A pressure vessel can be defined as any container of fluid with a pressure differential between the outside and the inside of the container. Their presence is inevitable in various types of power plants, chemical and process plants. Pressure vessels often have a combination of high pressures together with high temperature operating conditions, and in some cases flammable fluids or highly radioactive materials. Because of such hazards, it is imperative that the design should ensure the states of no-leakage or leak-before-catastrophic break. In addition, these vessels have to be designed carefully to cope with the operating temperature and pressure. This book presents recent advances in the design and usage of pressure vessels and piping components.

This book guides the reader through general and fundamental problems of pressure vessel design. The basic approach is rigorously scientific with a complete theoretical development of the topics treated. The concrete and precise calculation criteria provided can be immediately applied to actual designs. The book also comprises unique contributions on important topics like Deformed Cylinders, Flat Heads, or Flanges.

This book explores a new, economically viable approach to pressure vessel design, included in the (harmonized) standard EN 13445 (for unfired pressure vessels) and based on linear as well as non-linear Finite Element analyses. It is intended as a supporting reference of this standard's route, providing background information on the underlying principles, basic ideas, presuppositions, and new notions. Examples are included to familiarize readers with this approach, to highlight problems and solutions, advantages and disadvantages.* The only book with background information on the direct route in pressure vessel design. * Contains many worked examples, supporting figures and tables and a comprehensive glossary of terms.