Design teams size reactors using clear construction inputs. Choose shape, dimensions, and safety allowance easily. Get instant volume, then download a clean calculation sheet.
| Scenario | Shape | Inputs | Total (m³) | Working (m³) | Design (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batch mixer | Cylindrical | D=1.2m, H=2.5m, flat, headspace 10%, safety 5% | 2.8274 | 2.5447 | 2.6720 |
| Process tank | Rectangular | L=3.0m, W=1.5m, H=2.0m, headspace 8%, safety 7% | 9.0000 | 8.2800 | 8.8596 |
| Storage vessel | Spherical | D=2.2m, headspace 12%, safety 5% | 5.5753 | 4.9063 | 5.1516 |
Values shown are illustrative for planning only.
A reactor’s filled mass drives slab, anchor, and lifting design. One cubic meter of water is about 1,000 kg. Many construction slurries run 1,100–1,300 kg/m³. If your design volume is 8.86 m³, the contained liquid can exceed 9.7–11.5 tonnes before adding steel, insulation, and platforms. Include access platforms, piping, and wind bracing loads in the same takeoff package.
Field drawings often show outside dimensions, but volume needs inside clear dimensions. Subtract lining, corrosion allowance, and wall thickness before entering values. For a cylindrical shell, a 6 mm lining on a 1.2 m diameter reduces radius by 0.006 m, cutting barrel volume by roughly 0.11 m³ over 2.5 m height. On rectangular tanks, small thickness changes compound fast.
Headspace protects against foaming, thermal expansion, and surge. Many batch systems reserve 8–15% freeboard, while aerated or high-foam processes may need 20%+. This calculator converts total volume to working volume using Vwork = V × (1 − headspace). Example: 9.00 m³ total with 8% headspace yields 8.28 m³ working capacity. Keep enough vapor space for level sensors and safe overflow routing.
Procurement decisions often target the design volume, not the nominal tank volume. A 5–10% safety factor supports uncertainty in internals, nozzle takeoffs, and future throughput. Using Vdesign = Vwork × (1 + safety), an 8.28 m³ working target with 7% safety becomes 8.86 m³, guiding pump curves, mixer sizing, and fill-time estimates. When ordering, round up to the next standard shell length.
Construction teams need traceable calculations for submittals and site QA. Save runs, then export CSV for spreadsheets or PDF for work packs. Recheck unit selections when mixing metric and imperial inputs, and confirm the head style for cylindrical vessels, since hemispherical and 2:1 ellipsoidal ends add measurable volume. Finally, compare calculated capacity to vendor drawings and as-built surveys; even a 1% diameter error changes volume about 2%.
Use internal clear dimensions. If drawings show outside sizes, subtract wall thickness, lining, and corrosion allowance. For cylinders, enter straight shell height only; head volume is added by the selected head style.
Pick the end configuration shown on vendor drawings: flat, hemispherical, or 2:1 ellipsoidal. If uncertain during early planning, select flat ends, then update once fabrication details are confirmed.
Many mixing and process tanks reserve 8–15% headspace for expansion and surge. Foaming, aeration, or CIP spray patterns can push this higher. Match your process and safety requirements.
Safety factor provides margin for future throughput, internals, and measurement uncertainty. Typical planning values are 5–10%. Apply the factor to the working volume so freeboard is preserved.
After each calculation, the run is saved to a small history on this device session. Use the buttons to export the saved runs as CSV for spreadsheets or PDF for a printable record.
No. It calculates geometric internal volume only. Add allowances for displaced volume, dead zones, or sloped bottoms using your project standards, or increase the safety factor to cover them.
No saved runs yet. Calculate once to start a history.
Notes: Results assume internal dimensions. Verify allowances for lining, weld seams, and nozzles.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.