Design loads The forces applied to a vessel or its structural attachments are referred to as loads and as in any mechanical

design, the first requirement in vessel design is to determine the actual values of the loads and the conditions to which the vessel will be subjected in operation. These are determined on the basis of past experience, design codes, calculations or testing. The principle loads to be considered in the design of pressure vessel are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Design pressure (internal or external). Dead loads. Wind loads. Earthquake loads. Temperature loads. Piping loads. Impact or cyclic loads.

Design pressure Design pressure is the pressure used to determine the minimum required thickness of each vessel shell component, and denotes the difference between the internal and external pressures. Design temperature