18: Tanks

Charts give vapor loss from internal

floating-roof tanks ................................................ 616
Estimating the contents of horizontal cylindrical tanks .................... 618
How to gauge a horizontal cylindrical tank........................................ 619
Use nomograph to find tank capacity ................................................. 619
Correct the volume of light fuels from actual temperature to
a base of 60 F................................................................................... 621
Volume of liquid in vertical cylindrical tanks..................................... 621
Chart gives tanks vapor formation rate .............................................. 621
Hand-held calculator program simplifies dike computations ........... 622

615
616 Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook

Charts give vapor loss from internal floating-roof tanks

S. Sivaraman, Exxon Research & Engineering Co., Florham Park, N.J.

Nomographs, based on the guidelines presented in have been used in the preparation of these nomographs. In
American Petroleum Institute (API) Publication No. 2519, addition, for the calculations of the evaporation loss for the
have been constructed to estimate the average evaporation bolted deck design, a typical deck seam loss factor value of
loss from internal floating-roof tanks.1 Loss determined from 0.2 has been assumed.
the charts can be used to evaluate the economics of seal Table 1 gives the proper axis to use for various seal designs
conversion and to reconcile refinery, petrochemical plant, and fits.
and storage terminal losses.
The losses represent average standing losses only. They do
Table 1
not cover losses associated with the movement of product
Selection of seal axis
into or out of the tank.
The average standing evaporation loss from an internal Seal axis
floating-roof tank depends on: Seal type Average fit Tight fit

Vapor pressure of the product Vapor-mounted primary seal only H G

Type and condition of roof seal Liquid-mounted primary seal only F E

Tank diameter Vapor-mounted primary seal plus

Type of fixed roof support secondary seal D C
Liquid-mounted primary seal plus
The nomographs (Figures 14) can estimate evaporation secondary seal B A
loss for product true vapor pressures (TVP) ranging from 1.5
to 14 psia, the most commonly used seals for average and tight
fit conditions, tank diameters ranging from 50-250 ft, welded
Use of these nomographs is illustrated by the following
and bolted designs, and both self-supporting and column-
example.
supported fixed roof designs. The charts are purposely
limited to tank diameters 250 ft and less, because internal
Example. Determine the evaporation loss for an internal
floating-roof tanks are generally below this diameter.
floating roof tank given the following:
Typical values of the deck fitting loss factors presented
as a function of tank diameters in the API Publication 2519
Tank diameter 200 ft

Figure 1. Loss from welded deck, self-supporting

fixed roofs.
 Tanks 617

Figure 2. Welded deck, column-supported

fixed roofs.

Figure 3. Bolted deck, self-supporting

fixed roofs.

Liquid-mounted primary seal only and an average Solution

seal fit

Product true vapor pressure of 10 psia 1. Use Figure 1 for the welded deck and self-supporting

Welded deck with self-supporting fixed roof fixed roof.
618 Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook
2. From Table 1 select the seal axis. The seal axis for the
example problem is F.
3. Locate the point of intersection F1 between the seal axis
F and the tank diameter contour for the 200-ft diameter
tank.
4. From the point F1 traverse horizontally to intersect the
reference axis R at R1.
5. Locate the true vapor pressure point P1 corresponding
to 10 psia on the pressure axis P.
6. Connect the point R1 on the reference axis R and the
point P1 on the pressure axis P and extend in to inter-
sect the evaporation loss axis L at L1.
Estimating the contents of horizontal cylindrical tanks
Horizontal cylindrical tanks are frequently used for water
and fuel storage, and in many cases it is important to be able
to gauge these vessels to determine the volume of liquid
contained in them. However, it is normally much more
difficult to establish a volume-per-inch scale for a horizontal
tank than for one in a vertical position. The accompanying
nomograph simplifies this problem.
To use the nomograph, it is necessary to gauge the tank
and determine the ratio of the depth of liquid in the tank
to the tank diameter. After this is found, draw a straight line
from the point on the ratio scale through the known point
on the diameter of tank scale and read the intercept on
the gallons per ft of length scale. From this point, draw a
Figure 4. Bolted deck, column-supported
fixed roofs.
Read the evaporation loss in bbl/year at L1. The average
evaporation loss is 188 bbl/year for this example. The same
example is shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4 for other deck
designs and roof supports.
Source
Oil & Gas Journal, March 9, 1987.
Reference
1. Evaporation Loss from Internal Floating-Roof Tanks,
American Petroleum Institute Publication No. 2519.
second line through the known point on the length of tank
scale and read the intercept on the gallons (or barrels) in
total length scale.
Example. Find the volume of liquid contained in a
horizontal cylindrical tank 7 ft in diameter and 20 ft long
when the depth of the liquid is 4 ft, 10.8 in.
The ratio of depth of liquid to tank diameter is:
58:8=84 0:70
Connect 0.70 on the ratio scale with 7 ft on the diameter
scale and continue the straight line to obtain the intercept
215 on the gallons per ft of length scale. Draw a second line

from the point 215 through the 20 on the length of tank scale
and continue the line to obtain the intercept 4,300 on the
How to gauge a horizontal cylindrical tank
Express the depth in % of the diameter; then the result
will be given in % of total capacity of the tank.
Rule 1. For depth up to 30; multiply the square root of
the depth by the depth, and then by 0.155.
Example. Liquid depth is 16% of tank diameter
16  16  0:155 4  16  0:155 9:9%
The correct answer is 10.3%; error is about .4%.
Use nomograph to find tank capacity
This simple nomograph can be used to find the capacity of
your vertical cylindrical tanks. Heres how it works:
Tanks 619
gallons in total length scale. Total liquid content of the tank
is 4,300 on the gallons.
Rule 2. For depth between 30 and 50; subtract 10 from
the depth, multiply by 1.25.
Example. Liquid depth is 44% of tank diameter
44  10  1:25 34  1:25 42:5%
The correct answer is 42.4%.
The maximum error for depths less than 5% may be as great
as 10%; gauging in this range is always difficult, and a very
small slope can introduce a much larger error than this. When
the depth is greater than 50%, apply the same rule to get the
volume of the empty space above the fluid, and subtract.
Draw a straight line from the height scale through the
diameter scale and to the first capacity, barrels scale.
620 Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook
Read directly the capacity of the tank in barrels. (Note: The
height scale may be used to indicate the overall height of
the tank or the depth of liquid in the tank.)
Draw a second straight line connecting the two capacity,
barrels scales at the same reading on each scale. Read the
capacity of the tank in gallons and cubic ft on the proper
scales.
The nomograph was constructed as follows:
1. The height scale is based on two log cycles per 10 in.
with a range of 1-60 ft.
2. The capacity, barrels scale is based on four log cycles
per 10 in. with a range of 20-150,000 barrels.
3. The diameter scale is based on three log cycles per
10 in. with a range of 4-150 ft.
4. The distance between the height and diameter scales is
exactly two-thirds the distance between the height and
capacity, barrels scale.
5. Determine points to locate the diameter scale from the
following equation:
Capacity, barrels 0.1399 (diameter)2 (height);
units in ft
6. The capacity, gallons scale is based on four log cycles
per 10 in. The initial point on the scale is determined as
follows:
20 barrels  42 gallons per barrel  840 gallons
The range of the scale is 900 to 6 million gal.
7. The capacity, cubic feet scale is based on four log cycles
per 10 in. The initial point on the scale is determined as
follows:
20 barrels  5.6146 cu. ft per barrel
112.292 cu. ft
The range of the scale is 120 to 800,000 cu. ft.
 Tanks 621

Correct the volume of light fuels from actual temperature to a base of 60 F

To approximate quickly the volume of gasoline or other

light liquid fuel at 60 F from a known volume at any tem-
perature in the atmospheric range, use the formula:
Va  V60 0:0006T  60V60
where: Va Volume at actual temperature
V60 Volume corrected to 60 F
Ta Actual temperature of fuel

Example. A tank contains 5,500 gallons of gasoline at

46 F. Correct the volume to a base of 60 F.
(5,500V60) 0.0006(4660)V60 To approximate the shrinkage or expansion, obtain the
(5,500V60) 0.0006(14)V60 difference between the actual volume measured and the
5,500 V600.0084V60 corrected volume. In this case:
5,500 0.9916V60
Volume at 60 F 5,546.6 gallons Shrinkage 5, 546:6  5, 500 46:6 gallons

Volume of liquid in vertical cylindrical tanks

Measure the depth of the liquid and either the diameter or supplant the results of accurate tank strapping, which take
circumference of the tank, then the volume in: many other factors into account.

Gallons 0.0034 d2h or 0.00034 c2h Example. How many gallons will a tank 12 ft in diameter
Barrels 0.000081 d2h or 0.00082 c2h and 16 ft high hold when full?
Gallons 5.88 D2H or 0.595 C2H
Barrels 0.140 D2H or 0.0142 C2H Gallons 5:88 D2 H
5:8814416
where: d Diameter, inches 13, 548 gallons
c Circumference, inches
h Depth, inches Example. How many barrels will a tank 8 ft in diameter
D Diameter, feet and 16 ft high hold when full?
C Circumference, feet
H Depth, feet Barrels 0:140 D2 H
If the circumference is measured on the outside, then three 0:1406416
times the thickness of the tank wall should be subtracted 143 barrels
before using the formula. Naturally, these rules cannot

Chart gives tanks vapor formation rate

When sizing the vapor piping for a manifolded expansion-
roof tank system, the rate of vapor formation must be known.
While the rate of vapor formation can be computed by
longhand methods, the calculation is tedious and takes much
valuable time.
Example. Determine the rate of formation of vapor in a
140,000 barrel capacity tank when it is filled at the rate of
8,000 barrels per hour.
Solution. Enter the chart on the left at a capacity of
140,000 barrels and draw a straight line through the filling
rate of 8,000 barrels per hour on the right. At the intersection
622 Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook

with the central scale read the vapor formation rate as 55,000 This chart is based on the following equation:
cu. ft per hour. The vapor piping for this tank would have to
be designed for this formation rate if the maximum filling tank capacity, bb1 filling rate, bb1 per hr
rate anticipated were 8,000 barrels per hour. But if a great V
14:3 0:178
filling rate were expected, the vapor formed would have to
be computed for the higher rate. The chart could, of course,
also be used for this computation. where V vapor formed, cubic feet per hour

Hand-held calculator program simplifies dike computations

Calculating height of earthen dikes around above-ground storage can be done easily with a program for a
portable calculator
environment and to reduce the likelihood of fire spreading
Frank E. Hangs, Sovereign Engineering Co., Houston
from one tank to another.
Sizing dikes by conventional methods is a time-consuming,
Earthen dikes are widely used all over the world to contain
flammable volumes of above-ground storage. They perform trial-and-error process. A complete assessment of the
two vital functions: to prevent loss of fluid into the problem involves: applicable codes and regulations; land
 Tanks 623

Figure 1. Cross section of a typical dike.

area available; topography of the area; soil characteristics;

and the stipulated volume contained by dike and other
dimensions of the dike section.
The following program for the HP-41CV hand-held
calculator enables one to enter required data at a prompt
and to calculate the height of the dike to retain the
required volume of fluid, cross section of dike, width of
the base, and the cubic yards of earth required, quickly.
When a printer is available, a record of the input and
output (results) is made. Without a printer, the input and
output items (all identified) can be displayed one at a time
and advanced at will.
Many what if questions can be answered readily, and
different configurations compared as desirable. This is
explained in detail in text and examples.
The Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, as
promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association,
NFPA No. 30, is used as a basis for this program. Important
stipulations are:

Volume contained in dike area shall not be less than the

full tank. (We have taken one tank per dike.)

For crude petroleum with boilover characteristics,
stored in fixed roof tanks, the contained volume above
shall be calculated by deducting the volume of the tank
below the height of the dike.

Earthen dikes 3 ft or more in height shall have a flat
section at the top not less than 2 ft wide.

The slope of the earth wall shall be consistent with the
natural angle of repose of the material of construction.

The walls of the diked area shall be restricted to an
average height of 6 ft above interior grade.

Dikes are constructed in circular, square, or rectangular

configurations. For the purposes of this program, the
volumes contained in the dikes are calculated as invented
frustums of a cone or pyramid. The dike volume Figure 2. Examples of the dike computation program for the
(converted to barrels) is compared to the total volume HP-41CV hand-held calculator.
624 Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook
 Tanks 625

Example 3.

(volume of tank or volume of tank plus boilover, volume the program loops, increment DH for the next
if applicable). The calculations begin with given dike calculation. When the two volumes converge, calculations
centerline, dike width at top, repose angle of soil, and trial stop and input data and results are displayed or printed.
DH. As long as the dike volume is less than the total The DH value, when the volumes converge, is the solution.
626 Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook

In some cases, it will be required to ascertain dike diam- This program is based on the site being essentially level.
eter or sides for a fixed dike height (DH). This is
accomplished by storing DH Value in 07, setting Flag O1
(for single calculation). Press A, B, or C key in Source
trial centerline distances. The results of any calculation give
one an opportunity to compare total barrels with dike Pipe Line Industry, August 1986.
volume. Then alter centerline distances to fit trend and
continue. See Example 3.