Mechanical Design

of Pressure Vessels
4
< OVERVIEW
This chapter discusses the following topics:
Responsibilities of designing and fabricating pressure vessels
Design basis
Details or mechanical design
An overview of structural design
A quick reference guide to ASME Code, Section VIII,
Division 1

< GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Most pressure vessels have the following features:
Cylindrical shells with elliptical or hemispherical heads
Simple to design, fabricate, and install in either vertical or
horizontal position
Design is governed
Internal pressure
Few are designed to operate below atmospheric pressure
Most pressure vessels are designed to the rules of the ASME
Code, Section VIII, Division 1
Emphasized in this section
Information in this section
Not intended to be a substitute for the code but rather to
clarify the requirements of and to save time in using the
code

Pressure Vessels Field Manual: Common Operating Problems and

Practical Solutions e Ó 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 133