INTRODUCTION TO

PRESSURE VESSELS
PRESSURE VESSELS
Pressure vessels are the containers for fluids with a
pressure differential between inside and outside.
The fluid inside the vessel may undergo a change in
state (e.g. - steam boilers) or may combine with other
reagents (e.g. - chemical reactor)
Pressure vessels often have a combination of high
pressures together with high temperatures, and in some
cases flammable fluids or highly radioactive materials.
The rupture of a pressure vessel has a potential to cause
extensive physical injury and property damage
Hence these vessels have to be designed carefully .


Pressure Vessels - Usage
They are used in a number of industries;

power generation industry - fossil /nuclear power
petrochemical industry - for storing and processing
petroleum crude in tank farms as well as storing
gasoline in service stations
chemical reactors
food industries
pharmaceutical industries

- to name but a few
Classification of vessels
According to pressure and its type
i. Internal Pressure Vessels - where the media pressure
inside the vessel is more than that outside.
ii. External Pressure Vessels - where the media pressure
inside the vessel is less than that outside.
When the internal pressure < 0.1 MPa (abs),
such vessels are called Vacuum Vessel.

Low pressure vessel (L) : 0.1 P < 1.6 MPa

Med. pressure vessel (M) : 1.6 P < 10 MPa

High pressure vessel (H) : 10 P < 100 MPa

Ultra-high pressure vessel (U): P 100 MPa
ii. According to temperature

Low temperature vessel : T < -20

Normal temperature vessel : -20 < T 200

High temperature vessel - where the wall
temperature is above the creep temperature.

Medium temperature vessel - between normal T
& high T vessels


High temperature vessel

Carbon steel & Low-alloy steel T> 420
Alloy steel (Cr-Mo steel) T> 450
Austenite stainless steel (Cr-Ni) T> 550
iii. According to Grades
Grade (I)
Grade (II)
Grade (III)
Factor
P, P*V
media
importance
Degree of danger:
I < II < III
Pressure Vessel - Shapes
The size and geometry of pressure vessels vary greatly
from the large vessels used for high-pressure gas storage
to the small size used as hydraulic units for aircraft.
Pressure vessels are usually spherical or cylindrical
(Vertical/horizontal), with domed ends.
The cylindrical vessels are generally preferred, since they
present simpler manufacturing problems and make better
use of the available space.
However there are some special types of Vessels like
Regeneration Tower, Reactors but these names are given
according to their use only.

Pressure Vessel - Shapes
Boiler drums, heat exchangers, chemical reactors etc
are generally cylindrical.
Spherical vessels require thinner walls for a given
pressure and diameter than the equivalent cylinder.
Therefore they are used for large gas or liquid
containers, gas-cooled nuclear reactors, containment
buildings for nuclear plant, and so on
HORIZONTAL PRESSURE VESSEL
Power plant
De-aerator
VERTICAL PRESSURE VESSEL
The max. Shell length to diameter ratio for a small vertical
drum is about 5 : 1

TALL VERTICAL TOWER
Constructed in a wider range
of shell diameter and height.
They can be relatively small
in dia. and very large (e.g. 4 ft
dia. And 200 ft tall
distillation column.
They can be very large in dia.
and moderately tall (e.g. 3 ft
dia. And 150 ft tall tower).
Internal trays are needed for
flow distribution.
FALLING FLIM
EVAPORATOR
FOUNDATION
FOUNDATION SKIRT
JUICE TANK
CALANDRIA
STEAM JACKET
DISH END
20 Meter Fh
VERTICAL REACTOR
Figure shows a typical reactor
vessel with a cylindrical shell.

The process fluid undergoes
a chemical reaction inside a
reactor.

This reaction is normally
facilitated by the presence of
a catalyst which is held in one
or more catalyst beds.
Pressurised Water Reactor
SPHERICAL PRESSURIZED STORAGE
VESSEL
MAIN COMPONENTS OF
PRESSURE VESSEL

Following are the main
components of pressure
Vessels in general

Shell
Head
Nozzle
Support
Shell
Head
Nozzle
Supports
SHELL

It is the primary component that contains the
pressure.
plates are welded together to form a
structure that has a common rotational axis.
Shells are either cylindrical, spherical and
rarely conical in shape.

SHELL

Horizontal drums have cylindrical shells and
are constructed in a wide range of diameter
and length.
The shell sections of a tall tower may be
constructed of different materials, thickness
and diameters due to process and phase
change of process fluid.
Shell of a spherical pressure vessel is
spherical as well.


HEAD

All the pressure vessels must be closed at
the ends by heads (or another shell section).
Heads are typically curved rather than flat.
The reason is that curved configurations are
stronger and allow the heads to be thinner,
lighter and less expensive than flat heads.
Heads can also be used inside a vessel and
are known as intermediate heads.
These intermediate heads are separate
sections of the pressure vessels to permit
different design conditions.

NOZZLE
A nozzle is a cylindrical component that
penetrates into the shell or head of pressure
vessel.
They are used for -

Attach piping for flow into or out of the vessel.
Attach instrument connection (level gauges,
Thermowells, pressure gauges).
Provide access to the vessel interior at
Manway.
Provide for direct attachment of other equipment
items (e.g. heat exchangers).
SUPPORT

Support is used to bear all the load of
pressure vessel, earthquake and wind loads.

There are different types of supports which
are used depending upon the size and
orientation of the pressure vessel.

It is considered to be the non-pressurized part
of the vessel.

TYPES OF SUPPORTS
LEG SUPPORT:

Small vertical drums are typically supported on legs
that are welded to the lower portion of the shell.
The max. ratio of support leg length to drum diameter
is typically 2 : 1
Reinforcing pads are welded to the shell first to
provide additional local reinforcement and load
distribution.
The number of legs depends on the drum size and
loads to be carried.
Support legs are also used for Spherical pressurized
storage vessels.
Cross bracing between the legs is used to absorb wind
or earth quake loads.
TYPES OF SUPPORTS
LUG SUPPORT:
Vertical pressure vessels may
also be supported by lugs.

The use of lugs is typically
limited to pressure vessels of
small and medium diameter (1
to 10 ft)

Also moderate height to
diameter ratios in the range of
2:1 to 5:1

The lugs are typically bolted to
horizontal structural members
in order to provide stability
against overturning loads.

TYPES OF SUPPORTS

SADDLE SUPPORT:

Horizontal drums are typically supported at two locations by saddle
support.

It spreads over a large area of the shell to prevent an excessive local stress
in the shell at support point.

One saddle support is anchored whereas the other is free to permit
unstrained longitudinal thermal expansion of the drum.

SADDLE
SUPPORT
TYPES OF SUPPORTS
SKIRT SUPPORT:

Tall vertical cylindrical pressure vessels are typically
supported by skirts.

A support skirt is a cylindrical shell section that is
welded either to the lower portion of the vessel shell
or to the bottom head (for cylindrical vessels).

The skirt is normally long enough to provide enough
flexibility so that radial thermal expansion of the shell
does not cause high thermal stresses at its junction
with the skirt.
PV Design - Basic Requirements
Enough strength - no breakage
Enough rigidity - set limits deformation
Enough stability - no collapse
Durability guaranteed life
Tightness - no leakage
Materials Economy & minimal cost
Easy to manufacture, transport, install, operate and
maintain

Steps:
i. Material Selection
ii. Structure design
iii. Calculation of strength and thickness
iv. Seal design; select / design flanges
v. Selection of support, Check for strength
vi. Design of reinforcements
vii. Selection of other parts and accessories