A spherical gas-storage tank with an inside diameter of 9 m is being constructed to store gas under an internal pressure of 1.50 MPa. The tank will be constructed from steel that has a yield strength of 340 MPa. If a factor of safety of 3.0 with respect to the yield strength is required, determine the minimum wall thickness required for the spherical tank.

33 mm

Explanation:

Given

Diameter of the tank, d = 9 m, so that, radius = d/2 = 9/2 = 4.5 m

Internal pressure of gas, P(i) = 1.5 MPa

Yield strength of steel, P(y) = 340 MPa

Factor of safety = 0.3

Allowable stress = 340 * 0.3 = 102 MPa

σ = pr / 2t, where

σ = allowable stress

p = internal pressure

r = radius of the tank

t = minimum wall thickness

t = pr / 2σ

t = 1.5*10^6 * 4.5 / 2 * 102*10^6

t = 0.033 m

t = 33 mm

The minimum thickness of the wall required is therefore, 33 mm