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Heating oil tank capacity

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  • 24-12-2013 11:40am
    #1
    Pompey Magnus
    Registered Users Posts: 5,406 ✭✭✭


    I bought a second hand home heating oil tank recently, it was advertised as having 1000L capacity, the guy who sold it did say he had been told by his supplier that it might hold a little over that. I got a delivery of 1000L yesterday and there is probably room for close to another 200L now, but after the delivery I noticed for the first time that the capacity marked on the tank shows 950L.

    Just how accurate is the manufacturer's capacity estimate, could it really be out so much that 1000L could fit into a estimated 950L tank with plenty of room to spare or did I just get a delivery of maybe 750L for the price of 1000L? If the manufacturer's estimate isn't accurate is there any way for future reference to get an accurate measurement of the capacity of the tank?


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    #2
    emeldc
    Registered Users Posts: 2,597 ✭✭✭emeldc


    Are you sure the '950L' wasn't just a marker for 950 Litres.


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    #3
    Pompey Magnus
    Registered Users Posts: 5,406 ✭✭✭Pompey Magnus


    emeldc wrote: »
    Are you sure the '950L' wasn't just a marker for 950 Litres.

    I'm sure, it said "Norm. Capacity 950L"...it was very faded though so I missed it until yesterday.

    I know the tank isn't going to be exactly 950L but surely it couldn't be so off the estimated capacity as to be actually closer to 1200L?


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    #4
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    I have never come across a 950L tank. It is probably 1000. As suggested the 950 may be a marker. Where on the tank is it?


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    #5
    Pompey Magnus
    Registered Users Posts: 5,406 ✭✭✭Pompey Magnus


    Angelo Embarrassed Therapist wrote: »
    I have never come across a 950L tank. It is probably 1000. As suggested the 950 may be a marker. Where on the tank is it?

    I just had another look, it is roughly 2/3 of the way up the tank and says "Norm. Capacity 950L".


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    #6
    P. Breathnach
    Registered Users Posts: 12,089 ✭✭✭✭P. Breathnach


    How are your basic maths skills? You could measure the tank and do some arithmetic.


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    #7
    Teagwee
    Registered Users Posts: 371 ✭✭Teagwee


    Here you go - get calculating :)
    http://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/construction/tank.php


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    #8
    Pompey Magnus
    Registered Users Posts: 5,406 ✭✭✭Pompey Magnus


    Teagwee wrote: »
    Here you go - get calculating :)
    http://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/construction/tank.php

    Unfortunately it is a pretty awkward shape so calculating volume would be tough...
    14t2ek7.jpg


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    #9
    Teagwee
    Registered Users Posts: 371 ✭✭Teagwee


    You'll get a rough estimate though and may be able to adjust down slightly for the indentations. It will indicate the absolute maximum capacity at least. Interested to see what you come up with :)


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    #10
    L1011
    Registered Users Posts: 69,081 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Tank capacity is less than what they'll hold to the brim to cope with fuel expanding in the heat - and its very cold at the moment. You'll lose a few percent volume from that straight away. Also the tank is narrower at the top so what looks like a lot of space isn't.

    The dispensing equipment should correct to give equivalent delivery at a specific temperature meaning you don't either benefit or lose out due to temperature variations.

    There is also a chance you were under-delivered, this happens both by accident and malice.


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    #11
    Pompey Magnus
    Registered Users Posts: 5,406 ✭✭✭Pompey Magnus


    Teagwee wrote: »
    You'll get a rough estimate though and may be able to adjust down slightly for the indentations. It will indicate the absolute maximum capacity at least. Interested to see what you come up with :)

    I did some very rough measurements and calculations, I got the volume of a tank made of the maximum width with no indentations and then the volume of a tank made just to the size of indentions and averaged the result. I then added on the volume of an ellipsoid that the two curved ends of the tank would roughly create. This gave me 1065L.

    The delivery left the top 18cm of the tank empty (it filled 102cm out of 120cm).


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    #12
    Teagwee
    Registered Users Posts: 371 ✭✭Teagwee


    Pompey Magnus wrote: »
    I did some very rough measurements and calculations, I got the volume of a tank made of the maximum width with no indentations and then the volume of a tank made just to the size of indentions and averaged the result. I then added on the volume of an ellipsoid that the two curved ends of the tank would roughly create. This gave me 1065L.

    The delivery left the top 18cm of the tank empty (it filled 102cm out of 120cm).

    Sounds about right to me, though I'm no expert. My gut feeling is that the operational capacity is 1000 litres, allowing appropriate headspace for use. If you're around the next time the tank is filled, the delivery lorry has an accurate gauge that prints out a receipt - you can watch the whole process if you're in any doubt.


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