STORAGE TANK 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
Calculation Inputs ......................................................................................... 3
Calculation Outputs ...................................................................................... 3
Liquid Surface Area ...................................................................................... 4
Maximum Rate of Level Rise........................................................................ 4
Liquid Levels ................................................................................................ 4
Cylindrical Vertical Tank Volumes ................................................................ 4
Tank Working Capacity ............................................................................. 5
Calculation Procedure .................................................................................. 5
Nomenclature ............................................................................................... 5
Example ....................................................................................................... 6
Solution: .................................................................................................... 6
Storage Tank Calculator Screenshot: ....................................................... 6
Copyright © 2009 Blackmonk Engineering Ltd
Blackmonk Engineering Ltd
www.blackmonk.co.uk
Introduction
This document describes the basis and operation of the Blackmonk
Engineering Storage Tank Calculator.
The calculator determines the volume and alarm levels for a cylindrical vertical
storage tank given the tank diameter, height and filling rate. The methodology
is based on the recommendations presented in the Buncefield Investigation
Reports and the UK HSE Tank Integrity Advice documents.
Calculation Inputs
The following parameters are user specified inputs to the calculation:
Input Description Units
Tank diameter Mandatory user specified tank diameter m
Tank height Mandatory user specified tank height m
Mandatory user specified maximum filling rate into 3
Maximum filling rate m /hr
the tank
Low liquid level Mandatory user specified low liquid level in the tank m
Mandatory user specified time required to respond
High level response time before the tank level rises from the normal level to min
the high level
Mandatory user specified time required to respond
High high level response time before the tank level rises from the high level to the min
high high level
Mandatory user specified time required to respond
Overflow level response time before the tank level rises from the high high level to min
the overflow level
Calculation Outputs
The following parameters are calculated by the software and displayed to the
user:
Output Description Units
2
Liquid surface area Upper surface of area of liquid in the tank m
Maximum rate of level rise Rate of liquid level rise at the maximum filling rate m/min
Normal liquid fill level allowing for the specified high,
Normal liquid fill level m
high high and overflow response times
High liquid liquid level allowing for the specified high,
High liquid level m
high high and overflow response times
High high liquid level allowing for the specified high,
High high liquid level m
high high and overflow response times
3
Low level volume Volume of liquid in tank when filled to the low level m
3
Normal level volume Volume of liquid in tank when filled to the normal level m
3
High level volume Volume of liquid in tank when filled to the high level m
Volume of liquid in tank when filled to the high high 3
High high level volume m
level
3
Copyright © 2009 Blackmonk Engineering Ltd
Blackmonk Engineering Ltd
www.blackmonk.co.uk
3
Total tank volume Volume of liquid in tank when filled to the overflow level m
3
Tank working capacity Volume in tank between the low and normal levels m
Liquid Surface Area
The liquid surface area in a cylindrical vertical tank is given by:
D 2
A Equation 1
4
Maximum Rate of Level Rise
The maximum rate of level rise is calculated from the liquid surface area and
the maximum filling rate:
Qmax
l max Equation 2
A
Liquid Levels
The normal, high and high high liquid levels are calculated using the specified
response times and the tank height. The specified tank height corresponds to
the overflow level. The levels are determined from the following relationships:
l hihi h l max t overflow Equation 3
l hi h l max t overflow t hihi Equation 4
l norm h l max t overflow t hihi t hi Equation 5
Cylindrical Vertical Tank Volumes
The total volume of a cylindrical vertical tank is given by:
D 2 h
Vtotal Equation 6
4
The liquid volume in a cylindrical vertical tank at a specified liquid level is
given by:
D 2 l
V Equation 7
4
4
Copyright © 2009 Blackmonk Engineering Ltd
Blackmonk Engineering Ltd
www.blackmonk.co.uk
Tank Working Capacity
The tank working capacity is the difference in volume between the low and
normal liquid levels:
Vworking Vnorm Vlow Equation 8
Calculation Procedure
The calculation routine is described in the following steps:
1. Calculate liquid surface area using Equation 1
2. Calculate maximum rate of level rise using Equation 2
3. Calculate the high high level using Equation 3
4. Calculate the high level using Equation 4
5. Calculate the normal liquid fill level using Equation 5
6. Calculate the normal level, high level and high high level volumes using
Equation 7 for the appropriate levels
7. Calculate the total tank volume using Equation 6
8. Calculate the tank working volume using Equation 8
Nomenclature
D Tank diameter (m)
h Tank height (m)
A Liquid surface area (m 2 )
Qmax Maximum filling rate (m -3 .s -1 )
l max Maximum rate of level rise (m.s -1 )
l Liquid level (m)
l low Low liquid level (m)
l norm Normal liquid level (m)
l hi High liquid level (m)
l hihi High high liquid level (m)
V Liquid volume in tank (m 3 )
Vlow Liquid volume in tank at low liquid level (m 3 )
Vnorm Liquid volume in tank at normal liquid level (m 3 )
Vhi Liquid volume in tank at high liquid level (m 3 )
Vhihi Liquid volume in tank at high high liquid level (m 3 )
V working Working volume in tank between low and normal liquid levels (m 3 )
Copyright © 2009 Blackmonk Engineering Ltd
Blackmonk Engineering Ltd
www.blackmonk.co.uk
Example
A tank 25m in diameter, 12m high is filled at a maximum rate of 500 m 3/hr.
The low liquid level is 1.75m. The level response times are as follows:
High level response time: 2 mins
High high level response time: 5 mins
Overflow level response time: 10 mins
Determine the tank working capacity.
Solution:
The tank working capacity = 4889.8 m3
Storage Tank Calculator Screenshot:
INPUTS
Tank diameter D 25 m
Tank height h 12 m
Maximum filling rate Qmax 500 m3/hr
Low liquid level llow 1.75 m
High level response time thi 2 mins between normal and high liquid evels
High high level response
time thihi 5 mins between high and high high liquid levels
Overflow level response
time toverflow 10 mins between high high and overflow liquid levels
OUTPUTS
Liquid surface area A 490.9 m2
Maximum rate of level rise lmax 1.019 m/hr
Normal liquid fill level lnorm 11.71 m from base of tank
High liquid level lhi 11.75 m from base of tank
High high liquid level lhihi 11.83 m from base of tank
Low level volume Vlo 859.0 m3
Normal level volume Vnorm 5748.8 m3
High level volume Vhi 5765.5 m3
High high level volume Vhihi 5807.2 m3
Total tank volume Vtotal 5890.5 m3
Tank working capacity Vworking 4889.8 m3 between low and normal liquid levels
Copyright © 2009 Blackmonk Engineering Ltd
