DESIGN FOR DIETHANOLAMINE STORAGE TANK

Vessel Function

According to Hall (2018), atmospheric storage tanks are defined as a design

pressure less than 2.5 psig (20 kPa). The storage pressure of Diethanolamine is less than

2.5 psig, thus Atmospheric Tank was used.

Operating and Design Temperature and Pressure

Table #.
Operating conditions for Diethanolamine storage tanks
STORAGE TANKS FOR DIETHANOLAMINE
o
Temperature C 50
o
F 122
Pressure bar 1.33322 x 10-6
kPa 0.000133322
psig 1.93421 x 10-5

The design pressure which is the maximum allowable working pressure is taken as

50 psig since the operating pressure is within the range of 0-25 psig. The design

temperature for the storage tank is taken as 250 oF since the operating temperature is

within the range of 0-200oF (Towler & Sinnott, 2013).

Table #.
Design temperature and pressure guidelines
Operating Pressure Design Pressure Operating Design
Temperature Temperature
0 – 25 psig 50 psig 0 – 200 ⁰F 250 ⁰F
 25 – 250 psig Operating P + 25 Over 200 ⁰F Operating T +
psig 50%
250 – 1000 psig Operating P + 10%
Over 1000 psig Operating P + 5%

Table #.
Design conditions for Diethanolamine storage tanks
STORAGE TANKS FOR DIETHANOLAMINE
o
Temperature C 121.11
o
F 250.0
Pressure bar 3.45
kPa 344.74
psig 50.0

Vessel Orientation

Calculations below show the vessel orientation starting with tank capacity. These

calculations are based on Towler & Sinnott (2013).

Normal Volumetric Flow rate

Mass Flow
NVF=
Mass Density

632.9 kg /hr
NVF=
kg
1,090 3
m

m3
NVF=0.5806
hr
 As a rule of thumb in designing a storage tank, many plants specify 30 days of

capacity for both raw materials and products. But this depends on connecting

transportation equipment schedules.

hr days
VF =NVF x 24 x 30
day month

hr days
VF =0.5806 x 24 x 30
day month

m3
VF =418.062
month

Turndown Volumetric Flow rate

TVF =0.5 x VF

m3
TVF =0.5 x 418.062
month

m3
TVF =209.031
month

Rated Volumetric Flow rate

RVF=1.1 x VF

m3
RVF=1.1 x 418.062
month

m3
RVF=229.934
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 divided by 0.90.

V rated
V v=
1−V void

m3
229.934
month
V v=
1−0.10

m3
V v =255.482
month

Estimated Number of Tanks

The largest shop-fabricated atmospheric tanks are approximately 50,000 gallons

3
(200 m ).

Vv
No .of tanks=
tank capacity

m3
255.482
month
No .of tanks=
200 m3

No .of tanks=2

Since the calculated value is greater than 10,000 gallons or 38 cubic meters, the

recommended tank orientation is vertical or concrete foundation.

Vessel Dimensions

Inside Diameter
 π
x tanks x x D 2 x L=V
4 v

L=3 D

π
x tanks x x D 2 x 3 D=V
4 v

π
2 tanks x x D2 x 3 D=255.482 m3
4

D=3.785

Length

L=3 D

L=3 x 3.785m

L=11.355 m

Thickness of the Shell under Internal Pressure

As stated in the ASME BPVC Sec VIII, the minimum required thickness of shells

under internal pressure shall not be less that computed by the following formulas:

PD
t min (1)=
2 SE−1.2 P

PD
t min (2)=
4 SE+ 0.8 P

Where,

P –internal design pressure

D –inside diameter

S –maximum allowable stress

 E –joint efficiency

As per ASME BPV Code Sec. II Part D, the maximum allowable stress, (S) of

stainless steel 18 Cr, 8 Ni Gr 304 is 20,575 psi, while the joint efficiency (E) is typically

0.85 for butt joints attained by double welding and examined by spot radio graphing and

seamless heads. The maximum allowable temperature for staineless steel 18 Cr, 8 Ni Gr

304 is 1500oF which is suitable for a design temperature of 250oF.

(50 psig)(3.785 x 103 mm)

t min (1)=
2 ( 20,575 psig ) (0.85)−1.2(50 psig)

t min (1)=5.420 mm

(50 psig)(3.785 x 103 mm)

t min (2)=
4 ( 20,575 psig ) ( 0.85 ) +0.8(50 psig)

t min ( 2 )=2 .704 mm

According to Towler & Sinnott (2013), the highest computed tmin will be

preferred thickness of the vessel. Since tmin(1) is greater than tmin(2), tmin(1) is the thickness

of storage tanks of diethanolamine.

According to Towler& Sinnott (2013), the corrosion allowance is the additional

thickness of metal added to allow for material lost by corrosion and erosion, or scaling.

For carbon and low-alloy steels, a minimum allowance of 2.0 mm should be used. For

more severe corrosion conditions, minimum allowance should be increased to 4.00 mm.

t=t min +Corrosion Allowance

t=5. 420 mm+ 4 mm

t=9. 420 mm

Outside Diameter
The outside diameter may be obtained using the figure below:
 Figure 1. Cross-section of vessel.
D out = D ¿ +2 t Total

D out =3.785+ 2(9.420 x 10−3)

D out =3.804 m

Design of Head and Closure

According to Towler& Sinnott (2013), the ends of a cylindrical vessel are closed

by heads of various shapes. The principal types used are flat plates, hemispherical,

ellipsoidal and torispherical heads.

ASME F&D heads (torispherical) are usually specified for pressures up to 20 bar.

Ellipsoidal (2:1) heads are used for pressures from 20 to 100 bar. Very high-pressure

applications, above 100 bar, hemispherical heads are used (Hall, 2018).

Torispherical Head

0.885(PR)
t=
SE−0.1 P

3.785 x 103 mm
t=
0.885 ( 50 psi ) ( 2 )
( 20,575 psig ) ( 0.85 )−0.1(50 psig)
t=4.790mm

Bottom Supports
 According to Towler and Sinnot (2013), stated in chapter 14.9, the method used to

support a vessel will depend on the size, shape, and weight of the vessel; the design

temperature and pressure; the vessel location and arrangement; and the internal and

external fittings and attachments. For vertical columns, skirt, brackets, or lugs may be

use. Skirt supports are used for tall, vertical columns. The bracket may rest on the

building structural steel work, or the vessel may be supported by legs. However, if

bending moment is likely to be significant, skirt supports should be considered in

preference to bracket supports.

For vertical vessels, skirt supports are recommended as they do not impose

concentrated loads on the vessel shell. This type of support is particularly used for tall

columns subject to wind loading since it is equally strong in all directions.

Thus, skirt support with concrete foundation for the Diethanolamine storage

tanks is used.