Vullingsgraad

Vullingsgraad is a Dutch term that denotes the degree to which a space, container or system is filled with material. It is defined as the ratio of the occupied volume to the total available volume and is usually expressed as a percentage, sometimes with decimal precision. The concept is widely used across disciplines to monitor capacity, optimize operation and assess safety.

Calculation typically uses the formula: vullingsgraad = (V_occupied / V_capacity) × 100%. If the material’s density is known and only mass is measured, V_occupied can be derived as mass divided by density. In multi‑phase systems, the fill degree may refer to the sum of all solid or liquid portions relative to the gross volume, depending on convention and whether void spaces are included.

Factors influencing the fill degree include particle size and shape, moisture content, compaction, temperature and the geometry of the container. For liquids, a near-complete fill is often possible, though practical headspace is sometimes required to accommodate expansion or flow. For granular materials, packing density and porosity affect how much material fits within a given volume.

Applications occur in storage and logistics (bins, tanks, silos), water management (reservoirs and tanks), energy storage (packing density in batteries), construction (soil fill and compaction) and process engineering (reactor volumes and mixing). Measurement methods include level sensors, radar, ultrasonic devices and manual gauging; translating mass to volume may require knowledge of density or bulk density for powders and grains.

See also: filling level, occupancy, porosity, bulk density.