Surface Production Operations

ENPE 505
Lecture Notes #7
Mechanical Design of Pressure Vessels
Hassan Hassanzadeh
EN B204M
hhassanz@ucalgary.ca

1
 Mechanical Design of Pressure Vessels

Learning Objectives
• perform very introductory calculations for
mechanical design of pressure vessels

2
Mechanical design of pressure vessels
Design temperature:

1. The maximum and minimum design temperatures for a vessel will

determine the maximum allowable stress value permitted for the material
to be used in the fabrication of the vessel.
2. The maximum temperature used in the design should not be less than
the mean metal temperature expected under the design operating
conditions.
3. The minimum temperature used in the design should be the lowest
expected in service except when lower temperatures are permitted by the
rules of the ASME code
Design Pressure
The design pressure for a vessel is called its "maximum allowable
working pressure" (MAWP). This is sometimes referred to simply as
the vessel's “working pressure”
The MAWP determines the setting of the relief valve and must be higher
than the normal pressure of the process contained in the vessel, which is
called the vessel's “operating pressure”. The operating pressure is fixed 3
by process conditions.
Mechanical design of pressure vessels (cont.)
If the operating pressure is too close to the relief valve setting, small surges
in operating pressure could cause the relief valve to activate prematurely.

Some vessels have pressure safety high sensors (PSHs) that shut in
the inflow if a higher-than-normal pressure is detected.

The differential between the maximum operating pressure and the PSH
sensor set pressure should be as indicated above, and the relief valve
should be set at least 5% or 5 psi, which ever is greater, higher than the
PSH sensor set pressure
4
Mechanical design of pressure vessels (cont.)

Example: What is the recommended MAWP for a vessel operating at 75psig

with a PSH sensor?

5% of 75 =3.75 psi < 5 psi choose 5 psi

From Table MAWP = 75+25+5=105 psig
PSH sensor is set at 75+25=100 psig and the relief valve is set at 105 psig

Often, especially for small vessels, it is advantageous to use a higher

MAWP than is recommended in the Table. It may be possible to increase
the MAWP at little or no cost and thus have greater future flexibility if
process change.

The MAWP of the vessel cannot exceed the MAWP of the nozzles, valves
and pipe connected to the vessel.

5
 Mechanical design of pressure vessels (cont.)
If the minimum MAWP calculated is close to one of the ANSI (American
National Standards Institute) MAWP listed below, it is common to design the
pressure vessel to the same MAWP as the ANSI class.

For example, the 105-psig pressure vessel previously discussed will have
nozzles, valves, and fittings attached to it that are rated for 285 psig (ANSI
Class 150). The increase in cost of additional vessel wall thickness to meet a
MAWP of 285 psig may be small

6
 Mechanical design of pressure vessels (cont.)
Maximum allowable stress values
The maximum allowable stress values to be used in the calculation of a
vessel's wall thickness are given in the ASME code for many different
materials.

Division 1,1 governing the design by rules, is less stringent from the
standpoint of certain design details and inspection procedures, and thus
Incorporates a higher safety factor. The 1998 edition incorporates a safety
factor of 4 while the 2001 and later editions incorporate a safety factor of 3.5

For example using a material with a 60,000-psi tensile strength, a vessel

built under the 1998 edition (safety factor - 4) yields a maximum allowable
stress value of 60000/4=15,000psi while a vessel built under the 2001
edition (safety factor - 3.5) yields a maximum allowable stress value of
60000/3.5=17124 psi.

Division 2 governs the design by analysis and incorporates a lower safety

factor of 3. Thus, the maximum allowable stress value for a 60,000-psi
tensile strength material will become 60000/3=20000 psi.
7
 Mechanical design of pressure vessels (cont.)
The following formulas are used in the ASME code Section VIII. Division
1 for determining wall thickness:

Corrosion allowance:
Typically, a corrosion allowance of 0. 125 in.
for non-corrosive service and 0.250 in. for
corrosive service is added to the wall
thickness calculated

where
S = maximum allowable stress value, psi
t = thickness, excluding corrosion allowance, in.
P = maximum allowable working pressure, psig
r = inside radius before corrosion allowance is added, in
d - inside diameter before corrosion allowance is added, in.
E - Joint efficiency,
α - half the angle of the apex of the cone.
8
Mechanical design of pressure vessels (cont.)
Inspection procedure
All pressure vessels need to be tested 1.5 times the MAWP (1998 edition) or 1.3
times the MAWP (2001and later editions)

Estimating vessel weight

it is important to be able to estimate vessel
weights, since most cost estimating
procedures start with the weight of the
vessel. The vessel weight, both empty and
full with water, may be necessary to
adequately ,design a foundation or to
assure that the vessel can be lifted or
erected once it gets to the construction site.
The weight of a vessel is made up of the
weight of the shell, the weight
of the heads, and the weight of internals,
nozzles, pedestals, and skirts.

9
Mechanical design of pressure vessels (cont.)
weight of one shell
w = weight, lb
d = internal diameter, in
t = wall thickness, in
L = shell length, ft

weight of one2:1 ellipsoidal head

The weight of a cone is

where α is one-half the cone apex angle

The weight of nozzles and internals can be estimated at 5 to 10% of the

sum of the shell and head weights.
As a first approximation, the weight of a skirt can be estimated as the same
thickness as the shell (neglecting the corrosion allowance) with a length given
by

(for an ellipsoidal head) (for a conical head)

10
Mechanical design of pressure vessels (cont.)

The outlet nozzle is generally the same size as the inlet nozzle. To prevent baffle
destruction due to impingement, the entering fluid velocity is to be limited as

Vin = maximum inlet nozzle fluid velocity,

ρf = density of the entering fluid, lb/ft3

Manways
Manways are large openings that allow personnel
access to the vessel internals for their maintenance
and/or replacement. Vessels 36 in. and
larger should have a minimum of one 18-in. manway.
Vessels 30 in. and smaller should have two 4-in.
flanged inspection openings. Manway cover davits
should be provided for 12-in. and larger manways for
safe and easy opening and closing of the cover.

11