What Pressure Vessels Mean to You

At their most basic, pressure vessels are closed containers used to hold liquids and gases at different pressures. Around the world, pressure vessels are frequently used in both the private sector and for a number of industries for compressed air, water storage, compression chambers, autoclaves, pressure reactors, and much more.

However, Because of the dangerous nature of these vessels, their engineering, development, and construction is dictated by a number of parameters that dictate maximum operating pressure and temperature.

You might wonder, why would anyone even need a pressure vessel? In a number of applications, manipulation of the pressure is essential when it comes to achieving the results needed. For example, one of the most common vessels is the ASME compressed air vessel, used in an almost uncountable number of industries and applications around the world. For instance, compressed air can be used to supply power for a variety of different manufacturing operations, while being much safer and more convenient than using a power source like electricity. At the same time, it can also be used to provide the power for drills, jack hammers, and much more - and it's all made possible because of the vessel that safely and securely contains the air.

However, pressure vessels aren't just for compressed air. In fact, the uses for these vessels range in variety from simple compressed air systems to highly advanced vessels for advanced industrial, scientific, and defense applications.

But how does it work? While the science behind the pressure limits of various styles of vessels can be incredibly complex, the underlying principle at work in a vessel is relatively simple. The pressure within the vessel can be created by a chemical or gas reaction occurring inside the enclosure, or by an external source - such as in the case of a boiler vessel.

As for their construction and design, while vessels tend to be spherical or cylindrical, they can actually be constructed in just about any shape or size. The most common shape is a cylindrical vessel with end caps known as "heads". While the governing authority of pressure vessel design and construction (ASME) allows for a long list of materials to be used, steel (in a number of grades) is the most common.

On the other hand, some vessels are constructed of composite materials while others are constructed out of materials like concrete, with cabling for added tension. In the end, it all depends on the application that calls for the pressure vessel.

Pressure vessels are a relatively new invention. The first pressure vessel was invented during the industrial revolution to be used as a boiler which contained steam for steam engine. The steam was contained inside the pressure vessel, and then expelled into the steam engine as power. However, along with these early vessels also came a number of accidents. Boiler explosions were a common problem, which eventually lead to a system of design, testing, and certification standards.

In 1919, the first high-pressure (10,000 PSI) pressure vessel was constructed as a 6-inch diameter tank. This tank was wound with high-tensile steel to prevent rupturing and reinforced end-caps for additional support. The design for that particular vessel was particularly important in the progression of the technology, and inevitably lead to many of the modern design standards we rely on today.

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