KEVOS® MAKEOS · Fabrication
Oval Tank Capacity and Weight (Elliptical Section, Shell Plate, Full Mass)
How much does this oval (elliptical) tank hold, how much plate does it take, and what will it weigh full?
Check of a horizontal or vertical tank with an elliptical cross-section and flat ends: section area and perimeter (as the ellipse tool), capacity, shell and end plate area and mass for the plate thickness, the contents at the fill level, and the full weight on its supports, checked against the capacity you need and the support capacity.
Open the calculatorRuns in your browser. No account needed.
How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Major axis (full width) | mm | Full length of the major axis of the ellipse. |
| Minor axis (full height) | mm | Full length of the minor axis. |
| Tank length | mm | Length of the tank between its flat ends. |
| Plate thickness | mm | Thickness of the shell and end plates. |
| Plate density | kg/m³ | Density of the plate. |
| Contents density | kg/m³ | Density of the contents. |
| Fill level (share of volume) | % | How full the tank is normally filled, as a share of its volume. |
| Requirements | ||
| Capacity needed | L | Capacity the tank must have. |
| Support capacity | kg | Load the supports or mounting can carry. |
Method and formulas
- Area = π a b; perimeter by Ramanujan’s approximation (as the ellipse tool).
- Capacity = area × length; plate area = perimeter × length + 2 × section area.
- Plate mass = plate area × thickness × density; full weight = plate mass + capacity × fill × contents density.
- Example: the tank holds 3,769.9 L; 14.929 m² of plate weighs 468.78 kg; full it weighs 4,050.2 kg.
Limitations
- Flat ends; dished ends add volume and change plate area.
- Flat oval shells need stiffeners or baffles against pressure and slosh: not checked here.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Size a fuel or water tank to fit under a chassis or in a corner
- Estimate plate for an oval tank
- Check supports for the full weight
Who it is for
- Fabrication supervisors
- Design engineers
- Estimators
What you get
- Section area, perimeter and capacity
- Plate area and mass
- Contents and full weight
Interpreting the result
- An oval section stores less than a circle of the same perimeter, but fits low spaces.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 48–50, 70–75. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
WORKOS tools are screening and decision-support utilities. Verify important financial, engineering, safety, legal or operational decisions using appropriate professional standards and your organisation’s approved data.
Open the Oval Tank Capacity and Weight (Elliptical Section, Shell Plate, Full Mass) calculator
