Pressure Vessel Engineering Hub

Pressure Vessel Engineering Hub

Calculate pressure vessel volume, dished head dimensions, tank capacity and ASME vessel sizing. Engineering formulas, head type reference, and calculation guides for vessel design.

Core Pressure Vessel Formulas

V_shell = pi x (D/2)^2 x L

Cylindrical shell volume

V_head = pi x D^3 / 24

One 2:1 elliptical head (ASME standard)

V_total = V_shell + 2 x V_head

Total vessel volume = shell + 2 heads

MAWP = 2 x S x E x t / (D - 0.2t)

ASME maximum allowable working pressure

ASME Vessel Head Types

Head TypeVolume FormulaDepthNotes
2:1 Elliptical (ASME Standard)V = pi x D^3 / 24 (per head)h = D/4Most common for ASME vessels
HemisphericalV = pi x D^3 / 12 (per head)h = D/2Lowest stress, highest volume
Torispherical (ASME F&D)V approx 0.1 x D^3 (per head)h = 0.0694 x DShallowest standard head
FlatV = 0h = 0No additional volume, highest stress

Vessel & Tank Calculators

Related Engineering References