Pressure Vessels

SERVICES – PRESSURE VESSELS

Pressure vessel
Design & Analysis

Pressure Vessel Design & Analysis

At Paso Fino Services LLC we provide a variety of services related to the pressure vessel industry. This includes:

We meet the qualification requirements of Certifying Engineer per the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division 1, Mandatory Appendix 47.

ASME SECTION VIII, DIVISION 1 (DESIGN BY RULE)

We have decades of experience designing a wide variety of pressure vessels in accordance with Section VIII, Division 1 of the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code. This includes chemical reactors, accumulator tanks, autoclaves, chemical adsorption vessels, heat exchangers, and cryogenic vacuum chambers to name a few. We use design software such as PV Elite and Compress to ensure your pressure vessel meets the requirements of the ASME Code. For those projects where the pressure vessel is subjected to complex loads such as thermal shock or cyclic loading (fatigue), we use Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in accordance with Section VIII, Division 1, Mandatory Appendix 46

ASME SECTION VIII, DIVISION 2 (DESIGN BY ANALYSIS)

When the geometry or loading of a pressure vessel is such that traditional methods of evaluation (Design by Rule) are insufficient to demonstrate Code compliance, a more rigorous analysis method is required. Whether it’s a Division 1 pressure vessel being designed using Appendix 46, or a Division 2 pressure vessel, we can help. Paso Fino Services LLC provides finite element analysis services to demonstrate your pressure vessel meets the applicable section of the ASME Code.

We can analyze and evaluate your pressure vessel or equipment using the appropriate type of finite element analysis. We have decades of experience performing a wide variety of analyses using FEA including:

THIRD PARTY (INDEPENDENT) REVIEWS

Paso Fino Services LLCS conductss third party reviews of other companies’ pressure vessel design and analysis work. Having designed and analyzed pressure vessels for over 30 years, we have the knowledge and experience to provide our customers with thorough independent reviews to ensure the original work was done correctly and meets the ASME Code.

What can you expect from a third party review?

Projects

The following are a few examples of recent pressure vessel projects we’ve completed:

ELASTIC STRESS AND LIMIT LOAD ANALYSES OF A PRESSURE VESSEL

An ASME pressure vessel with large-sized nozzles and significant external nozzle loads was evaluated using finite element analysis (FEA). FEA was used since evaluation of the connection of the nozzles to the vessel were outside the limits of applicability of WRC 107. Elastic stress analyses showed stresses exceeded the ASME Code allowable stress limits. Since materials had already been ordered, the fabricator wished to avoid design modifications if possible. Limit load analyses were therefore performed in accordance with the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division 2. The results of the limit load analyses showed the design of the pressure vessel to be acceptable.

FATIGUE ASSESSMENT OF A MIXING TANK

A process tank with a segmented removable upper head was evaluated for operating conditions including cyclic loads from a mixer attached to the top of the tank. The evaluation included performing design calculations in accordance with Section VIII, Division 1, performing a finite element stress analysis for cyclic loads, and conducting a subsequent fatigue evaluation. The results of the evaluation showed the initial design did not meet the desired fatigue design life. Recommendations were made and subsequent analyses showed the tank with the proposed design modifications would meet the ASME Code and desired fatigue life.

STATIC SHOCK ANALYSIS OF A HEAT EXCHANGER

A ship-board heat exchanger was analyzed for static shock loading using finite element analysis. All of the components (shell, heads, nozzles, tubesheets, tubes, baffles, etc.) were modeled and evaluated for structural integrity. Hydrodynamic effects of contained fluids were considered in the analyses. A detailed and thorough evaluation of all of the components showed the stresses met the acceptance criteria.

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS AND FATIGUE ASSESSMENT OF A RECTANGULAR PRESSURE VESSEL

Inspection of a relatively new rectangular pressure vessel subjected to routine deflagration loading discovered cracking in components of the quick-acting closures. A finite element analysis and fatigue evaluation of the vessel was performed as part of a failure investigation. The pressure vessel was analyzed for cyclic loading (fatigue) in accordance with Section VIII, Division 2 of the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code. The results of the evaluation showed the design met the ASME Code. Further investigation revealed the source of the cracking to be a metallurgical issue resulting from improper fabrication.

DETERMINATION OF ALLOWABLE NOZZLE LOADS ON EQUIPMENT SKIDS

Equipment skids containing pressure vessels, pumps, piping, and other equipment were analyzed to determine the maximum permissible loads that could be applied at the connections of the skids where they attached to the LNG plant’s piping system. The skids were evaluated for wind, seismic, and pressure loading using finite element analysis. Based on the available margin in the design, maximum permissible loads at the connections at the extents of the skids were determined.

Blog

The following are some of our blog posts related to pressure vessels. For a complete listing of our blog posts see our Blog Page here.

CLASS 1 VS CLASS 2 PRESSURE VESSELS

Several years ago, Section VIII, Division 2 of the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code started classifying Division 2 pressure vessels as either Class 1 or Class 2. The differences in the requirements and design basis between these two classes are not provided in a single location in Section VIII, Division 2 but rather spread out across the Code. This article presents a compilation of the differences between these two classifications. (Read the post here)

AN OVERVIEW OF SECTION VIII, DIVISION 1, APPENDIX 46

Division 1 of Section VIII of the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code does not contain rules to cover all details of design and construction of pressure vessels. Where design rules do not exist, U-2(g) permits several courses of action, one of which is to use Mandatory Appendix 46. Appendix 46 provides the requirements for using Section VIII, Division 2 (Alternate Rules) in the design of Division 1 pressure vessels. This article provides a general overview of Appendix 46 from the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code. (Read the post here)

SEISMIC ANALYSIS OF PRESSURE VESSELS

Depending on where your pressure vessel will be installed, a seismic analysis may be required. While design standards for storage tanks such as API 650 provide details on how to calculate and evaluate for seismic loads, the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code does not. This article discusses the methods and procedures for calculating and evaluating seismic loads on pressure vessels. (Read the post here)

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU START EVALUATING PRESSURE VESSELS USING FEA

If you’re considering evaluating a pressure vessel using finite element analysis (FEA) and haven’t done so before (or are fairly new at it), there are a few things you should know. This article provides some advice for those new to using FEA in evaluating pressure vessels.

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF PRESSURE VESSELS

If you are unfamiliar with the basic steps involved in finite element analysis with respect to pressure vessels this article should help.

Other Services We Provide

To learn more about the other services we provide click on the links below

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS (FEA)

FAILURE INVESTIGATIONS

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