Pressure vessels are containers that hold gases or liquids at a certain pressure. They are typically made of steel and can be coated with metal, ceramic, or polymers. The most stable design is a sphere, but most are cylindrical. Safety is important as leaks or explosions can cause harm. Countries have created design codes to ensure safety.
A pressure vessel is a closed container designed to hold contents at a certain pressure. Gases or liquids can be maintained at pressures other than ambient temperature. Examples include hot water storage tanks and scuba tanks. Submarines and spaceships are basically giant pressure vessels.
Pressure vessels are most commonly made from steel because steel is strong and can withstand impact. The cylinder can also be made of other metals, carbon fibers or polymers. They are often coated with metal, ceramic or other polymers. The liner protects the structural integrity of the pressure vessel and offers additional protection against leaks.
The most stable design for a pressure vessel is a sphere-shaped tank. The pressure in a pressure vessel naturally bends the walls of the vessel. A sphere-shaped vase takes advantage of this natural tendency. Despite this, most pressure vessels are not sphere-shaped because a sphere is difficult and expensive to make. As a result, most pressure vessels are cylinder shaped with rounded caps on each end.
Common shapes of pressure vessels include thin-walled vessels, storage tanks, and transportable containers. Thin-walled vessels are those with a diameter that is 10 times or more the wall thickness. Storage tanks are a kind of super thin-walled vessel. Carriers are mass-produced thin-walled vessels. The least common type is the thick-walled pot. This is a vessel with a diameter of less than 10 times the wall thickness.
The stability of a pressure vessel is very important. A pressure vessel that is not structurally sound can leak or even burst under pressure. Depending on the type of liquid or gas inside the tank, leaks can cause poisoning, fire or suffocation.
Violent explosions can cause death from shrapnel or explosions. To protect against violent failure, many pressure vessels are designed to leak before bursting. This allows the pressure to slowly equalize and gives workers time to repair or shut down the equipment without injury.
To protect against death or injury from defective pressure vessels, various countries have created design codes to ensure that all pressure vessels are safe to use. In the United States, codes governing pressure vessel design are listed in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure code. The Canadian code is B51 of the Canadian Standards Association. Australia, England and many other countries also have similar rules.
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