International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS)

Volume VI, Issue V, May 2017 | ISSN 2278-2540

Design and Analysis of Pressure Vessel Using Finite

Element Method
Sadanandam.P1, Ramesh.U2, Samuel Tamerat3
1,2,3
School of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Dire Dawa Institute of Technology, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

Abstract: Pressure vessel is used to carry liquids such as petrol, are cylindrical, spherical, or conical in shape. Horizontal
kerosene, aviation fuel etc and these fuel tanks are used to drums have cylindrical shells and are fabricated in a wide
transport fuel. Finite element method is a mathematical range of diameters and lengths.
technique used to design a fuel carrying vessel and performing
the stress analysis. In this the geometrical model is created and
the model is sub divided into smaller elements. It is subjected to
III. SELECTION OF MATERIALS BASED ON THE
internal pressure and these Boundary conditions are applied at CARRYING LIQUID AND CORROSION FACTOR
specified points. The aim of this paper is to design a model and Selection of materials in design process requires deep
analysis of fuel carrying tank using finite element analysis
knowledge about different properties of the material and
software and also select a proper material composition for
pressure vessel. Many factors have to be considered when selecting
engineering materials, but for chemical process plant the
Designing is validated according to maximum principal stress overriding consideration is usually the ability to resist
theory and Distortion theory by taking design factor or factor of corrosion .The process designer will be responsible for
safety. The comparisons also made between the calculation
recommending materials that will be suitable for the process
results and software results.
conditions the material selected must have sufficient strength
Keywords: FEM, Presser vessel, Pressure, ,fuel, Boundary and be easily worked.
conditions
The most economical material that satisfies both process and
mechanical requirements should be selected; this will be the
I. INTRODUCTION
material that gives the lowest cost over the working life of the

P ressure vessels are leak proof containers used to hold

gases or liquids at a pressure different from the ambient
pressure. The end caps fitted to the cylindrical body are
plant, allowing for maintenance and replacement. The most
important characteristics to be considered when selecting a
material of construction are:
known as heads. Pressure vessels are used in various fields
such as chemical industry, pharmaceutical industry, oil and 1. Mechanical properties
2. The effect of high and low temperatures on the
fuel industry, and plastic industry. Other example of pressure
vessels are diving cylinder, recompressed chamber, mechanical properties
distillation towers, nuclear reactor vessel, hydraulic reservoir 3. Corrosion resistance
and storage vessels for liquefied gases such as ammonia and 4. Any special properties required; such as, thermal
chlorine. conductivity, electrical resistance, magnetic
properties
Pressure vessels are boilers and storage tanks that contain 5. Ease of fabrication-forming, welding, casting.
liquid or gases and are designed to operate at pressure above 6. Availability in standard sizes-plates, sections, tubes
15 psig. A boiler is defined as a welded container or a pipe 7. Cost
arrangement in which steam or hot water with a temperature
exceeding 120°C is generated by the application of heat, Depending up on the above mechanical properties & for fluid
resulting from the combusting of fuel (solid, liquid or medium the material we select the stainless steel 18Cr/8Ni
gaseous)or from hot combustion gases. The mechanical (304) minimum thickness of (3mm) type because it has good
yield strength, tensile (UTS) strength, good fracture
design of most pressure vessels is done in accordance with the
requirements contained in the ASME Boiler and Pressure toughness, good resistance of temperature, good corrosion
Vessel Code. resistance and it can be fabricated in different methods except
casting.
II. PRESSER VESSEL SHELL
The shell is the primary component that contains the pressure. IV. DETERRING THE DIAMETER AND LENGTH OF A
PRESSURE VESSEL
Pressure vessel shells are welded together to form a structure
that has a common rotational axis. Most pressure vessel shells

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 International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS)
Volume VI, Issue V, May 2017 | ISSN 2278-2540

V=2Vh+Vs node quadrilateral elements (Plane 82). In order to validate the

Vh= volume of the head stress analysis results, the calculation were done and compare
with ansys results by taking minimum thickness value 5 mm.
Vs. = volume of the shell
The report gives the maximum displacement, principal stress
The standard internal diameter is determined1m Then L=3×1= and shear stress distribution under the operating pressure. The
3m purpose of this analysis is to ensure that the results of the
finite element analyses were compared to the analytical
V. CALCULATE THE SHELL THICKNESS findings values and the error of acceptance
5.1. Circumferential Stress (Longitudinal Joints) Table I: INPUT PARAMETERS
t = PR/ (SE -0.6P) + C.A S.No Parameters Values
t=min required thickness of vessel 1 Diameter of Vessel 1m
R=internal radius of vessel 2 L/D Ratio 3
S = max. Allowable stress, Pa
3 Length of Vessel 3m
E = joint efficiency (min)
4 Internal Pressure (Pi) 1.7225 MPa
C.A=corrosion allowance, mm
5 Design Pressure (Pd) 1.895 MPa
5.2. Longitudinal Stress (Circumferential Joints) 6 Thickness 5 mm
t = PR/ (2SE +0.4P) + C.A 7 Outer Diameter of Vessel 1.01 m
8 Maximum Stress Induced 203 MPa
VI. FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS RESULTS USING 9 Poison’s Ratio 0.27
ANSYS MECHANICAL APDL
A variety of specializations under the umbrella of the
FEA Results:
mechanical engineering discipline (such as aeronautical,
biomechanical, and automotive industries) commonly use
integrated FEM in design and development of their products.
Several modern FEM packages include specific components
such as thermal, electromagnetic, fluid, and structural working
environments. In a structural simulation, FEM helps
tremendously in producing stiffness and strength
visualizations and also in minimizing weight, materials, and
costs.
FEM allows detailed visualization of where structures bend or
twist, and indicates the distribution of stresses and
displacements. FEM software provides a wide range of
simulation options for controlling the complexity of both Fig:1.Meshing of Pressure Vessel
modeling and analysis of a system. Similarly, the desired level
of accuracy required and associated computational time
requirements can be managed simultaneously to address most
engineering applications. FEM allows entire designs to be
constructed, refined, and optimized before the design is
manufactured.
6.1FEA Implementations
1. Preprocessing (build FE model, loads and
constraints)
2. FEA solver (assemble and solve the system of
equations)
3. Post processing (sort and display the results)
Fig: 2.Total Displacement
6.2. Pressure Vessel Analysis using FEA:
According to maximum principal stress theory and maximum
ANSYS will be used to analyze the stresses and deflections in distortion theory the design is safe for the maximum stress
the vessel walls due to the internal pressure. Since the vessel 203 MPa and a factor of safety is 1.01
is subjected to internal pressure using two-dimensional, 8-

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 International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering, Management & Applied Science (IJLTEMAS)
Volume VI, Issue V, May 2017 | ISSN 2278-2540

Maximum displacement is 6.65 mm and minimum According to the Maximum Principal Stress the hoop stresses
displacement is 0.42657 mm (σ1) induced is 196.301 N/mm2 occurs at a distance 2309.858
mm and the minimum Principal stress or hoop stresses
induced is 183.243 N/mm2 at 1420.623 mm.
Maximum shear stress (τmax) induced is 98.194 N/mm2 at a
distance 1261 mm, 2840 mm and the minimum shear stress is
95.876 N/mm2 at a distance 316 mm, 1895 mm.
Comparison of Results:
Calculation FEA
S.No Parameters Difference
Results Results
Maximum 196.301
1 189.5 MPa 6.801 MPa
principal Stress MPa
Maximum shear 98.194
2 94.8 MPa 3.394 MPa
Stress MPa

VII. CONCLUSION
The finite element analysis is more accurate than any other
mathematical techniques. The pressure vessel is subjected to
hoop stresses and longitudinal stress the variation of stresses
can be analyzed by the ANSYS results hence the design is
safe under the operating conditions. Results are plotted that
were the maximum hoop stress and minimum hoop stresses
are induced as well as the maximum shear stress and
minimum shear stresses are induced in the pressure vessel.

REFERENCES
Fig:3. Principal Stress
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Fig: 4. Shear Stress In X Plain Y-Direction

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