1. What is a Tank Volume Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the volume of liquid a tank can hold in gallons based on its dimensions.

Purpose: It helps determine the capacity of rectangular or cylindrical tanks for various applications like water storage, fuel tanks, or aquarium sizing.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses different formulas based on tank shape:

Where:

• \( V_{gal} \) — Volume in gallons
• \( L, W, H \) — Length, Width, Height in inches (rectangular)
• \( r, h \) — Radius and height in inches (cylindrical)
• 231 — Cubic inches per gallon conversion factor

Explanation: The calculator first computes the volume in cubic inches, then converts to gallons by dividing by 231.

3. Importance of Tank Volume Calculation

Details: Accurate volume calculation ensures proper tank sizing for storage needs, prevents overfilling, and helps with system design in plumbing and industrial applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Select tank shape, enter dimensions in inches. All values must be > 0. For cylindrical tanks, measure radius (half of diameter).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why divide by 231?
A: 231 cubic inches equals 1 US liquid gallon, the standard conversion factor.

Q2: Can I use feet instead of inches?
A: Yes, but first convert feet to inches (1 foot = 12 inches) or adjust the formula to use 0.004329 gallons per cubic inch.

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides theoretical maximum volume. Actual capacity may be less due to tank design, internal components, or safe fill levels.

Q4: What about irregularly shaped tanks?
A: For complex shapes, break them down into regular shapes and sum their volumes, or use water displacement methods.

Q5: Does this work for metric units?
A: No, this calculator uses US customary units. For liters, use centimeters and divide by 1000 (1 liter = 1000 cm³).