API 650 & 653 EXAMINATION PREPARATION-SAMPLE FORMULAS
COPYRIGHT 1998, J. W. COLEY & CODEWEST-ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-DO NOT COPY WITHOUT PERMISSION
API 653 Formula
Minimum Thickness
2.6DHG
t min =
SE
D=Diameter of tank in feet.
H, Ht=Height, feet, from the bottom of
“L” for the most corroded area in
each shell course to maximum
liguid level.
G= Highest specific gravity of the
contents
tmin =Minimum shell thickness. Shall
not be less than 0.1 inch.
S=Smaller of 0.80Y or 0.429T (for 1st
& 2nd courses), psi.
S=Smaller of 0.88Y or 0.472T (for all
other courses) in psi.
St=Maximum hydro-test stress: use
smaller of 0.88Y or 0.472T for 1st
& 2nd courses; smaller of 0.9Y or
0.519T for all other courses.
T=Smaller of the specified minimum
tensile strength of the plate or
80000 psi.Use 55000 psi if tensile
strength is not known.
Y=Specified minimum yield strength
of the plate. Use 30000 psi if the
yield strength is not known.
E=Original joint efficiency for the
tank. See Table 2-1 of API 653 if
original E is unknown.
E=1.0 when evaluating the retirement
thickness in a corroded plate, when
away from welds or joints by at
least the greater of 1 inch or twice
the plate thickness.
Corrosion must be considered accounting
for the anticipated service life. Thickness
for corrosion must be added to the
minimum to obtain a safe operational life. If
no corrosion exits, tmin is sufficient.
For an existing tank that is hydro-tested
Hydrotest
St E tmin
Ht =
2.6D
COPYRIGHT 1998, J. W. COLEY & CODEWEST-ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-DO NOT COPY WITHOUT PERMISSION
API 650 Formula
Design Thicknesss
2.6D ( H − 1)G
td = + CA
Sd
D=Diameter of tank in feet.
H=Design liquid level, feet. Height
from bottom of shell course being
designed to the top of the shell,
including the top angle. Also, height
from bottom of any overflow that
limits the tank filling height. Can
also be height-- specified by
purchaser;
restricted by any other specified level;
or
controlled to allow for seismic wave
action.
G=Specific Gravity of product stored
in tank, as specified by purchaser.
td=Design shell thickness in inches.
Sd=Allowable stress for the design
condition , psi. See API 650,
Table 3-2
CA= Corrosion Allowance, inches.
Specified by purchaser.
Hydrotest
2.6D ( H − 1)
tt =
St
tt = Hydrostatic test shell thickness in
inches.
St = Allowable stress for the
hydrostatic test condition, psi. See
API 650, Table 3-2
4
API 653 Reconstructed Tank
Design Thickness
2.6D ( H − 1)G
t min = + CA
Sd
D=Diameter of tank in feet.
H= Height, feet, from the bottom of
“L” for the most corroded area in
each shell course to maximum
liguid level.
G=Specific Gravity of product stored
in tank, as specified by owner/user.
S=Allowable stress in psi, determined
using Table 3-2 of API 650. For
material not listed in Table 3-2 of
API 650, anallowable stress value
of the lesser of 2/3 yield strength or
3/8 tensile strength shall be used.
(If material is not known, test to
determine T and Y.
E =for existing welded joints that are
not removed shall be based on the
original design of the tank.
E =for joints made during
reconstruction shall be consistent
with the design method used, i.e., if
current API 650 is used, E=1
Hydrotest
2.6D(H-1)
tmin = -----------------
StE
St= Allowable stress in psi for
hydrotest, determined using Table
3-2 of API 650. For material not
listed in Table 3- 2 of API 650, an
allowable stress value of the lesser
of 3/4 yield strength or 2/5 tensile
strength shall be used.