PRESSURE VESSEL DESIGN

Chapter 13: MECHANICAL DESIGN OF PROCESS EQUIPMENT

By Towler & Sinnot
WHY DESIGN?

•the chemical engineer will be responsible for

developing and specifying the basic design
information for a particular vessel, and therefore
needs to have a general appreciation of pressure
vessel design to work effectively with the
specialist designer.
WHY DESIGN?

•preliminary design of conventional vessels

•check the feasibility of a proposed equipment
design
•to estimate the vessel cost for an economic
analysis
•determine the vessel’s general proportions and
weight for plant layout purposes
DATA NEEDED BY DESIGN SPECIALIST
• Vessel function
• Process materials and
services
• Operating and design
temperature and
pressure
• Materials of construction
• Vessel dimensions and
orientation
• Types of vessel heads to be
used
• Openings and connections
required
• Specification of heating and
cooling jackets or coils
• Type of agitator
• Specification of internal
fittings
PRESSURE VESSELS

•Different codes and regulations apply in different

countries may have other definition
•Generally, any closed vessel over 150mm
diameter subject to a pressure difference of more
than 0.5 bar should be designed as a pressure
vessel.
 CLASSIFICATION OF PRESSURE VESSELS

Thin-walled σR
σL
• t:D < 1:10
• radial stress (σR) is
σC
negligible
• longitudinal, (σL) and σC
circumferential, (σC) is
constant throughout the wall σL
thickness σR
 CLASSIFICATION OF PRESSURE VESSELS

Thick-walled
• t:D > 1:10
• radial stress (σR),
longitudinal (σL), and
circumferential (σC) varies
throughout the wall
thickness
ASME BPV CODE

Most chemical
plant and
refinery
vessels fall
within the
scope of
Section VIII
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND EQUATIONS

•Different codes and regulations apply in different

countries may have other definition
•Generally, any closed vessel over 150mm
diameter subject to a pressure difference of more
than 0.5 bar should be designed as a pressure
vessel.
Principal Stresses

•The principal stresses are the

maximum values of the
normal stresses at the point,
which act on planes on which
the shear stress is zero.
•Compressive stresses are
conventionally taken as
negative; tensile as positive.
 Shear Stress

• 
Read section on Theories of Failure in Ch13
Most correlations for
pressure vessel costs are
based on the weight
of metal required, and
hence require an estimate
of the vessel wall thickness
as well as its volume.
Longitudinal Stress (axial; meridonial)

Stress acting parallel to the

axis that causes the
cylindrical vessel to
elongate (increase
dimension along the axis)
Longitudinal Stress (axial; meridonial)

 
Circumferential Stress (hoop; girth)

Stress acting along the girth

that tends to increase the
diameter of the cylinder
(bloating)
Circumferential Stress (hoop; girth)

 
Spherical vessel (or hemispherical head)

 
Longitudinal and
circumferential stresses
occur simultaneously due
to the internal pressure in
the vessel. This may lead
to catastrophic explosions
when a pressure vessel is
not designed satisfactorily.

The design thickness is

based on the  
circumferential stress.
General Design Considerations

DESIGN DUE TO INTERNAL PRESSURE

1. Design Pressure (PD = 1.1 Pgauge)

•For vessels under internal pressure, the design pressure

(sometimes called maximum allowable working pressure
or MAWP) is taken as the pressure at which the relief
device is set.
•5 to 10% above the normal working pressure to avoid
spurious operation during minor process upsets.
•the hydrostatic pressure in the base of the column should
be added to the operating pressure, if significant.
2. Design Temperature

•The maximum design temperature at which the maximum

allowable stress is evaluated should be taken as the
maximum working temperature of the material, with due
allowance.
•Strength decreases with increasing temperature
3. Materials

•Always consider compatibility (corrosion resistance) as

primary criteria
•take into account the suitability of the material for
fabrication (particularly welding)
4. Maximum Allowable Stress

•This is determined by applying a suitable safety factor to

the maximum stress that the material could be expected
to withstand without failure under standard test
conditions.
•Nominal strength design – can be equated with
circumferential stress

*use Table 13.2 for allowable stresses of materials at given

temperature
4. Welded Joint Efficiency (E)

•The soundness of welds is checked by visual inspection

and by nondestructive testing (radiography)
•The BPV Code should be consulted to determine the
allowed joint types for a particular vessel
•The British standard does not consider joint efficiency
but instead places restrictions on nominal design strength
*memorize Table 13.3
A Longitudinal or spiral welds in the main shell, necks or nozzles, or circumferential welds
connecting hemispherical heads to the main shell, necks, or nozzles;
B Circumferential welds in the main shell, necks, or nozzles or connecting a formed head other
than hemispherical;
C Welds connecting flanges, tube sheets, or flat heads to the main shell, a formed head, neck, or
nozzle;
D Welds connecting communicating chambers or nozzles to the main shell, to heads, or to necks.
5. Corrosion Allowance

•It is the additional thickness of metal added to allow for

material lost by corrosion and erosion, or scaling
•For carbon and low-alloy steels, where severe corrosion
is not expected, a minimum allowance of 2.0mm should
be used; where more severe conditions are anticipated,
this should be increased to 4.0 mm.
6. Design Loads

• Design pressure: including any significant static head of liquid.

• Maximum weight of the vessel and contents, under operating
conditions.
• Maximum weight of the vessel and contents under the hydraulic
test conditions.
• Wind loads.
• Earthquake (seismic) loads.
• Loads supported by, or reacting on, the vessel.
Example Problem

• 
Example Problem

• If the said vessel is made out of cold-rolled steel whose

yield stress is 300 MPa, is the vessel safe?

 
Example Problem

• What is the maximum internal pressure for a scuba tank with the
following dimensions?
Dm = 200mm t = 6mm
Choose from these seawater resistant metals:
Material Tensile strength at Density, kg/m3
ambient T, Mpa
Bronze 600 8820
Titanium 434 4506
431 Stainless Steel 650 6910
• Redo calculation if Pg = 26psi, what is the best material?
HEADS and CLOSURES

HEAD PRESSURE RANGE REMARKS

Flat Low < 10bar Cheap to manufacture, can be
welded, flanged, or bolted
Torispherical Mid up to 15 bar Standard has crown radius to
knuckle radius as 100:6
Ellipsoidal Mid 10 to above 15 bar Standard has major to minor axis
as 2:1
Hemispherical High > 15 bar Strongest shape but costly to form
 Flat Heads

• 
Example Problem 13.1 (Towler)
• Estimate the thickness required
for the component parts of the
vessel shown in the diagram.
The vessel is to operate at a
pressure of 14 bar (absolute)
and temperature of 260°C. The
material of construction will be
plain carbon steel. Welds will
be fully radiographed. A
corrosion allowance of 2mm
should be used.
Example Problem 13.1 (Towler)
• 

   

 
 Example Problem 13.1 (Towler)
• Choose a suitable enclosure for the vessel

     
 

Choose tHEAD closest to calculated tSHELL.

Design due to External Pressure

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