Building a Properly-Sized Storage Tank

by Thomas Conlon

Submitted : Fall 2008

A 100 cubic meter storage tank must be built such way that it will be able to hold 75 cubic meters of water. The rate at which water flows into the tank is equal to 0.03 cubic meters per second, and this flow rate can stop for up to 1,800 seconds. If the flow rate into the tank does stop, the rate at which the water flows out of the tank must not fall below 0.015 cubic meters per second. Given this information, we find the radius and height of the tank using the minimum amount of surface area, and find the range of orifice areas that will allow the water to flow out of the tank and satisfy all of the preconditions of the problem.

[ Back ]