How many gallons of fuel oil does one inch equal in a 550 gallon fuel tank?

Answer 1

It depends on the diameter and length of the tank, as well as the shape and the position or pitch of the tank. Assuming this 550 gallon tank is a 36" diameter x 125" long horizontal cylinder, the volume of a particular depth can be figured by the following formula:

[(r x r) /(2 (a - sina)) x l )] /230.9 = volume in gallons if h < r

a = ((inverse cos(r-h/r)) x 2 ; Angle created by the chord (2 x sin(1/2a))

h = depth in inches (less than r)

r = radius of the tank in inches

l = length of the tank in inches

230.9 = volume in cu. in. of 1 gallon

so for 1 inch depth in this particular tank r-h =17;inverse cos(17/18) = inv.cos.9444 = 19.19; a = 38.38 degrees;l=125; r=18 ; h=1

plugging these into the formula we get:

[(18 x 18) /(2(38.38 - sin(38.38))) x 125] /230.9

= [(324)/(2(38.38 - 0.6209)) x 125 ] / 230.9

= [324/(2(37.7590)) x 125] / 230.9

= (324/ 75.518) x 125/ 230.9

= 4.29 x 125 / 230.9

= 536.25 / 230.9

= 2.322 gallons

**as h increases the volume per inch increases, so the volume needs to be calculated for each measurement. If h > r then substituting (diameter-h) in this formula for h then subtracting the result from [.7854(d x d) x l] / 230.9 will get you the greater volume.