What is a Pressure Vessel
A pressure vessel is a closed leak-tight container (normally cylindrical or spherical) designed to hold fluids (i.e, gases, liquids, or two-phase fluids) at a pressure substantially different (higher or lower) from the ambient pressure. They are usually made from carbon steel or stainless steel and assembled from plates by welding method. However, other materials like Aluminium, copper, non-metals, etc also find usage as pressure vessel material in some specific situations. Even though most pressure vessels are basically long cylinders with two heads at both ends, they can take the shape of a sphere or cone.
Examples of some widely used pressure vessels are columns, boilers, separators, knock-out drums, Towers, Bullet Tanks, Reactors, and Heat Exchangers. All these pressure vessels are extensively used in the oil and gas, petroleum refining, and chemical/petrochemical processing industries, and power plants have varying operating pressures and temperatures. However, note that an atmospheric storage tank is not a pressure vessel. Fig. 1 shows a typical pressure vessel used in the oil & gas industry.
What are the Types of Pressure Vessels?
Based on their installation/orientation they are classified into the following two groups.
- Vertical pressure vessel
- Horizontal Pressure Vessel
Various methods are used to support pressure vessels, like
Types of ends attached to the vessels are
- Dish ends
- Conical ends
- Flat Ends
Fig. 2 shows the general configuration of a pressure vessel.
Inputs for the Design of Pressure Vessels
The design of pressure vessels must be done with utmost care as these operate under immense pressure. A ruptured pressure vessel can cause serious irreversible harm to mankind and properties. Normally the ASME Sec VIII code governs the design of pressure vessels.
The following inputs are required for pressure vessel design
- Internal Design Pressure / External Design Pressure
- Test Pressure
- Design temperature
- Material of constructions
- Type of support
- Type of loading (wind load/seismic loading/snow loading)
Pressure Vessels Design Formula
The basic formula for designing the cylindrical shell is
σ = PD/2t
Therefore, t = PD/2σ
- t = thickness of the shell
- P = internal pressure
- D = diameter of the shell
- σ = tensile stress
This basic formula is modified in international design codes.
- t = thickness of the shell
- P = internal pressure
- R = radius of the cylinder
- S = tensile stress
- E = joint efficiency
Refer to ASME Sec VIII Div 1 for design formulas for all sections of the vessel/cylinder. The following figure provides a typical flow chart for pressure vessel design steps.
Type of Pressure Vessel Supports
Based on how the pressure vessels are supported, they can be of the following types.
- Vessel Supported on Lug Support (Fig. 5)
- Vessel Supported on Skirt(Fig. 5)
- Vessel Supported on Leg(Fig. 5)
- Vessel Supported on Saddle(Fig. 6)
Pressure Vessel Parts
A pressure vessel consists of the following parts
- Shell, head
- Platforms & ladders
- Skirt or saddles
Design codes used for Pressure Vessel Design
There are various codes that are used for pressure vessel design, construction, and maintenance purposes. Some of them are listed below:
- EN 13445: The current European Standard, harmonized with the Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC). Extensively used in Europe.
- ASME Code Section VIII, in addition, is supported by Sections II (materials), V (NDT/NDE), and IX (welding). Published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
- ASME Code Section VIII Division 1: US standard, design by the formula. Almost exclusively used in North America, widely used worldwide.
- ASME Code Section VIII Division 2: Alternative Rules, design by analysis.
- ASME Code Section VIII Division 3: Alternative Rules for Construction of High-Pressure Vessel
- BS 5500: Former British Standard, replaced in the UK by EN 13445 but retained under the name PD 5500 for the design and construction of export equipment.
- AD Merkblätter: German standard, harmonized with the Pressure Equipment Directive.
- EN 286 (Parts 1 to 4): European standard for simple pressure vessels (air tanks), harmonized with Council Directive 87/404/EEC.
- BS 4994: Specification for design and construction of vessels and tanks in reinforced plastics.
- IS 2825-1969 (RE1977): code unfired Pressure vessels
Pressure Vessel Internals
Internals are used to separate the liquid from a mixture of liquid & vapor. Refer to Fig. 6
Example of Pressure Vessels
Fig. 7 shows a few of the various types of pressure vessels that are normally used in plants.
- Distillation Column
- Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger
- Knock out drums
- Bullet Tanks
Material of Construction of Pressure Vessel
For industrial applications, the following materials are widely used for pressure vessel construction. However custom-made pressure vessel fabrication is possible depending on requirements.
- Carbon steel and Cladding Plates
- Low and High Alloy Steels
- Stainless Steel
- Manganese Steel
- Duplex Stainless steel
- Aluminum, Copper, Nickel Alloys
- Fibre Glass Reinforced Plastic
Applications of Pressure Vessel
Pressure Vessels are most widely used in the following sectors
- Refinery and Petro-chemical
- Oil and Gas
- Power Plants
Regular inspection of pressure vessels is very important to avoid pressure vessel failures. API 510 provides guidelines for pressure vessel inspection.
The following video provides a comprehensive basic of the pressure vessel design methodologies:
Few more Resources for you.
Brief Explanation of Major Pressure Vessel Parts
A Presentation on VESSEL CLIPS or VESSEL CLEATS
10 points to keep in mind while using project-specific pressure vessel nozzle load tables during stress analysis
Understanding Pressure and Temperature in the context of Pressure Vessel Design
A video tutorial on “Comprehensive Design Code Coverage for Pressure Vessel and Heat Exchanger Design” by Bentley Institute
Online Course on Pressure Vessels
If you wish to learn more about Pressure Vessels, their design, fabrication, installation, etc in depth, then the following online courses will surely help you: