Design and manufacturing of industrial pressure vessels
Pressure vessels are designed and manufactured to meet the
eclectic needs of various industries, including automotive, hazardous
biological waste, chemicals and petrochemicals, oil and gas, and mining and
tunnels, to name just a few.
Each of these industries has specific requirements when it
comes to pressure vessel applications. For this reason, certain important
aspects must be taken into account during the manufacturing process of the
pressure vessel.
In order to ensure the safety of engineers and the long
service life of the pressure vessel, the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers (ASME) formed a committee with the intention of establishing numerous
regulations regarding the entire process of manufacturing pressure vessels . To
produce high performance pressure vessels, all aspects related to the
manufacture of pressure vessels must comply with the standards provided in the
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC).
Design process considerations: Welders and manufacturers
must take into account the following points to ensure that their pressure
vessels meet all industrial application requirements:
Corrosion
Weight and contents of the container.
Ambient and operational temperatures
Static and dynamic pressures.
Residual and thermal stress.
Reaction forces
Types of containers: there are generally two types of
pressure vessels that are used in industrial applications:
Simple containers: they are pressure cookers without cooking
that are used for the storage and use of air and nitrogen. These vessels adhere
to Division I, Section VIII of the BPVC code for vessels without fire.
Complex containers: these containers are required to be
manufactured in accordance with the regulations provided in Subsection B of
Division I of ASME BPVC Section VIII. The overall design has to comply with the
rules ranging from regulations UG-16 to UG-35. Manufacturing rules are provided
between regulations UG-75 and UG-85.
Container construction: Pressure vessels must be designed in
cylindrical or spherical shapes for the storage and effective use of industrial
gases and liquids. Depending on the application, they can be designed with
various head configurations.
For the construction process, carbon and stainless steel are
preferred, as they are known for their high tensile strength and long service
life. They are able to provide high performance in terms of security and
protection in hostile environments. The steel must be well cut and properly shaped
by the manufacturers. Pressure vessels must be constructed using specialized
welding techniques. In general, pressure vessels must comply with the BPVC and
international construction and safety standards.
Comments