3)) 101.25
101.25
((114in.
))
2
114in.
18
Next,(0.06calculate
the
required
in.
4
(
0.3125in.
)
17
4
in.
4
Iint = 22 of inertia
== 2.918in.
(0.25
)(2.59
psi)( 32.25
in)
Imoment
0.583in.
6
44
the
top =
(of
)inter192
psi)()0.3125in.
0.3125in.
(2.93x10
=6 psi
= 6,896 psi
114in.
2
114in.))
)
192
2.93x10
(
(0.3125in.Equa)
mediate 44 stiffener using
= 2.918in.
0.583in.
1 (8), aslb shown
lb
2
tion
below
)
3125in.
125in.
75 ft (1)50in.
FSr == 0.670.036
= 101.25in The plate stress is below the pub15
14) L
6.29 ft )3= 4.2
(
2
in.
in.
Equation (18):
lished plate stress in Table 1 so the
lb
tank design can be considered to
p = 0.036 3 ( 72in.) = 2.59 psi
19
in.

be safe.
n
lb
4
(18)
Edited by Suzanne Shelley
.59 psi
114in.
(
)
101.25
(
)
0.3
1
lb 0.036
lb
18
in. 2 (1)( 75in.)
5
16
0.036
154 tF
Ireqd
== 0.3
=0.286in.
2.918in.4
r =
3 6 75 (1) = 101.25
(
)
75in.
=
in.
int
2192(2.93x10
in. psi
in.
(
)
0.3125in.
)
14in.)
16
W
9.5 ft16,600 psi
14
13

( )

( )

4
20
References
=
= 3.53
=R2.918in.
plate =
0.43H 2.68 ft
3125in.)
1. API Bulletin 2V, Design of Flat Plate Structures, 3rd Ed.,
June 2004.
53
Use an angle 4 in. 4 in. 1/4 in.
lb
0.036
(
1
)
(
75in.
)
5 650, Welded Tanks for Oil Storage, 12th
2.

A
PI Standard
16
with
a
moment
of
inertia
I
=
3.04
xx
lb2.59 4psi
4= 0.286in.
3 ()72in.) =
tpreqd=4 =0.036
0.3( 75in.
19
Ed., Marchin.
2013.
in.
(
)
101.25
(
)
114in.
0.06
in.
or
use
a
C4

5.4
channel
(this
16,600
psi
16
0.0284
(
)
2.59
psi
(
32.25
in
)
(
) in. = 0.088 in. 3. Megyesy,
1721
Eugene
F., Pressure Vessel Handbook, 10th
=
4
3
59 psi Iis =
a(2.93x10
designation
of the) American= 0.583in.
6
top
psi) (60.3125in.
Ed., Pressure Vessel Publishing, 1995, pp. 213
4
(
)
192
2.93x10
psi
0.3125in.
(
)
Inst. of Steel Construction; Details
in )
219.
3 = 0.088 in.
can be found in [6]), with a moment 4. Young, Warren C., Roarks Formulas for Stress &
n.)
W
9.5 ft 4
of
inertia
Strain, 6th Ed., McGraw-Hill, 1989, pp. 458465.
20
= Ixx == 3.85 in.
=lb3.53
R plate
4
0.25
(
)
2.59
psi
in)(114in.) 4
22
(
)( 32.25
0.43H
2.68
ftdeflection
(
)
101.25
0.06
Check
the
plate
below
5.

M
oss, Dennis R., Pressure Vessel Design Manual,
=
=
6,896
psi
17
4
(0.3125in.) 2 in.
534
Third Ed.,
Gulf Professional Publishing, 2004, pp.
stiffener.
This
Ithe
= intermediate
=
0.583in.
top
6
)
227233.
(
)
192
2.93x10
psi
0.3125in.
(
)
the
= 6,896 psiarea of plate will experience
lb
4
6. American Inst. Of Steel Construction, "Manual of Steel
4 on) the
(0.3
) 101.25
(in114in.
highest
pressure
acting
18
(0.0284
)(2.59
psi)( 32.25
)
Construction
Allowable Stress Design," 9th Ed.,
21
in.
4
0.088 in. = 2.918in.
plate.
Determine
the 3 =pressure
Iint==
1989.
6
6
2.93x10
psi
(
0.3125in.
)
(
)
4
(0.3125in.
(2.93x10(4),psi)as
using 192
Equation
shown) in 7. Mahajan, Kanti K., Design of Process Equipment,
in )
3 = 0.088 in.
Equation
(19):
Selected Topics, 2nd Ed., Pressure Vessel Handbook
n.)
Publishing, Inc., 1985, pp. 267-280.
lb 4
4
114in.
(
)
101.25
(
)
0.3
8. Engineers
Edge website: www.engineersedge.com/
(0.25)(2.59 psi)( 32.25 in)
22

18
in. = 6,896 psi
=
4
lb
structural_shapes_menu.shtml
2
I
=
=
2.918in.
(0.3125in.
)6 psi
pint= 0.036
( 72in.
) =)(0.3125in.
2.59 psi (19)
)
192(2.93x10
) 4 19
in.3
= 6,896 psi

20
19

21
20

22
21

22

Note: the fluid height is assumed to

be 72 in.
W lbof (9.5
ft dimensions
ratio
plate
pR =The0.036
2.59 psi is
3= 72in.)==3.53
plate =
in.using
determined
(9), as
0.43H
2.68 Equation
ft
shown in Equation (20):

www.sms-vt.com

The plate deflection is determined

using Equation (10), as shown
below in Equation (21): 4

(0.25)(2.59 psi)( 32.25 in)

= 6,896 psi
(
)2
www.chemengonline.com

with Short Path Evaporators

for effective thermal separation
of heat sensitive products
under high vacuum of min.
0,001 mbar (a)

Author

Keith Kachelhofer is the

process engineering leader at
Hargrove Engineers + Constructors (30 Park of Commerce Way,
Suite 100, Savannah, GA 31405;
Phone: 912-508-0846; Email:
kkachelhofer@hargrove-epc.

com). He holds a degree in me4
W
9.5
ft
(20)
(0.0284
)(2.59
psi)( 32.25
in )
chanical engineering technology
=
=
=
3.53
R plate
=
= 0.088 in.
0.43H6 psi
2.68
ft
from Southern Polytechnic Uni2.93x10
(0.3125in.
)3
versity in Marietta, Ga. Kachelhofer has over twenty
years of experience with ASME vessels and API tanks
Remember that the recommended and has authored two previous articles in Chemical
location of the intermediate4 stiffener
Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer
4
((0.0284
)(2.59
(is32.25
0.25
)(2.59
psipsi
( 32.25
in)in ft) (32.25 in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia,
)
)
[7] is
0.43H,
which
2.68
==
0.088psi
in. West Virginia, New York, Delaware, Maine, Ohio and
= =6,896
6bottom2 of the 3tank.
in.) from
the
(0.3125in.
)
2.93x10
psi (0.3125in.
)
Utah.

Molecular
Distillation

0.3125in.
Chemical Engineering

april 2015

We live process engineering

and special manufacturing
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