Pressure Vessels

A pressure vessel is a closed container designed to hold gases or liquids at a pressure substantially different from the ambient pressure.
Many pressure vessels are made of steel. To manufacture a cylindrical or spherical pressure vessel, rolled and possibly forged parts would have to be welded together. Some mechanical properties of steel achieved by rolling or forging, could be adversely affected by welding, unless special precautions are taken. In addition to adequate mechanical strength, current standards dictate the use of steel with a high impact resistance, especially for vessels used in low temperatures. In applications where carbon steel would suffer corrosion, special corrosion resistant material should also be used.

Section VIII — Pressure Vessels
Referenced ASME Standards
Division 1:

  • 5 Standards from the B1 Series on screw threads
  • 13 Standards from the B16 Series on pipe flanges and fittings
  • 9 Standards from the B18 Series on hex bolts
  • B36.10M — Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
  • B36.19M — Stainless Steel Pipe
  • NQA-1 — Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Nuclear Facilities
  • PCC-1 — Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly
  • PCC-2 — Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping
  • PTC 25 — Pressure Relief Devices
  • QAI-1 — Qualifications for Authorized Inspection

Division 2:

  • API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 — Fitness-For-Service
  • 3 Standards from the B1 Series on screw threads
  • 9 Standards from the B16 Series on pipe flanges and fittings
  • 4 Standards from the B18 Series on hex bolts
  • B36.10M — Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
  • B36.19M — Stainless Steel Pipe
  • NQA-1 — Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Nuclear Facilities
  • PCC-1 — Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly
  • PTC 25 — Pressure Relief Devices
  • QAI-1 — Qualifications for Authorized Inspection

Division 3:

  • API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 — Fitness-For-Service
  • 3 Standards from the B1 Series on screw threads
  • 4 Standards from the B16 Series on pipe flanges and fittings
  • 7 Standards from the B18 Series on hex bolts
  • B36.10M — Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
  • B46.1 — Surface Texture (Surface Roughness, Waviness and Lay)
  • PTC 25 — Pressure Relief Devices
  • QAI-1 — Qualifications for Authorized Inspection
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