CHAPTER 2

Pressure Equipment Types and

Components

2.1 What is pressure equipment?

A unanimously agreed definition of what constitutes ‘pressure equipment’ is
hard to find. The terms pressure equipment, pressure vessel, and pressure
system, while appearing technically straightforward, are bound up as the
subject matter of discussion by the numerous technical committees that draft
legislation, regulations, and technical standards. Due to the way that various
international and national directives, standards, etc., are structured, there are
often differences and contradictions in meaning between technical terms.
The end result is that definition of what does, or does not, constitute pressure
equipment may differ between countries, industry, and technical application.
It is a complex and ever-changing picture.
Thankfully, fundamental technical aspects of pressure equipment do not
change that quickly. Design and manufacturing practices have been
developed over the past 100 years and the technology of pressure equipment
is well supported by technical standards and codes of practice from many of
the world’s developed countries.

2.2 Pressure equipment categories

Table 2.1 shows the scope of some common technical categories of pressure
equipment used in the mainstream engineering industries. Note that these
categories represent arbitrary technical divisions only and have no direct
relevance to the inclusion of the equipment under any directives or regulations.
From the engineering viewpoint, pressure equipment types, and
components are all surprisingly similar. Their characteristics are outlined in
Table 2.2.
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Table 2.1 Pressure equipment categories*

Simple pressure Gas cylinders Unfired pressure Boilers Valves Pipework Miscellaneous
vessels vessels
Simple receivers LPG cylinders Complex air receivers Heating boilers Stop valves Pipelines Turbines
(unfired) (transportable) Plug
Boiler drums Package ‘shell’ Power piping Autoclaves
Globe
Air Two-piece cylinders boilers

Engineers’ Guide to Pressure Equipment

Pressurized storage Gate Service piping Road transport
Nitrogen Three-piece cylinders
containers Coal/oil-fired power Butterfly vehicles
Flanges
Low-pressure/ boilers
Condensers Check valves Road and rail vehicle
atmospheric tanks Pipework
Liquid cooled General water tube Stop check components
fittings
Air cooled boilers Lift check (brakes, etc.)
Tilting disc check Pressurized
Superheaters HRSGs Portable tools
Swing check accessories
Fired HRSGs
Desuperheaters Domestic heating
Unfired HRSGs Safety valves
systems
Economizers Pressure relief
Forced circulation
Vacuum relief Aircraft components
Heat exchangers HRSGs
High-pressure feed Natural circulation Control valves Gas-loaded hydraulic
heaters HRSGs Two-way valves accumulators
Tube type exchangers Three-way valves
Single-pressure Vapour compression
Plate type exchangers Regulating valves
HRSGs refrigeration
Contact exchangers
Multiple-pressure Metering valves systems
Chemical HRSGs Needle valves Engine cooling
process/reaction Diaphragm valves systems
vessels
Metal vessels
GRP vessels
Nuclear vessels

* Note that these only show broad technical categories of pressure equipment. This table does not infer the applicability of any directives,
regulations, or technical standards – this is covered in Chapter 11.
 Pressure Equipment Types and Components 13

Table 2.2 Some characteristics of ‘pressure equipment’

Gauge pressure Equipment is subject to a positive gauge
pressure or negative gauge (vacuum) pressure.
Principal stresses Components are subject to principal stresses in
three dimensions, or two-dimensional membrane
stresses (for thin-walled shells).
Stored energy Pressure equipment, almost by definition, acts to
contain stored energy in use. Such stored energy
can constitute a hazard.
Controlled manufacture Due to the potential hazard if failure occurs,
pressure equipment is subject to controls on its
specification, design, and manufacture. The
amount of control varies, depending on what the
equipment is and how it will be used.
Factors of safety All pressure equipment has factors of safety
incorporated into its design; these provide a
margin against unforeseen circumstances and
reduce the risk of failure to acceptable levels.
Inspection and testing These play an important part in ensuring the
fitness for purpose of pressure equipment during
its manufacture and before use.
In-service inspection As a general rule, it is necessary to inspect
pressure equipment throughout its working life to
make sure it continues to be safe and fit for
purpose.

2.3 Pressure equipment symbols

Pressure equipment symbols are in regular use in schematic drawings and
Process and Instrumentation Diagrams (PIDs). There are many variations
based on BS, ISO, and American standards. Figures 2.1–2.4 show some
commonly used types. Table 2.3 and Figs 2.5 and 2.6 show symbols for
typical pressure equipment-related instrumentation.
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Engineers’ Guide to Pressure Equipment
Fig. 2.1 Vessel symbols. (Courtesy MS Visio)
 Pressure Equipment Types and Components
Fig. 2.2 Heat exchanger symbols. (Courtesy MS Visio)

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Engineers’ Guide to Pressure Equipment
Fig. 2.3 Valves and fittings. (Courtesy MS Visio)
 Pressure Equipment Types and Components
17
Fig. 2.4 Piping and fittings symbols. (Courtesy MS Visio)
18 Engineers’ Guide to Pressure Equipment

Self-actuated regulators

Relief valves

Temperature and level regulators

Fig. 2.5 Valve/regulator symbols from ISA S5.1

 Pressure Equipment Types and Components 19

Fig. 2.6 Flow measurement symbols from ISA S5.1

20 Engineers’ Guide to Pressure Equipment

Table 2.3 Typical instrument identification letters

First letters Succeeding letters
Measurement Modifier Readout or Output function Modifier
passive function
A= Analysis Alarm
B= Burner, User’s choice User’s choice User’s choice
combustion
C= Conductivity Control
(electrical)
D= Density or Differential
Sp. Gr
E= Voltage (Emf) Sensor (primary
element)
F= Flow rate Ratio
(fraction)
G= User’s choice Glass or viewing
device
H= Hand (manual) High
I= Current (electrical) Indicate
J= Power Scan
K= Time or time Time rate
schedule of change Control station
L= Level Light Low
M = User’s choice Momentary Middle or
intermediate
N= User’s choice User’s choice User’s choice User’s choice
O= User’s choice Office (restriction)
P= Pressure or Test or sample
vacuum point
Q= Quantity Integrate or
totalize
R= Radiation Record or print
S= Speed or Safety Switch
frequency
T= Temperature Transmit
U= Multi-variable Multi-function Multi-function Multi-function
V= Vibration. mech. Valve.
analysis Damper or louvre
W = Weight or force Well
X= Unclassified X axis Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified
Y= Event state Y axis Relay. Compute.
or presence Convert
Z= Position or Z axis Drive. Actuator.
dimension Etc.