Engineering calculator reviewed for preliminary design use · Last updated: March 2026
Calculate internal volume of pressure vessels and storage tanks. Supports combinations of cylindrical and spherical shells with various head types: semi-elliptical, torispherical, hemispherical, and flat. Apply to hold-up and liquid inventory calculations.
What this calculator is used for
This calculator determines the internal volume of tanks and pressure vessels
by accounting for both cylindrical shells and head geometry.
Typical engineering use cases
Storage capacity determination
Process hold-up calculations
Governing equation and methodology
Total volume is calculated as the sum of shell and head volumes using standard
geometric formulas.
Engineering assumptions and limitations
Geometric full volume only
Practical design notes
Operating volume is usually lower than calculated full volume.
Semi-ellipsoidal (2:1), torispherical (ASME F&D), hemispherical, and flat heads are supported. Each head type has a different volume formula and different structural efficiency.
Is the calculated volume the liquid hold-up volume?
The result is the total internal geometric volume. Actual liquid hold-up depends on normal liquid level (NLL), high liquid level (HLL), and internals. Apply appropriate design margin.
These results are preliminary estimates for screening-level design use. They do not replace detailed engineering, code compliance verification, or vendor-certified calculations.