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Mechanical EngineeringP0

Pressure Vessel Volume Calculator

Calculate internal volume of horizontal/vertical pressure vessels including cylindrical shell and 2:1 elliptical heads.

Inputs
Enter your values below
Result
Total Vessel Volume
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Enter values and click Calculate
Formula
π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × height × 1000 + π × diameter³ ÷ 12 × 1000
Result unit: L

Shell volume = π(D/2)² × L. Two 2:1 elliptical heads ≈ 2 × (πD³/24) = πD³/12. ×1000 converts m³ to liters.

Introduction

Calculate total internal volume of a pressure vessel with cylindrical shell and two 2:1 elliptical heads (standard ASME dish). For other head types: hemispherical heads use πD³/6 each; flat heads use 0 additional volume.

Calculation Example

2m × 5m shell (15,708 L) + two heads (~2,094 L) = ~17,800 liters total.

Inputs: diameter=2, height=5
Result: 17802 L

Engineering Applications

  • •ASME vessel design
  • •Chemical reactor sizing
  • •Compressed gas storage
  • •Bladder tank sizing

Frequently Asked Questions

What about different head types?

Hemispherical: each head = πD³/12; 2:1 Elliptical (standard ASME): each head ≈ πD³/24; Flat: ~0. This calculator uses 2:1 elliptical heads × 2.

How much volume is in the heads vs shell?

For a 2:1 vessel (L = 2.5D), heads are about 15-20% of total volume. For tall columns, head volume is negligible.

Related Calculators

Cylinder Volume CalculatorTank Volume Calculator

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Disclaimer: Calculations are for reference and educational purposes only. Always verify results independently for engineering design. See full disclaimer.