ATMOSPHERIC TANK

Atmospheric Tank for Methanol

PROJECT NO.1
SHEET 1 OF 1
REV DATE BY APV REV DATE BY APV

Reactor System Sketch

Item Number S-101
Service Methanol Storage Tank
Operating Conditions
Pressure (KPa) 101.325
o
Temperature ( C) 25
Design Conditions
Pressure (KPa) 344.74
Temperature (oC) 35
Main Specifications
Geometry cylinderical
Rated volumetric flow
(m3/month)
18160.699
Volume per tank (m3) 2274.189
Inside Diameter (m)
Outside Diameter (m) 5.9138
Minimum thickness (mm)
Height to diameter ratio
Height 11.8277 m
Specification for Construction
Material of Construction Carbon Steel
Insulation Material Aluminum Sheet
Insulation Thickness (mm) 250
Annular Space
Bottom Support Concrete Pads
Orientation Vertical
Type of Closure Ellipsoidal
Closure Thickness (mm) 0.078
Agitator Propeller or
Turbine (420 rpm)

I. Vessel Function
Vessels are significant in different manufacturing plant. It is used to carry out process

operations such as distillation, drying, filtration, stripping, and reaction. These operations

usually involve many different types of vessels, ranging from large towers up to waste

collection drums. One example of a vessel is a pressure vessel. Atmospheric tanks are

also essential in the operating plant of Dimethyl Carbonate such that most of the raw

materials in the plant are gases.

II. Operating and design temperature and pressure

Table 1.
Operating and Design Conditions
Operating Conditions Design Conditions
Temperature, °C 25 35
Pressure, kPa 101.3 344.74

III. Materials of Construction

The atmospheric vessel design codes and standards include lists of acceptable materials,

in accordance with the appropriate material standards. Atmospheric vessel are

constructed from plain carbon steels, low and high alloy steels, other alloys, clad plate,

and reinforced plastics. Carbon steels are usually used in atmospheric vessel.

IV. Vessel dimensions and orientation

Calculations below show the vessel dimension and orientation starting with tank

capacity. These calculations are based on Towler and Sinnott, 2013.

Flowrate
Normal Volumetric Flowrate

Mass Flow
NVF=
Mass Density

20000 kg /hr
NVF= 3
792.921 kg/m

3
NVF=25.22 m /hr

As a rule of thumb in designing a storage tank, thirty-day capacity often is specified for

raw materials and products. But depends on connecting transportation equipment

schedules.

hr days
VF=NVR ×24 × 30
day month

m3 hr days
VF=25.22 ×24 × 30
hr day month

m3
VF=18160.699
month

Turndown Volumetric Flowrate

TVF=0.5× VF

3
m
TVF=0.5× 18160.699
month

m3
TVF=9080.35
month

Rated Volumetric Flowrate

RVF=1.1× VF
 3
m
RVF=1.1× 18160.699
month

m3
RVF=2046.77
month

Vessel Volume

In calculating total tank volume, vapor space is considered. Allowing 10% vapor

space inside the tank the total volume of the tank, Vv, should be V divided by 0.90.

V Rated
V V=
1−V void

2046.77
V V=
1−.1
3
V V =2274.189m

Estimated Number of Tanks

Using tank capacity of 90,000 gallons (340.69 m3)

VV
No. of tanks=
tank capacity

2274.189 m3
No. of tanks=
340.69 m 3

No. of tanks=7

Since the calculated value is greater than 10000 gallons or 38 cubic meters, the

recommended tank orientation is vertical or concrete foundation.

Vessel Dimensions

Inside Diameter
 Π
x tanks × × D2 × L=V V
4

L=2 D

Π
x tanks × × D 2 ×2 D=V V
4

Π 2 3
7 tanks× × D × 2 D=2274.189 m
4

D=5.9138 m

Length

L=2∗6.04 m

L=11.8277 m

Corrosion Allowance

The value for corrosion allowance where severe corrosion is expected, 4 mm should be

use.

Thickness of the Shell under Internal Pressure

In calculation of the thickness, Towler and Sinnot used the equation specified by the

ASME BPV Code (Sec. VIII D.1 Part UG-27) as shown below:

PD PD
tmin ( 1 )= ; tmin(2)=
2 SE−1.2 P 4 SE+ 0.8 P

Wherein P is the internal design pressure, D is the inside diameter, S is the maximum

allowable stress and E is the joint efficiency. Moreover, based on ASME BPV Code Sec.
II Part D the maximum allowable stress of carbon steel is 12900 psi and the joint

efficiency is 0.85. This constant is used in the calculation below.

tmin,1

PD
tmin( 1)=
2 SE−1.2 P

50 psi∗5862.3 mm
tmin( 1)=
2∗12900 psi∗0.85−1.2∗50 psi

tmin ( 1 )=13.40 mm

tmin,2

PD
tmin( 2)=
4 SE+ 0.8 P

50 psi∗5862.3mm
tmin( 2)=
4∗12900 psi∗0.85+0.8∗50 psi

tmin ( 2 )=6.68 mm

On selection of tmin, based on Towler and Sinnot (2013), the highest computed value

will be the preferred thickness of the vessel. Based on the calculations above, tmin1 is

greater than tmin2 thus the preferred thickness for oxygen pressure vessel is tmin 1 which

has a value of 13.40 mm .

t=tmin+ 4 mm

t=13.40 mm+4 mm

t=17.40 mm

Outside Diameter
 D out =D¿ +2t
D out =5862.3+2∗17.40

D out =5897.06 mm

D out =5.90 m

V. Types of Vessel Heads to be used

According to Towler and Sinnot (2013), Hemispherical, ellipsoidal, and torispherical

heads are collectively referred to as domed heads. They are formed by pressing or

spinning; large diameters are fabricated from formed sections. The preferred proportions

of domed heads are given in the standards and codes. Vessel heads can be made in any

size, but standard sizes will usually be cheaper.

Hemispherical Heads

PD
t=
4 SE−0.4 P

50 psi∗5862.3 mm
t=
4∗12900 psi∗0.85−0.4∗50 psi

t=6.69 mm

Ellipsoidal Heads

PD
t=
2 SE−0.2 P

50 psi∗5862.3 mm
t=
2∗12900 psi∗0.85−0.2∗50 psi

t=13.37 mm

Tori Spherical Heads

 0.885( PR)
t=
SE−0.1 P

psi∗5862.3 mm
0.885∗(50 )
2
t=
12900 psi∗0.85−1∗50 psi

t=11.83 mm

Based on the calculated data above, Ellipsoidal head has the greatest thickness thus it is

preferred to be use in acetic anhydride storage tank.

VI. Openings and Connections required

Motherwell Tank Protection states that opening size ranges from 250mm to 650 mm. For

acetic anhydride storage tank, maximum manway size will be used for optimum use thus

650mm is the size of manway.

VII. Type of Agitator

The type of agitator used shall be determined using the figure below:

Volume = 238.5 m3 Viscosity = 0.00001648

Figure 2. Agitator Selection Guide (Source: Towler & Sinnott, 2013, Chapter 15, pg.665)

Looking the figure above, the type of agitator used is Propeller or Turbine (420

rpm)