Calculating Tank Wetted Area

Saving time, increasing accuracy

By Dan Jones, Ph.D., P.E.

C
alculating wetted area in a partially-filled horizontal or vertical cylindrical or elliptical tank can be
complicated, depending on fluid height and the shape of the heads (ends) of a horizontal tank or the
head (bottom) of a vertical tank. Exact equations are now available for several commonly-
encountered tank shapes. These equations can be used to make rapid and accurate wetted-area
calculations. All equations are rigorous.

All area equations give wetted areas in square units from tank dimensions in consistent linear units. All
variables defining tank shapes required for tank wetted-area calculations are defined in the “Variables and
Definitions” sidebar. Graphically, Figs. 1 and 2 show horizontal cylindrical tank parameters, Figs. 3 and 4
show vertical cylindrical tank parameters, and Fig. 5 shows some horizontal elliptical tank parameters .

Elliptical horizontal tanks with hemiellipsoidal heads and vertical tanks with hemiellipsoidal bottoms are the
only types of elliptical tanks considered.

Horizontal Cylindrical Tanks

Wetted area as a function of fluid height can be calculated for a horizontal cylindrical tank with either
conical, hemispheroidal, guppy, spherical, or torispherical heads where the fluid height, h, is measured
from the tank bottom to the fluid surface, see Figs. 1 and 2. A guppy head is a conical head of a horizontal
tank where the apex of the conical head is level with the top of the cylindrical section of the tank as shown
in Fig. 1. A torispherical head is an ASME-type (dished) head defined by a knuckle-radius parameter, k,
and a dish-radius parameter, f, as shown in Fig. 2.

A spheroidal head must be a hemispheroid; only a hemispheroid is valid – no “segment” of an spheroid will
work as it will in the case of a spherical head where the head may be a spherical segment. For a spherical
head, |a| £ R, where R is the radius of the cylindrical tank body. Where concave conical, hemispheroidal,
guppy, spherical, or torispherical heads are considered, then |a| £ L/2.

Both heads of a horizontal cylindrical tank must be identical for the equations to work; i.e., if one head is
conical, the other must be conical with the same dimensions. However, the equations can be combined to
deal with wetted-area calculations of horizontal tanks with heads of different shapes. For instance, if a
horizontal cylindrical tank has a conical head on one end and a spherical head on the other end, calculate
fluid wetted areas of two tanks, one with conical heads and the other with spherical heads, and average the
results to get the desired wetted area. The heads of a horizontal tank may be flat (a = 0), convex (a > 0), or
concave (a < 0). Wetted head areas are the same for convex or concave heads with the same dimensions,
so the same formulas can be used for either convex or concave heads.

The following variables must be within the ranges stated:

• |a| £ R for spherical heads

• |a| £ L/2 for concave ends
• 0 £ h £ 2R for all tanks
• f > 0.5 for torispherical heads
• 0 < k < 0.5 for torispherical heads
• D>0
• L³0

Page 1 of 17
Variables and Definitions Sidebar (See Figs. 1-5)

a is the distance a horizontal tank's heads extend beyond (a > 0) or into (a < 0) its cylindrical or elliptical
body section or the depth the bottom extends below the cylindrical or elliptical body section of a vertical
tank. For a horizontal tank with flat heads or a vertical tank with a flat bottom a = 0.

b is the horizontal semiaxis of the elliptical cross section of a horizontal elliptical tank or the major
semiaxis of the elliptical cross section of a vertical elliptical tank.

c is the vertical semiaxis of the elliptical cross section of a horizontal elliptical tank or the minor semiaxis
of the elliptical cross section of a vertical elliptical tank.

C is the wetted cross-sectional length of the fluid in a horizontal tank's cylindrical section.

D is the diameter of the cylindrical section of a horizontal or vertical tank.

f is the dish-radius parameter for tanks with torispherical (dished) heads (ends or bottoms); fD is the dish
radius.

h is the height of fluid in a tank measured from the lowest part of the tank to the fluid surface.

k is the knuckle-radius parameter for tanks with torispherical heads (ends or bottoms); kD is the knuckle
radius.

L is the length of the cylindrical section of a horizontal tank.

r is the radius of a spherical head of a horizontal tank or a spherical bottom of a vertical tank.

R is the radius of the cylindrical section of a horizontal or vertical tank.

S is the wetted area, of fluid depth h, in a horizontal or vertical cylindrical tank.

Page 2 of 17
Horizontal Cylindrical Tank Equations

Here are the specific equations for wetted surface areas of horizontal cylindrical tanks with conical,
hemispheroidal, guppy, spherical, and torispherical heads (use radian angular measure for all trigonometric
functions, and D/2 = R > 0 for all equations):

Conical heads.

2 a2 + R2 æ 2 -1 R - h ö ìïall a
S = CL + ç R cos - (R - h) 2Rh - h2 ÷ …………………..…………… í
R è R ø ïî0 £ h £ D

Hemispheroidal heads.

R2 - x 2
(R ) ( )
R

ò ò
4 2
- a2 x 2 + R2 - a2 y 2 - R4 ìïall a
S = CL + dydx ………………………. í
R x 2 + y 2 - R2 ïî0 £ h £ D
R -h 0

special cases of hemispheroidal heads:

R-h ìa = 0
S = CL + 2R 2 cos -1 - 2(R - h) 2Rh - h2 …………………………………………. í
R î0 £ h £ D

pa 2R R + R2 - a2 ì0 < a < R
S = pRL + pR 2 + ln ……………………….....…… í
2 R2 - a2 R - R2 - a2 îh = R

ìa = R
S = pR(L + D) …………………………………………………………………..……. í
îh = R

pa 2 R R ìa >R
S = pRL + pR 2 + cos -1 …………………………………..………..… í
a2 - R2 a îh =R

pa 2 R R + R2 - a2 ì0 < a < R
S = 2pRL + 2pR 2 + ln ……………………………..……. í
R -a2 2
R- R -a 2 2
îh =D

ìa =R
S = 2pR (L + D) ……………………………………………………………..…..…… í
îh=D

2pa 2 R R ìa >R
S = 2pRL + 2pR 2 + cos -1 …………………………………..… ……. í
a2 - R2 a îh=D

Page 3 of 17
Guppy heads.

h -R R2 - x 2 2
æ a æ æ y ö 2 ö ö æ ay ö 2
ò ò
ìïall a
S = CL + 4 1+ ç ç1 - ç ÷ ÷÷ + ç ÷ dydx ……………….. í
ç 2R ç è R - x ø ÷ ÷ çè R(R - x ) ÷ø ïî0 £ h £ D
è è øø
-R 0

Spherical heads.

R
ìï0 < a £ R
ò
æ a2 + R2 ö 2 a R2 - x 2
S = CL + 2ç ÷ sin -1
dx ………………….…….….. í
ç ÷
è a ø
R -h
(a 2
+ R2 )
2
- (2ax )
2 ïî0 £ h £ D

special cases for spherical heads:

R-h ìa = 0
S = CL + 2R 2 cos -1 - 2(R - h) 2Rh - h2 …………………………………...……. í
R î0 £ h £ D

S = CL + 2pRh …………………………….………………………….…………...…………. |a|=R

(
S = CL + p a2 + R2 ) ……………………………………………………………………….…. h=R

S = CL + 2p a2 + R2( ) …………………………………………………………..……. h=D

Page 4 of 17
Torispherical heads.

ì 2kDh - h 2 G

ò ò
ï
ïCL + 4 f (s, t ) dydx .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ... h £ kD(1 - sin a )
ï
ï 0 0

ï a2 G fD sin a
ïï
òò ò
fD cos a
S = íCL + 4 f (s, t ) dydx + 4fD cos -1 dx .......... .......... ...... kD(1 - sin a ) < h £ R
ï f 2D 2 - x 2
ï 0 0 R -h
ï
ï
ï æ a ö
ïp DL + 4pf Da1 + 4p kDç a 2 + (R - kD)sin-1 2 ÷ - Sh =D -h .......... .......... ... R < h £ D
ïî è kD ø

special cases for torispherical heads:

pDL æ a ö
S= + 2pf Da1 + 2p kDç a 2 + (R - kD) sin -1 2 ÷ ………………….…. h=R
2 è kD ø

æ a ö
S = p DL + 4pf Da1 + 4p kDç a 2 + (R - kD) sin -1 2 ÷ …………………….. h=D
è kD ø

where in all above equations:

( s + t 2 - x 2 ) 2 x 2 + ( t 2 - x 2 )y 2
f (s, t ) º 1 +
( t 2 - x 2 )(s 2 + t 2 - x 2 - y 2 + 2s t 2 - x 2 )

G º s2 + t 2 - x 2 + 2s t 2 - x 2 - (R - h)2
1 - 2k
s º R - kD t º kD a = sin-1
2( f - k )
a1 = fD(1 - cos a ) a2 = kD cos a a = a1 + a 2

f = dish factor fD = dish radius

k = knuckle factor kD = knuckle radius

In all horizontal tank equations above, S is the wetted area of fluid in the tank in square units consistent
with the linear units of tank dimension parameters, and C is the cross-sectional wetted length of fluid on the
cylindrical body of the tank in linear units consistent with the linear units used for R and h. The equation for
C is given by:

æR -hö
C = D cos -1 ç ÷ .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ......... 0£h£D
è R ø
Page 5 of 17
Figure 1. Parameters for Horizontal Cylindrical Tanks with Conical, Hemispheroidal,
Guppy, or Spherical Heads.

Cylindrical Tube
Spherical head Hemispheroidal head

r(sphere) D

Guppy R h
head
Conical head
a(sphere) a(hemispheroid)
a L
(cone; guppy)

C Wetted cross-sectional length

CROSS SECTION OF
CYLINDRICAL TUBE

1. Both heads of a tank must be identical. Above diagram is for definition of parameters only.
2. Cylindrical tube of diameter D (D > 0), radius R (R > 0), and length L (L ³ 0).
3. For spherical head of radius r, r ³ R and |a| £ R.
4. For convex head other than spherical, 0 < a < ¥, for concave head a < 0.
5. L ³ 0 for a ³ 0, L ³ 2|a| for a < 0.
6. Spheroidal head must be a hemispheroid.
7. 0 £ h £ D.

Page 6 of 17
Figure 2. Parameters for Horizontal Cylindrical Tanks with Torispherical Heads.

kD

R D

a1 a2

fD h

L
kd(1-sin α)

Horizontal Cylindrical Tank Examples

The following examples can be used to verify correct application of all equations. For all horizontal tank
examples the tank diameter is 72” and the cylindrical tank body is 120” long. In all cases find the wetted
2
surface, S, in ft ,given the stated head type and dimensions and the fluid height, h, in the tank:
2
Conical head: a = 48”, h = 24” S = 101.35826 ft
2
a = 48”, h = 36” S = 141.37167 ft
2
a = 48”, h = 48” S = 181.38508 ft
2
Hemispheroidal head: a = 24”, h = 24” S = 102.59905 ft
2
a = 24”, h = 36” S = 138.74815 ft
2
a = 24”, h = 48” S = 174.89725 ft
2
a = 36”, h = 24” S = 111.55668 ft
2
a = 36”, h = 36” S = 150.79645 ft
2
a = 36”, h = 48” S = 190.03622 ft
2
a = 48”, h = 24” S = 121.09692 ft
2
a = 48”, h = 36” S = 163.71486 ft
2
a = 48”, h = 48” S = 206.33279 ft

Page 7 of 17
 2
Guppy head: a = 48”, h = 24” S = 94.24500 ft
2
a = 48”, h = 36” S = 129.98330 ft
2
a = 48”, h = 48” S = 167.06207 ft
2
Spherical head: a = 24”, h = 24” S = 99.49977 ft
2
a = 24”, h = 36” S = 135.08848 ft
2
a = 24”, h = 48” S = 170.67720 ft
2
a = 36”, h = 24” S = 111.55668 ft
2
a = 36”, h = 36” S = 150.79645 ft
2
a = 36”, h = 48” S = 190.03622 ft
2
Torispherical head: f = 1, k = 0.06, h = 2.28” S = 22.74924 ft
2
f = 1, k = 0.06, h = 24” S = 94.29092 ft
2
f = 1, k = 0.06, h = 36” S = 127.74876 ft
2
f = 1, k = 0.06, h = 48” S = 161.20660 ft
2
f = 1, k = 0.06, h = 69.72” S = 232.74828 ft
For this torispherical head, a = 12.19231”. When h = 2.28”, the head wetted area
is only in the toroidal section of each head, i.e., h ≤ kD(1-sin α).
2
f = 0.9, k = 0.1, h = 3” S = 26.82339 ft
2
f = 0.9, k = 0.1, h = 24” S = 96.18257 ft
2
f = 0.9, k = 0.1, h = 36” S = 130.22802 ft
2
f = 0.9, k = 0.1, h = 48” S = 164.27347 ft
2
f = 0.9, k = 0.1, h = 69” S = 233.63265 ft
For this torispherical head, a = 14.91694”. When h = 3”, the head wetted area is
only in the toroidal section of each head, i.e., h ≤ kD(1-sin α).

Page 8 of 17
Vertical Cylindrical Tanks

Wetted surface area in a vertical cylindrical tank with either a conical, hemispheroidal, spherical, or
torispherical bottom can be calculated, where the fluid height, h, is measured from the center of the
bottom of the tank to the surface of the fluid in the tank. See Figs. 3 and 4 for tank configurations and
dimension parameters, which are also defined in the “Variables and Definitions” sidebar.

A torispherical bottom is an ASME-type bottom defined by a knuckle-radius factor and a dish-radius factor
as shown graphically in Fig. 4. The knuckle radius will then be kD and the dish radius will be fD. A
spheroidal bottom must be a hemispheroid.

To find the wetted area of a concave bottom vertical tank, the equations for a convex bottom vertical tank
can be used with the following formula:

ìpDh + total bottom area - bottom area for h = a - h .......... .......... ....... h < a
ïï
S (concave ) = í
ï
ïîpDh + total bottom area .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ......... h ³ a

The following parameter ranges must be observed:

• a ³ 0 for all vertical tanks, a £ R for a spherical bottom

• f > 0.5 for a torispherical bottom
• 0 < k < 0.5 for a torispherical bottom
• D>0

Vertical Cylindrical Tank Equations

Here are the specific equations for wetted surface areas in vertical cylindrical tanks with conical,
spheroidal, spherical, and torispherical bottoms. Use radian angular measure for all trigonometric
functions; a ≥ 0 and D > 0 for all equations:

Conical bottom.

ì p Rh 2 a 2 + R 2
ïï .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ........ h £ a
S=í a2
ï
ïîp R a 2 + R 2 + pD(h - a) .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..... h > a

Page 9 of 17
Hemispheroidal bottom.

ìïa = 0
S = pR 2 + 2pRh …..………………………...……………………………………………………......... í
ïîh > 0

p(a - h)R a 4 - (a - h) 2 (a 2 - R 2 )
S = pR 2 -
a2

ç cos -1 R - sin -1 (a - h) a - R
pa 2R æ 2 2 ö ìa > R
+ ÷ .......... .......... í
a 2 - R 2 çè a a2 ÷
ø îh < a

ìa = R
S = 2pRh ……………………………………...…………………………………………………........... í
îh £ a

p (a - h) R a 4 + (a - h) 2 (R 2 - a 2 )
S = pR2 -
a2

aæç R 2 - a 2 + R ö÷
p a 2R è ø ïì0 < a < R
+ ln ..... í
R2 - a2 (a - h) R 2 - a 2 + a 4 + (a - h) R 2 - a 2
2
( ) ïîh < a

p a 2R R ìa > R
S = pR2 + cos -1 + 2p R(h - a) .............................................................................. í
a2 - R2 a îh ³ a

ìa = R
S = 2p R 2 + 2p R(h - a) ………………………...…………..………………………….……………… í
îh > a

p a 2R R + R2 - a2 ìï0 < a < R

S = pR2 + ln + 2p R (h - a) .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .. í
2 R2 - a2 R - R2 - a2 ïîh ³ a

Page 10 of 17
Spherical bottom.

ì æ a2 + R2 ö
ïïphçç ÷ .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........
÷ h£a
S=í è a ø
ï 2
( )
ïîp a + R 2 + pD(h - a ) .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ....... h>a

Torispherical bottom.

S = 2pfDh .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .. h £ a1

æ æ a a - h öö
S = 2pf Da1 + 2pkDçç h - a1 + (R - kD)ç sin -1 2 - sin -1 ÷ ÷ .......... .......... ..... a1 < h £ a
è è kD kD ø ÷ø

æ a ö
S = 2pf Da1 + 2pkDç a 2 + (R - kD) sin -1 2 ÷ + 2pR(h - a) .......... .......... .......... ... h ³ a
è kD ø

1 - 2k
a = sin -1 a1 = f D (1 - cos a ) a 2 = k D cos a
2 (f - k )

f = dish factor fD = dish radius a = a1 + a 2

k = knuckle factor kD = knuckle radius

Page 11 of 17
Figure 3. Parameters for Vertical Cylindrical Tanks with Conical, Hemispheroidal, or
Spherical Bottoms.

spherical bottom
hemispheroidal bottom
Conical bottom

Figure 4. Parameters for Vertical Cylindrical Tanks with Torispherical Bottoms.

fD

h kD

a2

a1

Page 12 of 17
Vertical Cylindrical Tank Examples

The following examples can be used to verify correct application of all equations. For all examples, the
tank diameter is 72” and the bottoms are convex or concave, as noted. In all cases find the wetted surface,
2
S, in ft , given the stated head type and dimensions and the fluid height, h, in the tank:
2 2
Convex Bottom (ft ) Concave Bottom (ft )

Conical head: a = 36”, h = 36” S= 39.98595 S = 96.53461

a = 48”, h = 24” S= 11.78097 S = 73.04203
a = 48”, h = 36” S= 26.50719 S = 100.72731
a = 48”, h = 48” S= 47.12389 S = 122.52211
a = 48”, h = 60” S= 65.97345 S = 141.37167
a = 48”, h = 72” S= 84.82300 S = 160.22123

Hemispheroidal head: a = 24”, h = 12” S = 24.71061 S = 38.63931

a = 24”, h = 24” S = 44.50037 S = 82.19948
a = 24”, h = 48” S = 82.19948 S = 119.89859
a = 36”, h = 18” S = 28.27433 S = 56.54867
a = 36”, h = 36” S = 56.54867 S = 113.09734
a = 36”, h = 60” S = 94.24778 S = 150.79645
a = 48”, h = 24” S = 32.46693 S = 74.69926
a = 48”, h = 48” S = 69.46708 S = 144.86530
a = 48”, h = 72” S = 107.16619 S = 182.56441

Spherical head: a = 24”, h = 12” S= 20.42035 S = 39.26991

a = 24”, h = 24” S= 40.84070 S = 78.53982
a = 24”, h = 48” S= 78.53982 S = 116.23893
a = 36”, h = 18” S= 28.27433 S = 56.54867
a = 36”, h = 36” S= 56.54867 S = 113.09734
a = 36”, h = 60” S= 94.24778 S = 150.79645

Torispherical head: f = 1, k = 0.06, h = 2” S = 6.28319 S = 6.39290

f = 1, k = 0.06, h = 6” S = 18.84956 S = 23.47205
f = 1, k = 0.06, h = 12” S = 33.19882 S = 51.74638
f = 1, k = 0.06, h = 12.19231” S = 33.50098 S = 52.65262
f = 1, k = 0.06, h = 36.19231” S = 71.20010 S = 90.35173
For this torispherical head, a = 12.19231”, and when h = 2”, the head wetted area
is only in the spherical part of the convex head and only in the torioidal part of the
concave head.

f = 0.9, k = 0.1, h = 6” S = 16.96460 S = 20.22281

f = 0.9, k = 0.1, h = 8” S = 22.61947 S = 28.98943
f = 0.9, k = 0.1, h = 12” S = 31.28983 S = 46.58235
f = 0.9, k = 0.1, h = 14.91694” S = 35.98024 S = 59.41171
f = 0.9, k = 0.1, h = 38.91694” S = 73.67936 S = 97.11083
For this torispherical head, a = 14.91694”, and when h = 6”, the head wetted area
is only in the spherical part of the convex head and only in the toroidal part of the
concave head.

Page 13 of 17
Horizontal Elliptical Tanks with Hemiellipsoidal Heads

A horizontal elliptical tank is a tank with a horizontal body which has an elliptical cross-section. The only
case considered is one with hemiellipsoidal heads (which includes flat heads if a=0). Figure 5 shows the
only configurations considered for horizontal elliptical tanks – the elliptical axes are parallel or
perpendicular to level ground. The horizontal axis has length 2b and the vertical axis has length 2c. For a
concave head |a| ≤ L/2. The wetted surface areas of convex and concave horizontal elliptical tanks are
identical, other parameters being the same.

Figure 5. Parameters for Horizontal Elliptical Tanks.

2c

2b
2c

2b

Page 14 of 17
Horizontal Elliptical Tank Equations

The wetted surface area of a horizontal elliptical tank with hemiellipsoidal heads with b > 0 and c > 0 is
given by:

S = SB1 + SH .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... h£c
S = SB 2 + SH .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... c < h £ 2c

where:
b
2 ch - h 2
c

ò
c2x 2
SB1 º 2L 1+ dx .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .... h £ c
b4 - b2 x 2
0

ò
c2x 2
SB 2 º 4L 1+ dx - SB1 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ......... c < h £ 2c
b4 - b2 x 2
0

c - h 2b(c - h) a=0
SH º 2bc cos -1 - 2ch - h2 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .
c c 0 £ h £ 2c
b
c2 -y 2
c c

ò ò
a 2c 2 x 2 a 2b 2 y 2 a³0
SH º 4 1+ +
(
b 2 b 2c 2 - c 2 x 2 - b 2 y 2 ) (
c 2 b 2c 2 - c 2 x 2 - b 2 y 2 ) dxdy .........
0 £ h £ 2c
c -h 0

Horizontal Elliptical Tank Examples

The following examples will verify correct application of the equations for wetted surface areas, S, of
horizontal elliptical tanks with hemiellipsoidal heads. All tank dimensions are in inches, the wetted surface
2
areas are in ft , and the elliptical body length for each example is 120 inches.
2 2
a″ b″ c″ h″ S ft S ft (flat head)

12 36 24 12 68.62583 64.66981
24 103.76827 98.17675
36 138.91071 131.68370

12 24 36 12 43.85382 41.69564
36 103.76827 98.17675
60 163.68272 154.65787

42 36 24 12 85.63406 64.66981
24 129.40913 98.17675
36 173.18419 131.68370

42 24 36 12 53.20415 41.69564
36 129.40913 98.17675
60 205.61411 154.65787

Page 15 of 17
Vertical Elliptical Tanks with Hemiellipsoidal Bottoms

A vertical elliptical tank is a tank with a vertical body which has an elliptical cross-section. The only case
considered is one with a hemiellipsoidal bottom (which includes a flat bottom if a=0). If the major semiaxis
of the elliptical cross-section is ′b′, then the minor semiaxis is ′c′ and vice versa. Only convex bottoms can
be calculated with the equations, concave bottoms can be handled using the same technique described in
the section on vertical cylindrical tanks. For all vertical tanks a ≥ 0.

Vertical Elliptical Tank Equations

The wetted surface area of a vertical elliptical tank with a hemiellipsoidal bottom is given by:

ì
ï
ïS .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... a,b, c > 0
ï 1 0£h£a
ï
ï b

ò
ï c2x 2 a,b, c > 0
S = íS 2 + 4(h - a ) 1 + 4 dx .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .....
ï b - b2 x 2 h>a
ï 0

ï b

ò
ï c2x 2 a=0
ïpbc + 4h 1 + 4 dx .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .
ï b - b2 x 2 b, c,h > 0
î 0

where:

c b
2ah - h 2 2ac 2 h - c 2 h 2 - a 2 y 2
a ac

ò ò
a 2c 2 x 2 a 2b 2 y 2
S1 º 4 1+ +
( ) (
b 2 b 2c 2 - c 2 x 2 - b 2 y 2 c 2 b 2c 2 - c 2 x 2 - b 2 y 2 ) dxdy
0 0

b 2
c -y 2
c c

ò ò
a 2c 2 x 2 a 2b 2 y 2
S2 º 4 1+ +
( ) (
b 2 b 2c 2 - c 2 x 2 - b 2 y 2 c 2 b 2c 2 - c 2 x 2 - b 2 y 2 ) dxdy
0 0

Vertical Elliptical Tank Examples

The following examples of vertical elliptical tanks with hemiellipsoidal bottoms will serve to verify correct
2
application of the equations. Linear dimensions in inches, areas in ft :
2 2 2
a″ b″ c″ h″ S ft S ft (flat bottom) S ft (concave bottom)

18 30 24 12 17.68779 29.88880 29.52672

18 24.93188 36.97921 46.20313
60 74.56480 86.61213 95.83605

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Dan Jones is a retired senior process chemist from Stockhausen Louisiana, LLC, Garyville, LA. Contact
him at Dr2Jones@bellsouth.net or (225)276-5465.

DEJ 4/11/17 File: TANKAREA2.DOC

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