PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

University of the City of Manila

College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering

SORBITOL STORAGE TANK

DESIGN PROBLEM
289.53 kg per batch of sorbitol is needed for the plasticization that will be used to form
the liner film. Design a storage tank that will store sorbitol good for fourteen (14) batches.

DESIGN DESCRIPTION
Sorbitol storage tank is used to store the sorbitol required for the plasticization of chitosan
and cellulose nanocrystal slurry in the plasticization tank. It has a capacity to hold sorbitol enough
for fourteen (14) batches of operation. The tank is refilled every two weeks based on the
scheduled delivery of chemicals.

DESIGN SELECTION
The design of the storage tank is selected as cylindrical with torispherical heads working
under ambient temperature and pressure. Torispherical heads are suited for applications under
internal pressure of less than 165 psi, and more suitable for handling large-volume liquids. For
the support of the storage tank, skirt support is used. In addition, support system minimizes the
local stresses at the point of attachment and the direct load is uniformly distributed over the entire
circumference.

PARTS AND FUNCTIONS

Figure 6.47 Parts of the Sorbitol Storage Tank

Table 6.47 Parts and Function of the Sorbitol Storage Tank

PARTS FUNCTION
Inlet This is where Sorbitol is introduced from the delivery tank.
Tank Vessel This is a container that holds the sorbitol
Outlet This is where the sorbitol is discharged
Support Holds the tank

Plasticization of Chitosan from Alimasag Shells and Cellulose Nanocrystal from

Tobacco Stalks for the Production of Liner Film Technical Study 732
R.C.Macasil, M.D.Mendoza, K.J.O.Raymundo, D.J.S.Saya
 PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA
University of the City of Manila
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering

DESIGN ASSUMPTIONS
1. The required amount of Sorbitol in the production per batch is 289.53 kg (based from
Material Balance).
3 3
2. The density of Acetic acid is 1.49 g/cm (1,490 kg/m ).

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
1. A safety factor 20% with a filling capacity of 80% is used. (Plant Design and Economics
th
for Chemical Engineers, 4 ed. By Peters and Timmerhaus, Table 6, p.37)
2. The recommended height of the tank body to diameter ratio is 1.25. (Unit Operations of
th
Chemical Engineering, 5 ed. by McCabe and Smith, p.242)
3. The material of construction for sorbitol storage tank is Stainless Steel Type 302 for its
good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. (Plant Design and Economics for
th
Chemical Engineers, 4 ed. by Peters and Timmerhaus, Table 4, p.538)
4. The allowable working stress of the tank body is one-fourth of the ultimate strength of the
rd
material. (Chemical Process Equipment Selection and Design, 3 ed. by Couper,
Penney, Fair, and Walas, p. xix)
5. Use 80% efficiency for double-welded butt joints (Process Equipment Design, by Hesse
and Rushton, p. 84).
6. The crown radius is equal to the tank diameter. The knuckle radius is 6% of the crown
th
radius for torispherical heads (Perry’s Chemical Engineering Handbook, 8 ed. by Perry
and Green, p. 10-145)
7. The diameter and height ratio of the skirt to tank body is 1:1 and 1:8 respectively
(Process Equipment Design by Joshi, p. 407)
8. The corrosion allowance is 2mm where severe corrosion is not expected. (Sinnott,
Chemical Engineering Design Vol. 6, 4e)
9. The ultimate strength of Stainless Steel Type 302 at 30°C is 20000 psia. (Plant Design
and Economics for Chemical Engineers, 4th Edition by Peters and Timmerhaus, Table 4,
p. 538).

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
1. Tank Body
a. Capacity
b. Tank Diameter
c. Tank Height
d. Tank Thickness
2. Heads
1. Head Height
2. Head Thickness
3. Total Tank Height
4. Skirt Support
a. Skirt Diameter
b. Skirt Height

Plasticization of Chitosan from Alimasag Shells and Cellulose Nanocrystal from

Tobacco Stalks for the Production of Liner Film Technical Study 733
R.C.Macasil, M.D.Mendoza, K.J.O.Raymundo, D.J.S.Saya
 PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA
University of the City of Manila
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering

DESIGN CALCULATIONS
1. Tank Design
a. Tank Capacity

With safety factor of 20%

3
Use: V = 3.27 m

b. Tank Diameter
3
Since for torispherical head, V = 0.0809D (From Perry’s Chemical Engineering
th
Handbook, 8 ed. by Perry and Green, sec. 10-145)

Since H = 1.25D

Use: D = 1.42 m as tank diameter

c. Shell Height

Use: H = 1.80 m as tank height

d. Shell Thickness
The equation for thickness of a cylindrical vessel, as given by Chemical Process
Engineering Design and Economics by Silla, p. 280 Eq 6.6 is:

Where: t = minimum wall thickness

P = maximum allowable internal pressure
D = internal diameter before corrosion allowance
S = allowable working stress = (20000 psi)
e = efficiency = 0.80
C = corrosion resistance = 2 mm = 0.07874 in

Plasticization of Chitosan from Alimasag Shells and Cellulose Nanocrystal from

Tobacco Stalks for the Production of Liner Film Technical Study 734
R.C.Macasil, M.D.Mendoza, K.J.O.Raymundo, D.J.S.Saya
 PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA
University of the City of Manila
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering

( )( ) ( )

( )( )

( )

Use: t = Gauge 11 (3.175 mm) tank thickness

2. Heads
a. Head Height

Use: H = 0.09 m head height

b. Head Thickness
The equation for thickness of a torispherical head, as given by Chemical Process
Engineering Design and Economics by Silla, p. 280 Eq 6.8 is:

Use: thead = Gauge 11 (3.175 mm) Head Thickness

3. Total Tank Height

Use: Htotal = 2.00 m total tank height

4. Skirt Support
a. Skirt Diameter
The skirt diameter is equivalent to the outside diameter of the tank. (Process
Equivalent Design by Joshi, p. 407)

( )
Use: Dskirt = 1.43 m for skirt diameter

b. Skirt Height
The height of the skirt to tank body is 1:8. (Process Equipment Design by Joshi, p.
407)

Use: Hskirt = 0.25 m of skirt height

Plasticization of Chitosan from Alimasag Shells and Cellulose Nanocrystal from

Tobacco Stalks for the Production of Liner Film Technical Study 735
R.C.Macasil, M.D.Mendoza, K.J.O.Raymundo, D.J.S.Saya
 PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA
University of the City of Manila
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering

DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
SORBITOL STORAGE TANK SPECIFICATION SHEET
OPERATING DATA
Number of Units 1
Mode of Operation Batch
Feed Sorbitol
Holding Capacity 14 Batches
Material of Construction Stainless Steel Type 302
TECHNICAL DATA
Parameter Proposed Existing
3 3
Capacity 3.27 m Up to 90 m
Tank Diameter 1.42 m Up to 5 m
Shell Thickness Gauge 11 (3.175 mm) 5-40 mm
Shell Height 1.80 m 1m–5m
Head Type Torispherical Torispherical
Head Height 0.09 m 0.1 m – 0.2 m
Head Thickness Gauge 11 (3.175 mm) 5 mm – 30 mm
Total Tank Height 2.00 m 2 m – 5.00 m
Skirt Support Diameter 1.45 m 1.0 m – 5.0 m
Skirt Support Height 0.25 m 0.20 m – 0.50 m
SUPPLIER INFORMATION
Company Name Mechatrends Contractors Corporation
NIA Road, Amaya I Tanza, Cavite,
Company Address
Philippines 4108
Phone Number +63466868764
Contact Details
Email Address fabrication@mechatrends.com.ph
Price of Equipment 110,000 php
Expected Useful Life 12 years
Auxiliaries
Pump Centrifugal Pump
Motor Electrical Motor
Instrumentation and
Conductive Level Sensor
Control
Maintenance Manhole with Sight Glass

Plasticization of Chitosan from Alimasag Shells and Cellulose Nanocrystal from

Tobacco Stalks for the Production of Liner Film Technical Study 736
R.C.Macasil, M.D.Mendoza, K.J.O.Raymundo, D.J.S.Saya
 PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA
University of the City of Manila
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering

DESIGN CONFIGURATION

DESIGN CONFIGURATION OF SORBITOL STORAGE TANK

Plasticization of Chitosan from Alimasag Shells and Cellulose Nanocrystal from

Tobacco Stalks for the Production of Liner Film Technical Study 737
R.C.Macasil, M.D.Mendoza, K.J.O.Raymundo, D.J.S.Saya