Equipment Name

Equipment Code
Function
Number of Unit
Material
Type
Storage Time
Temperature
Design Pressure
Bulk Density
Capacity
Diameter
Height
Wall Thickness
Head Thickness

Equipment Specification
LPG Storage Tank
V-110
To store LP product
1
Steel
Cylinder
daily
Operation Data
9 oC
4 atm
571.3 kg/m3
Dimension
1,100 m3
8.9 m
19.3 m
21 mm
68 mm

LPG Storage Tank (V-110)

This storage tank is used for stocking the LPG product. Before we know
the storage tank specifications we have to know some data which are:

Overall density of our LPG = 571.3 kg/m3

The process will be done continuously

The amount of raw materials is 47.51 tons/day = 47,510 kg/day = 23,610 kg/h
The storage tank for LPG product use cylindrical tanks because cylinder
tank is easier to fabricate and has strong structural shape. The upper end of this
cylindrical tank has ellipsoidal shape, while the bottom end of this cylindrical tank
has flat shape. The material used for the storage tank is stainless steel. Carbon
steel is avoided because it cant withstand acidity and corrosion.
Tank Volume
The first step for sizing the equipment is calculating the tank volume. The
calculation will be done based on the input specified in storage tank. For one day,
the olefin that will produced is 47,510 kg. If the storage tank can hold sulfuric
acid for 1 day, then the mass of sulfuric acid that is stored in the storage tank is
47,510 kg. By knowing the mass flow rate of sulfuric acid, we can calculate the
volumetric flow rate for storage tank.

V=

m 566,600 kg
=
=991.7 m3

kg
571.3 3
m

By considering the safety factor of storage tank which is 10% of the total
volume, it means that the storage tank capacity (working volume) cannot exceed
90% of the total volume. Therefore, the total volume is:
V=

991.7 m3
=1,101.9 m3
0,9

Diameter and Height of the Tank

To calculate the height and diameter of cylindrical tank, we can use
cylinder volume formula, which is:
1
V cylinder = D2 x H s
4
Based on the rule of thumb of cylindrical storage tank, the ratio of height
and diameter of the tank is 2:1, therefore H cylinder = 2D, and the cylinder volume
formula can be modified into:
1
V cylinder = 2 D 3
4
The tank total volume is the sum of cylinder volume and ellipsoidal head
volume. The volume of ellipsoidal head is:
1
V h ellipsoidal = D2 x H h
4

According to Walas (1990), the ratio between head height and diameter is
1:6, therefore Hh = 1/6 D, and the ellipsoidal head volume formula can be
modified into:
1
1
1
V h ellipsoidal = D2 x D= D3
4
6
24
Therefore, the total tank volume is;
1
1
13
V =V cylinder +V h= 2 D 3 + D3= D3
4
24
24
By arranging above equation, the tank diameter can be obtained:

24 V t 3 24(1,101.9 m3)
D=
=
=8.8 m 350
13
13
3

Based on the previous rule of thumb, the tank height can be obtained from
diameter, and it is calculated below:
H cylinder =2 x 8.8 m=17.6 m
1
H h= x 8.8 m=1.46 m
6
H T =17.6 m+1 .46 m=19.06 m=750.4
Design Pressure
Design pressure is needed to decide what type of tank that is going to be
used. Design pressure is affected by height of fluid, density of fluid and gravity, as
mentioned in the equation below:
Height of fluid =

volume of liquid
991.7 m
x height of tank =
x 19.06 m=17.15 m
tank volume
1,101.9 m

The pressure of the tank is:

Ph= . g . H fluid
Ph=571.3

kg
x 9.81 x 17.15 m=96,116.4 Pa=0. 96 atm
3
m

The design pressure is calculated by considering the safety factor of 15%.

Pdesign=1.15 x (1+ 0.96 atm )=1.104 atm=16.2 psi

Total Pressure
Total pressure is needed to decide what type of tank that is going to be
used. Total pressure is the sum of design pressure with operating condition
pressure.
Poperation =3 atm
PTotal =POperation + P Design
PTotal =3 atm+1.104 atm=4.104 atm=60.3 Psi

Thickness of Wall and Head

Wall and head thickness of storage tank is influenced by several factors,
such as corrosion factor, maximum allowable stress, joint efficiency and
equipment age. These data are varies based on the material used, for example the
corrosion factor of stainless steel is smaller than carbon steel, because stainless
steel can withstand corrosion more than carbon steel. Tank wall thickness can be
calculated by using this equation:
t w=

PxR
+(C)
SE0.6 P

While storage tank head thickness is calculated by the following equation:

t h=

P x Di x K
+(C)
2 SE0.2 P

Where:
t = Material thickness
P= Pressure gauge
R

= Shell radius

Di

= Shell inner diameter

= ellipsoidal formula factor =

[ ( )]

1
D
2+
6
2h

S= Maximum allowable stress

E= Joint efficiency
C

= Corrosion factor

Material

= SA-167 Grade 3 Type 304

Corrosion factor (C)

= 0.125 in/year

Allowable working stress (S) = 18,750 lb/in2

Connection efficiency (E)

= 0.8

Therefore, the storage tank wall thickness is:

60.3 psi350/2

+ 0.125 =0. 82 21 mm
lb
year
(18,750 2 0.8)(0.660.3 psi)

t w =

While the storage tank head thickness is:

2+

2 x 750.4
350

( 2 ]

(218,750 lb 0.8)( 0. 260.3 psi )

2

1
60.3 psi350
6
t h =

2.7 68 mm

0.125

year

( )