An article on Tank Bulging effect or bulging effect of tank

shells
August 27, 2015 1 Comment
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Stress analysis of lines connected to API tanks is very critical. I am sure most of you have
done stress analysis of lines connected to equipment nozzles. However when it comes to
tank nozzle, there are some differences, due to which the approach followed for equipment
nozzle cannot be followed.

In the Stress analysis of lines connected to normal Equipment nozzle (Vessel, Column, Heat
Exchanger etc.), generally there are only 2 things which we have to account during Caesar
modelling.

Nozzles thermal movements, and

Nozzle flexibility

But in additional to those two things, there are two additional points which we have to account
in the Caesar modelling during analysis of tank connected piping system. These are,

Nozzle rotations due to tank bulging, and

Tank settlement

About the first two, i.e. Nozzles thermal movements and Nozzle flexibility, we all are well
aware, and therefore I will not be covering these in this article.

We will see other two effects, about which we may not be aware, or if aware, not very clear
how to model these in Caesar and take care of these along with Nozzles thermal
movements, and Nozzle flexibility.

So first in the current article we will see Nozzle Rotation due to tank bulging.

What is this Tank Bulging?

In case of tank, tank is filled with liquid.

This liquid has varying height.

Due to this, there is varying liquid pressure on tank wall.

It has more pressure at bottom.

Due this, tank wall try to expand more at bottom (as seen in slide).

But the bottom plate prevents this expansion and holds the bottom end of shell in position.

Due to this, actual shape of tank is formed similar to as shown in Fig. 1.

This is called bulging of tank shell.

Fig.1: Tank Bulging

Due to tank shell bulging, the nozzle on the shell moves radially outward, and rotates in
vertical plane, depending upon their position.

The nozzle on lower portion of the tank rotates downwards whereas nozzle on upper portion
rotates upwards.

This effect is not seen in other equipments, mainly because

Equipment diameter is relatively much small (up to 3 m). Therefore the amount of
radial growth is much less. Whereas tank diameters are generally large, of the order
of 10 m to 60 m. Due to this the amount of radial growth is significant.

Also, equipment has internal pressure, not only pressure due to fluid weight. Thus
pressure variation from top to bottom is not so much where as in tank, pressure on
top is zero.

At the same time, the bottom of equipment is not flat like tank, which does not deflect
but acts like stiffener, to holds the shell ends.

However the main difference is due to tank diameter only.

How Tank Bulging is calculated?

In the design code API 650, which governs the design of tank, this bulging effects is covered
in Appendix P.

This Appendix P is mandatory for tanks greater than 36 m diameter and for tank with
diameter 36 m & below, it is optional or mandatory only if specified by purchaser.
The intent of 36m diameter condition is to inform the user that the bulging effect is significant
in large diameter tanks, which code has considered as above 36m diameter, hence put as
mandatory.

For smaller diameter it is considered as insignificant, hence kept as non-mandatory.

The formulas for calculation of Radial movement and rotation due to tank bulging is provided
in API 650 and produced in Fig 2 and Fig 3 for your reference.

Fig. 2: Outward radial growth of the tank shell due to bulging.

 Fig. 3: Rotation of shell due to tank bulging

If you calculate the outward radial movement and rotation using the above formulas it can be
found that the effect of tank bulging on nozzle at higher elevation is insignificant.

Pipe routing guidelines to minimize effect of tank bulging:

Fig. 4: Pipe routing to reduce impact of tank bulging in tank nozzle.

Due to bulging, nozzle at lower levels rotates downward. This causes pipe to move vertically
downwards. To minimize the amount of this movement:

Piping shall be rotated through 90 as close to the tank wall as practical. 2D (D=outer
diameter of pipe) spool may be provided to avoid elbow stiffening due to flanged
elbow. This is shown in Fig. 4

Refer my next article to find out the effect of tank settlement in stress analysis of tank
connected piping system.