Process Equipment Design

(Vessel Design)
Brownell and Young, 1959
Factors Influencing the design of
Vessels
• Industrial process is the transformation of raw
materials to final products through chemical and
physical operations.
Factors Influencing the design of
Vessels
• These processes require treatment & storing of big
quantities in different types of containers / vessels
depending on:

a) Material status inside vessel.

b) Its chemical and physical properties.

c) Type of operation to be carried out.

Factors Influencing the design of
Vessels
• There are many factors affecting vessels
design:
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
2. Methods of Fabrication.
3. Types of Criteria in Vessel Design.
4. Economic Considerations.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• The first step in vessel design is the selection
of the appropriate vessel type to intended
operation.
• Main factors affecting the selection:
a) Vessel function and location.
b) Nature of fluid.
c) Operating Temperature & Pressure.
d) Storing or Production Capacity.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Vessels can be classified according to:
a) Functional Service.
b) Temp. & pressure service.
c) Material of construction.
d) Geometry of the vessel.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Most of common vessels are classified according
to its geometry as follows:
A. Open Vessels.
B. Closed Vessels:
i. Flat-bottomed, vertical, cylindrical tanks.
ii. Cylindrical vertical and horizontal vessels
with formed ends.
iii. Spherical and modified spherical vessels.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• General Guidelines in current use of common
vessels:
Big volumes of non-hazardous , cheap liquids
such as brine and other aqueous solutions
stored in ponds.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• General Guidelines in current use of common
vessels:
Big volumes of non-hazardous , valuable
liquids stored in steel, wood or concrete
vessels.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• General Guidelines in current use of common
vessels:
Toxic, Flammable, Gaseous or high pressure
fluids require closed system.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• General Guidelines in current use of common
vessels:
Fluids under atmospheric pressure stored in
flat-bottomed cylindrical tanks with conical
heads.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• General Guidelines in current use of common
vessels:
Spherical and Spheroids used for storing
under high pressure where big volumes in
required.
For small volumes cylindrical tanks with
formed heads are more economical.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Open Vessels.
 It’s cheaper than covered or closed vessels of the same
volume and construction.
 It’s used as:
a) Storage tanks.
b) Vats in batch operations where materials may be
mixed and blended.
c) Settling tanks.
d) Decanters
e) Chemical reactors,
f) Etc.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Open Vessels.
Ponds are the cheapest type of open vessels
and it’s used to store very big volumes of
aqueous solutions.
Large circular tanks made from steel or
reinforced concrete used as settling tanks.
Small open vessels used as storages and
mixing tanks during the operation.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Open Vessels.
Ponds are the cheapest type of open vessels
and it’s used to store very big volumes of
aqueous solutions.
Large circular tanks made from steel or
reinforced concrete used as settling tanks.
Small open vessels used as storages and
mixing tanks during the operation.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Closed Vessels.
It’s used to store Toxic, Flammable, Gaseous &
Dangerous chemicals such as acid and caustic.

It’s also used in Petroleum and Petrochemical

industries because the combustible nature of
its products.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Closed Vessels.
(Cylindrical vessels with flat bottoms and conical or
domed roofs):
 The most economical design for closed vessels
operate at atmospheric pressure is Cylindrical
vessels with flat bottoms and conical roofs.
 Cylindrical vessels with flat bottoms and conical
roofs are provided with “breather” or vent which
permit expansion and contraction of fluids as a
result of temperature and pressure fluctuation.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Closed Vessels.
(Cylindrical vessels with flat bottoms and conical or
domed roofs):
 Tanks up to 24 ft diameter are covered with self-
supporting roofs.
 Tanks with lager diameter up to 48 ft require at
least on central column as support.
 Tanks with diameter larger than 48 ft are usually
designed with multiple column support or
floating roof with rises and falls with the level of
liquid inside the vessel.
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Closed Vessels.
(Cylindrical vessels with flat bottoms and conical
or domed roofs):
Cylindrical vessels with flat bottoms and
domed roofs are used to store fluids under
pressure from 2.5 – 15 lb per sq. in.
These vessels normally design with smaller
diameter and greater height for the same
capacity of that with cone roofed
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Closed Vessels.
(Cylindrical vessels with formed ends):
 It’s used when liquid vapour pressure requires stronger
design.
 Normally vessel diameter less than 12 ft.
 Field erected vessels dimensions may exceed 35 ft diameter
and 200 ft height.
 Formed ends include:
o Hemi-spherical
o Elliptical – dished.
o Standard dished.
o Conical
1. Selection of the Type of the Vessel.
• Closed Vessels.
(Spherical & modified spherical vessels):
 It’s used for medium pressures.
 For large volumes under medium pressure
spherical vessels are more economical.
 For high pressure cylindrical vessels are more
economical.
 Small cylindrical vessels are more economical
than spherical vessels.
• Animation - How Storage Tanks are Designed
Made Installed.mp4