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VOLUME AND WETTED AREA OF PARTIALLY FILLED VERTICAL VESSELS
SUMMARY
The calculation of the wetted area and volume of a vertical vessel is

required for engineering tasks such fire studies and the determination
of level alarms and control set points. However the calculation of these

parameters is complicated by the geometry of the vessel, particularly

the heads. This article details formulae for calculating the wetted area
and volume of these vessels for various types of curved ends including:
hemispherical, torispherical, semi-ellipsoidal and bumped ends.

1. DEFINITIONS
A

: Wetted Area

Di : Inside Diameter of Vessel

Do : Outside Diameter of Vessel
h

: Liquid level above vessel bottom

: Length of vessel, tan-line to tan-line

Lf : Straight Flange
R

: Inside Vessel Radius

Rc : Inside crown radius

Rk : Inside knuckle radius
t

: Vessel Wall Thickness

Vp : Partially Filled Liquid Volume

Vt : Total Volume of head or vessel
z

: Inside Dish Depth

: Eccentricity of elliptical heads

2. INTRODUCTION
The calculation of the liquid volume or wetted area of a partially filled

vertical vessel is best performed in parts, by calculating the value for

the cylindrical section of the vessel and the heads of the vessel and
then adding the areas or volumes together. Below we present the

wetted area and partially filled volume for each type of head and the
cylindrical section.

The partially filled volume is primarily used for the calculation of tank
filling times and the setting of control set points, alarm levels and
system trip points.

The wetted area is the area of contact between the liquid and the wall

of the tank. This is primary used in fire studies of process and storage

vessels to determine the emergency venting capacity required to

protect the vessel. Unlike horizontal vessels, it is not often required to

know the surface area of a partially filled vertical vessel's head and in
this article we present formulae for completely filled heads only.

The volume and wetted area of partially filled horizontal vessels is

covered separately.

3. HEMISPHERICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

Hemispherical heads have a depth which is half their diameter. They
have the highest design pressures out of all the head types and as such
are typically the most expensive head type. The formula for calculating
the wetted area and volume are presented as follows.

3.1 Wetted Area

A = 2Rc h

3.2 Volume
For the bottom head:
V =

h2
(3Rc h)
3

For the top head:

V =

(2Rc3 h2 (3Rc h))

3

Where

h is defined as the free space between the liquid surface and

the top of the head.

4. SEMI-ELLIPSOIDAL OR ELLIPTICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

The semi-ellipsoidal heads are shallower than the hemispherical heads

and deeper than the torispherical heads and therefore have design
pressures and expense lying between these two designs.

The most common variant of semi-ellipsoidal head is the 2:1 elliptical

head which has a depth equal to 1/4 of the vessel diameter. The
formula for calculating the wetted area and volume for the 2:1 semielliptical head are presented as follows.

4.1 Wetted Area

Aw =

D2i
1
2 + 2
(2 + ln (
))
8
4
2 3

= 1

4z 2
D2i

For a 2:1 semi-ellipsoidal head

is equal to 0.866. The wetted area

calculated using this method does not include the straight flange of the
head. The length of the straight flange must be included in the
calculation of the wetted area of the cylindrical section.

4.2 Volume
For the bottom head:
Vp = Di3 C

h 2
h 3
(3 ( ) ( ) )
24
z
z

For the top head:

Vp = Di3 C

h
h 3
(3 ( ) ( ) )
24
z
z

Where,
for ASME 2:1 Elliptical heads:
C = 1/2

for DIN 28013 Semi ellipsoidal heads:

C = 0.49951 + 0.10462

t
t 2
+ 2.3227 ( )
Do
Do

The volume calculated does not include the straight flange of the head,
only the curved section. The straight flange length must be included in
the calculation of the volume of the cylindrical section.

5. TORISPHERICAL HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

Torispherical heads are the most economical and therefore is the most

common head type used for process vessels. Torispherical heads are

shallower and typically have lower design pressures than semi-

elliptical heads. The formula for the calculation of the wetted area and
volume of a partially filled torispherical head is presented as follows.

5.1 Wetted Area

We can approximate the partially filled surface area of the

torispherical head using the formula for elliptical heads. This

approximation will over estimate the surface area because a

torispherical head is flatter than a ellipsoidal head. This assumption is
conservative for pool fire relieving calculations.
Aw =

D2i
1
2 + 2
(2 + ln (
))
8
4
2 3

= 1

4z 2
D2i

The wetted area calculated using this method does not include the

straight flange of the head. The length of the straight flange must be

included in the calculation of the wetted area of the cylindrical

section.

5.2 Volume
For the bottom head:
Vp = Di3 C

h 2
h 3
(3 ( ) ( ) )
24
z
z

For the top head:

Vp = Di3 C

h
h 3
(3 ( ) ( ) )
24
z
z

Where,
for ASME Torispherical heads:
C = 0.30939 + 1.7197

Rk 0.06Do
t
t 2
0.16116
+ 0.98997 ( )
Di
Do
Do

for DIN 28011 Torispherical heads:

C = 0.37802 + 0.05073

t
t 2
+ 1.3762 ( )
Do
Do

The volume calculated does not include the straight flange of the head,
only the curved section. The straight flange length must be included in
the calculation of the volume of the cylindrical section.

6. BUMPED HEADS - VERTICAL VESSEL

Bumped heads have the lowest cost but also the lowest design
pressures, unlike torispherical or ellipsoidal heads they have no

knuckle. They are typically used in atmospheric tanks, such as

horizontal liquid fuel storage tanks or road tankers. Due to the low
strength and poor draining qualities of this head type it is rarely used
for vertical vessels.

Here we present formulae for calculated the wetted area and volume

for an arbitrary liquid level height in a single Bumped head.

6.1 Wetted Area

A = 2Rc h

6.2 Volume
For the bottom head:
V =

h2
(3Rc h)
3

For the top head:

V =

(2Rc3 h2 (3Rc h))

3

Where

h is defined as the free space between the liquid surface and

the top of the head.

7. CYLINDRICAL SECTION - VERTICAL VESSEL

Here we present formulae for calculated the wetted area and volume

for an arbitrary liquid level height in the cylindrical section of a

vertical drum.

7.1 Wetted Area

A = Di h

7.2 Volume
Vp =

2
D h
4 i

Where the vessel has torispherical or ellipsoidal heads the straight

flange length of the head should be included in the cylindrical section

length when calculating the volume or surface area.

8. REFERENCES
1. B Wiencke, 2009, Computing the partial volume of pressure vessels
2. R Doane, 2007, Accurate Wetted Areas for Partially Filled Vessels
3. E Ludwing, 1997, Applied Process Design for Chemical and
Petrochemical Plants (Volume 2)

Article Created: November 4, 2014

ARTICLE TAGS
Bumped Cylindrical Dished Hemispherical Liquid Level
Partially Filled Torospherical Vertical Drum Vessel Vessel Head
Volume Wetted Area

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