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PRESSURE VESSELS
Pressure vessels are the containers for fluids
under high pressure.

A pressure vessel must be operated below the

maximum allowable working temperature and
pressure, the pressure vessel’s safety limits.

PRESSURE VESSELS They are used in a variety of industries like

Petroleum refining
Chemical
Power
Food & beverage
Pharmaceutical

MAIN COMPONENTS OF
SHELL
PRESSURE VESSEL
Following are the main components of pressure
Vessels in general
 It is the primary component that contains
the pressure.
• Shell
• Head  Pressure vessel shells in the form of
• Nozzle different plates are welded together to form
• Support a structure that has a common rotational
axis.

 Shells are either cylindrical, spherical or

conical in shape.

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SHELL
 Horizontal drums have cylindrical shells and
are constructed in a wide range of diameter
and length.
 The shell sections of a tall tower may be
constructed of different materials, thickness
and diameters due to process and phase
change of process fluid.
 Shell of a spherical pressure vessel is
spherical as well.
NOZZLE
• A nozzle is a cylindrical component that
penetrates into the shell or head of pressure
vessel.
• They are used for the following applications.
• Attach piping for flow into or out of the vessel.
• Attach instrument connection (level gauges,
Thermowells, pressure gauges).
• Provide access to the vessel interior at
MANWAY.
• Provide for direct attachment of other equipment
items (e.g. heat exchangers).
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HEAD
All the pressure vessels must be closed at the
ends by heads (or another shell section).
Heads are typically curved rather than flat.
The reason is that curved configurations are
stronger and allow the heads to be thinner,
lighter and less expensive than flat heads.
Heads can also be used inside a vessel and
are known as intermediate heads.
These intermediate heads are separate
sections of the pressure vessels to permit
different design conditions.
SUPPORT
Support is used to bear all the load of
pressure vessel, earthquake and wind loads.
There are different types of supports which
are used depending upon the size and
orientation of the pressure vessel.
It is considered to be the non-pressurized
part of the vessel.
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TYPES OF PRESSURE VESSELS
ACCORDING TO ITS SHAPE
CYLINDRICAL PRESSURE VESSEL
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TYPES OF PRESSURE VESSELS
ACCORDING TO ITS SHAPE
Cylindrical Pressure Vessels
• Cylindrical pressure vessels are the most widely used vessel shape
due to their versatility.
• They are much cheaper to produce than spherical vessels.
• However, they are generally weaker than spherical pressure vessels.
• They typically require thicker walls to achieve the same strength of
spherical vessels bearing the same internal pressure.
Spherical Pressure vessels
• Spherical pressure vessels are ideal for containing high-pressure
fluids due to their strong structure, but they are difficult and expensive
to fabricate.
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SPHERICAL PRESSURIZED
VESSEL

TYPES OF PRESSURE VESSELS

ACCORDING TO ITS PURPOSE

Storage Vessels BOILERS

• Storage vessels are pressure vessels that temporarily hold liquids, vapors,
and gases.
• The vessel may be used to contain fluids in a later process, or for storing
finished products such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid
nitrogen.
• Boilers are heat transfer equipment that utilizes fuel, nuclear or
electrical power as sources of heat.
• They are typically composed of an enclosed vessel that allows heat
transfer from the source to the fluid. They are primarily used to heat
liquids.

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HEAT EXCHANGER
• Heat exchangers are used to transfer heat between two or more fluids.
They are commonly used in the food, pharmaceutical, energy, and
bioprocessing industries.
• Materials in a heat exchanger experience stress from the temperature
difference of the hot and cold fluids, and the internal pressure containing
the fluids.
DISTILLATION COLUMNS
• It allows the separation of a mixture of liquids based on the difference in their
volatilities. There are two types of distillation processes, fast distillation and in-
column distillation (fractional Distillation)
Flash Distillation
• involves heating a highly pressurized liquid mixture stream followed by separation
of the vaporization of the more volatile component inside a flash chamber.
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PROCESS VESSELS
• These are containers where industrial processes occur, such as mixing and
agitation, decantation, distillation and mass separation, and chemical reaction.
• The change in the internal pressure of a process vessel depends on the nature of
the process carried out and the transformation of the substances involved.
• The following are some types of process vessels:
DISTILLATION COLUMNS
In-column Distillation or Fractional Distillation
• one or more liquid mixture streams enters in the column at one or more
points.
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Decanters and Gravity Settlers
• Allow the separation of a solid-liquid or liquid-liquid mixture. The denser
component settles at the bottom of the vessel. This type of vessel
typically has a narrow cross-sectional area or is oriented horizontally.
Industrial Mixers
 Are pressure vessels that are equipped with motor-powered blades to
homogenize and emulsify a single or multiple substances.
CHEMICAL REACTORS
Jacketed Reactors
• maintain the temperature of the reactants, products, and catalysts
during a chemical reaction. A utility fluid (e.g., cooling water, steam)
flows through the jacket and wraps around the vessel to cool or heat
the contents of the reactor.
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CHEMICAL REACTORS
• Enclosed pressure vessels used to contain and/or stir the reactants, products, and
catalysts during a chemical reaction.
• They are equipped with agitators or stirrers to facilitate the blending among the reactants.
• The following are the types of chemical reactors which utilize a pressure vessel:
CHEMICAL REACTORS
Packed Bed Reactors
• are cylindrical vessels that contain an immobilized bed of catalyst.
• Packed bed reactors provide high conversion per weight of catalyst and
more contact area for the reactant and the catalyst. However, in these
reactors, the cylindrical vessel must be able to support the weight of
the catalyst bed.
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CHEMICAL REACTORS
Fluidized Bed Reactors

• Also contain a bed of catalyst. In these reactors, the gaseous or liquid

reactants pass through the bed at high velocities which suspend the
solid catalyst inside the vessel and make it behave like a fluid.
TYPES OF PRESSURE VESSELS
HEADS

HEMISPHERICAL HEADS TORISPHERICAL HEADS

• They have simple radial geometry and higher internal volume, but
they are more difficult to fabricate and join to the shell.
• Require the least wall thickness that will handle the same internal
pressure.
• The radius of a hemispherical head is equal to the radius of the cross-
section of the cylindrical vessel. The depth of the head is half of the
diameter.
• are suitable for handling pressures less than 15 bars. They are the
easiest and cheapest to fabricate among the heads. They are used
for pressure vessels with height restrictions because of their flatter
profile.
• The transition of the cylinder and the dish is called the knuckle that is
in toroidal shape. The knuckle radius is equal to the radius of the
torus, and the crown radius is equal to the radius of the sphere.

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ELLIPSOIDAL HEADS
• Have a depth that is a fraction of the width of the head. Its radius
varies between the major and minor axis, which is usually 2:1.
• This type of head is ideal for containing high-pressure gases due to its
height-to-weight ratio. It can handle pressures greater than 15 bars.
• Ellipsoidal heads are resistant to pressure and have high overall
strength, which makes them economical due to their reduced
thickness requirement. VESSEL ORIENTATION

VERTICAL ORIENTATION HORIZONTAL ORIENTATION

• When the floor space is small. • In heat exchangers since this orientation allows easier cleaning.
• When the vessel volume is small. • In settling tanks and flash drums, where low downward velocity is
• In mixing tanks because it allows required. Low velocities have less entrainment
efficient mixing since the fluid is
distributed at a smaller cross-sectional
area.
• When gas to liquid ratio is high.
• In liquid-liquid separation for easier
removal of components.

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MATERIAL SELECTION FOR
PRESSURE VESSELS
CARBON STEEL
• Carbon steel is a type of steel that has a higher carbon content
of up to 2.5%.
• Carbon steel vessels are known for their high tensile strength
for a minimal wall thickness, which is suitable for a wide range
of applications.
• They are to impact and vibration.
• However, carbon steel is difficult to bend and form into shapes
due to its high strength.
• It is also more susceptible to corrosion and rusting than
stainless steel since it does not contain chromium.
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• Can meet the strength requirements
• Corrosion Resistance
• Return of Investment
• Ease of Fabrication and Maintenance
• Availability
STAINLESS STEEL
• is a type of steel that has a higher chromium content of up to
10.5 – 30% and lower carbon content and trace amounts of
nickel.
• They are known for their excellent chemical, corrosion, and
weathering resistance which is attributed to their chromium
content.
• A thin, inert chromium oxide film is formed at the surface to
prevent oxygen diffusion to the bulk of the metal.
• Like carbon steel, it also exhibits high strength for a lower wall
thickness.
• It is easier to form compared to carbon steel due to its
increased ductility and elasticity.
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HASTE ALLOY
• is an alloy composed of nickel, chromium, and molybdenum
which was the first alloy formulated by Haynes International,
Inc.
• It is a widely used material for reactors, pressure vessels, and
heat exchangers in the petrochemical, energy, and oil and gas
industries.
• It can be used as a material for nuclear reactors.
• It has excellent corrosion resistance, cracking, and oxidizing
and reducing agents.
• It maintains its strength at high temperatures.
• It is easily welded, and formed, and shaped due to its good
ductility.
• With proper maintenance, its service life can last up to several
decades which increases its cost-efficiency.
ALUMINUM
• is known for its high strength-to-density ratio, which means it
has high strength and is lightweight at the same time.
• It is cheaper and more fabricated than stainless steel.
• It also has good corrosion resistance.
• Aluminum vessels are commonly used in laboratory-scale
applications.
• However, it is not suitable for high-pressure applications since
it has less density, which is one-third of stainless steel.
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NICKEL ALLOY
• offer good corrosion and weathering resistance, and protection
against thermal expansion.
• Pressure vessels constructed from nickel alloys are widely
used in the oil and gas industry, cryogenic applications, and in
other harsh environments.
• It also has a longer service life.
• However, it is difficult to work and has a higher fabrication cost.
• The purity of nickel alloys is important to protect their strength
and reliability.
TITANIUM
• Titanium also offers high strength and rigidity for a minimal wall
thickness.
• It has good corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, and it is
also non-toxic.
• It has a higher melting point than steel and aluminum, hence it
is ideal for higher temperature applications.
• It also has high thermal conductivity and facilitates efficient
heat transfer, which is an ideal material for heat exchangers.
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1. Used to transfer heat between two or more fluids.

2. Are pressure vessels that temporarily hold liquids, vapors, and gases.
3. It is the primary component that contains the pressure.
4. most widely used vessel shape due to their versatility.
5. This is used in mixing tanks because it allows efficient mixing since the
fluid is distributed at a smaller cross-sectional area.
6. It allows the separation of a mixture of liquids based on the difference
in their volatilities.

QUIZ 7. Are known for their high tensile strength for a minimal wall thickness,
which is suitable for a wide range of applications.
8. This type of head is ideal for containing high-pressure gases due to its
height-to-weight ratio. It can handle pressures greater than 15 bars.
9. Here, one or more liquid mixture streams enters in the column at one
or more points.
10. These are the containers for fluids under high pressure.

Answers:
1. Heat Exchanger
2. Storage Vessels
3. Shell
4. Cylindrical Pressure Vessels
5. Carbon Steel Vessels
6. Distillation Columns
7. Titanium
8. Ellipsoidal Head
9. In-column Distillation or Fractional Distillation
10. Pressure Vessels

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