WHAT IS PRESSURE VESSEL?

Pressure Vessels are containers that are designed to hold liquids, vapors, or gases at high pressures, usually above 15 psi. Examples of common pressure vessels used in the petroleum refining and chemical processing industries include, but are not limited to, storage tanks, boilers, and heat exchangers. Each vessel has its operating limits built-in by design that it has to work under, referred to as its design pressure and design temperature. Operating outside of these limits could damage the equipment and potentially lead to loss of containment or catastrophic failure.

Each pressure vessel must be operated within its design temperature and pressure limits, which are the safety limits of the pressure vessel. Pressure vessel design, construction, and testing are meticulously carried out by knowledgeable personnel and are governed by regulations because the accidental release and leakage of its contents pose a risk to the surrounding environment. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME BPVC) Section VIII and the American Petroleum Industry (API) 510 Pressure Vessel Inspection Code are two well-known standards globally.

One of the most important pieces of equipment in many industries is a pressure vessel. Pressure vessels are required to maintain the desired pressure level for the successful operation of certain applications. These vessels are available in a variety of specifications and with varying capabilities depending on the applications for which they are intended. A consumer can also get a custom pressure vessel designed based on their specific requirements.

Pressure Vessel Design

Pressure vessels can be built in any shape and size cylinder, though sphere and cone sections are commonly used. A more common pressure vessel design consists of a cylinder closed with hemispherical endcaps known as heads.

A spherical pressure vessel is typically stronger than a cylindrical pressure vessel of the same wall thickness. However, spherical pressure vessels are difficult and expensive to produce, so cylindrical pressure vessels with semi-elliptical heads are preferred in many cases. Pressure vessels are typically made of steel, but some use composite materials such as carbon fiber, ceramics, and polymers such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

Pressure Vessel Design Incorporation Follows:

Design Pressure

The design pressure is a value used to calculate the vessel specifications. It is derived from the maximum operating pressure, which is the pressure surges expected during upset conditions such as start-ups, emergency shutdowns, and process abnormalities. It is never less than the maximum operating pressure.

Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP)

The MAWP is the maximum allowable pressure measured at the top of the equipment at which the vessel must operate at its design temperature. It is the maximum pressure that the vessel’s weakest point can withstand at its design temperature. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) specifies the MAWP value, which is used by industries to ensure that the vessel does not operate beyond this value in order to establish safety protocols and prevent explosions. It is a broad property based on the physical limitations of the material.

Design Temperature

The maximum allowable stress is temperature dependent, as strength decreases with increasing temperature and becomes brittle at extremely low temperatures. The designer must consider disturbances that have a significant impact on the temperature of the pressure vessel.

Maximum Allowable Stress

The maximum allowable stress is calculated by multiplying a safety factor by the maximum allowable stress. The safety factor accounts for potential deviations from the ideal pressure vessel construction and operation.

Numerous processes need the use of prefabricated pressure vessels. Customized pressure vessels are used in these procedures. However, some customers buy entirely custom pressure vessels and they provide them with better convenience and flexibility than prefabricated pressure vessels. In this article, we’ll explain some reasons why you should choose a custom pressure vessel over a prefabricated one.

Pressure Vessel Design Convenience:

1. Freedom To Choose The Suitable Material

Carbon and stainless steel are mostly used for manufacturing pressure vessels since these materials showcase exceptional durability and strength. When a buyer orders a customized pressure vessel, they can choose the material grade depending on their process and application requirements.

2. Select From Product Parameters

Many types of prefabricated pressure vessels serve similar functions. However, these vessels can have different shapes, sizes, resistance to corrosion, and pressure ratings. For example, there could be a pressure vessel in  the oil and gas industry whose pressure rating level is completely different compared to the one used in the aerospace industry. Therefore, it is essential to customize the vessels depending on the parameter requirements of a particular industry or application.

Moreover, by choosing customized pressure vessels, buyers can significantly reduce the chance of corrosion. They can consult different companies who’ll guide them and help them make the right choice. When a pressure vessel is custom made based on parameters required for the application, it leads to better performance for the application.

3. Freedom To Choose Volume Throughput

With a customized pressure vessel, the consumer can choose desired volume. They can analyze their application requirements and then select the most suitable volume for their application. It is essential for the volume of the pressure vessel to meet the application requirements to ensure an efficient process. An expert can help a buyer select the ideal volume for the optimal performance of their pressure vessel.

The reasons discussed above make it clear why many companies are using customized pressure vessels instead of purchasing prefabricated ones. Customized pressure vessels do make a big difference. If you are thinking about buying a customized pressure vessel, it is essential that you get help from the experts.

CHALLENGES IN HIGH PRESSURE VESSELS DESIGN

The pressure vessel industry is one that doesn’t leave any loose ends when it comes to safety. There are a number of strict rules and guidelines that have to be followed. This is because the design and manufacture of high pressure vessels have to be precise; otherwise, it can result in fatal accidents.

The ASME has provided a number of standards, which high pressure vessel manufacturers have to adhere to. But like any other industry, despite all precautions being taken, there will always be engineering challenges to face.

1. Shell Design: Whether spherical or cylindrical, shells have to be constructed with the right type of material and thickness. If a vessel shell is made of too thin material for the pressure, the shell may fail to lead to possible fatalities. In addition, if the wrong material is selected for the process, failures may result from this too. Also, the demands for vessels that can take pressures higher than 10,000 psi are increasing, which is a challenge for high pressure vessel manufacturers.

Solution: Once the requirements of the client are understood, a variety of solutions can be used:

• Spherical shaped cylinders have almost twice the strength of cylindrical pressure vessels.
• Custom pressure chambers can be built for extremely high pressures.
• Vessel materials can be selected that have increased tensile strength resulting from specialized heat- treatment processes.
• Specialized auto testing can be also be carried out

2. Size: Expenses of high pressure vessels increase with the size, pressure, and configuration. Many clients have custom demands, and many a time, the size and shape may be difficult to produce.

Solution: Numerous manufacturers of high pressure vessels have established in house capabilities for design, fabrication, manufacturing, and testing.

This is often a better choice than outsourcing to a third party. It enables manufactures to devise methods that aid in the timely completion of the final project.

3. Nozzle Cracks: During the operation process it is possible that the nozzle of the pressure vessel can crack. There are many reasons for this:

• The increase in temperature during normal operation
• A poor functioning support system
• Lack of adequate weld filler when welding the nozzle to the vessel

Solutions:

• Create support systems that will allow the vessel to expand and contract.
• Use the correct weld filler when adding the nozzle
• Put the vessel through rigorous quality testing

Conclusion

When it comes to inspections, most pressure vessels should be inspected once before they are put into service and then every 5 years after any changes or major repairs. An inspection can be internal, external, or both, and should include a thorough examination, thickness evaluation, stress analysis, pressure release valve inspection, and a hydrostatic pressure test. It is also necessary to perform a surface inspection, inspect the insulation and any structural connections, and inspect any welds or joints.

For further information visit our website, we have been tremendously inspecting pressure vessels and their design with appropriate standard guidelines. At Velosi we value quality!

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