Vessel head thickness, tables

The computer program PROG43 determines the vessel weight of the pressure vessel with hemispherical, elliptical, and torispherical heads. Table 4-7 gives input data and computer output for 2 ft 6 in.-diameter vessel. The output gives the shell and head thicknesses, the weights of the shell and head, and the total weight of the vessel with hemispherical, elliptical and torispherical heads. 

Although spherical vessels have a limited process application, the majority of pressure vessels are made with cylindrical shells. The heads may be flat if they are suitably buttressed, but preferably they are some curved shape. The more common types of heads are illustrated on Figure 18.16. Formulas for wall thicknesses are in Table 18.3. Other data relating to heads and shells are collected in Table 18.5. Included are the full volume V0 and surface S as well as the volume fraction V/V0 corresponding to a fractional depth H/D in a horizontal vessel. Figure 18.17 graphs this last relationship. For ellipsoidal and dished heads the formulas for V/V0 are not exact but are within 2% over the whole range. 

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