Designing a Car: Finding the Right Fuel Tank Size

[roy]

Dont know if this is the right forum for this question, let me know if its not!
Im designing a car and i need a 50 litre fuel tank. Can anyone tell me what the dimensions of the fuel tank would need to be?

 

[HallsofIvy]

We can't answer this without more information on the shape you want. You could make a long skinny tank or a cubic tank to hold exactly the same amount.

In any case, you should know that a litre is defined as 1000 cubic centimetres. A 50 litre fuel take would be 50000 cubic centimetres. If you made one in the shape of a cube, each side one have to be "cube root of 50000"= 36.8 centimeters, a little more than 1/3 of a metre, on each side. On the other hand, if you made the tank in the shape of a sphere, it would have to be about 11.5 cm in diameter.
For a general rectangular tank, you need to find three convenient numbers whose product is 50000- those will be the dimensions in cm.

 

[tacman]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out with your question about designing a car and determining the appropriate size for the fuel tank. This forum is a great place to ask questions related to design and engineering, so you are in the right place.

To answer your question, there are a few factors that need to be considered when determining the dimensions of a fuel tank. These include the type of fuel being used, the shape of the tank, and the available space within the car.

Firstly, the type of fuel being used will impact the size of the tank. Different fuels have different densities, which affects how much volume they take up. For example, diesel fuel is denser than gasoline, so a 50 liter tank for diesel will be smaller in size compared to a 50 liter tank for gasoline.

Secondly, the shape of the tank will also play a role in determining its dimensions. A cylindrical tank will have a different size compared to a rectangular or square tank. Additionally, the placement of the tank within the car will also impact its dimensions.

Lastly, the available space within the car will also need to be taken into consideration. The fuel tank needs to fit within the car's frame and not interfere with any other components or systems. This may require some adjustments to the dimensions to ensure proper fit and function.

In summary, to determine the dimensions of a 50 liter fuel tank for your car, you will need to consider the type of fuel, the shape of the tank, and the available space within the car. It is recommended to consult with a professional engineer or designer to ensure the tank is designed and placed correctly for optimal performance and safety.

I hope this helps. Best of luck with your car design project!