Pressure Vessel Header Layout for Compact Fluid Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pressure vessels, such as reactors and heat exchangers, are large in size due to the need for internal headers for fluid flow, which hinders compact installation in plants and increases material costs.
Innovation Solution
A pressure vessel design featuring a rectangular cross-sectional, elongated body with a circular body flange and integrated inlet-outlet headers between the body and flange, eliminating the need for internal headers by using paired lids that are openable and closable, allowing fluid flow through ports on the longitudinal end side.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If internal headers are mounted inside the pressure vessel body for fluid flow, then fluid exchange function is achieved, but the pressure vessel size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The header function is extracted from the internal space of the pressure vessel body and relocated to the external region between the pressure vessel body and body flange. This extraction eliminates the need for internal header mounting space, thereby reducing the pressure vessel body size while maintaining fluid exchange functionality through the inlet-outlet ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid distribution function traditionally performed in the longitudinal dimension (internal headers) is shifted to the transverse dimension (external header space between body and flange). This dimensional relocation allows the pressure vessel body to be compacted in the longitudinal direction while fluid distribution is achieved through the lateral header structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If internal headers are mounted inside the pressure vessel body, then fluid flow paths are established, but material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex internal header structure is extracted and replaced with a simpler external header configuration. This simplification reduces manufacturing complexity and material costs while achieving the same fluid flow distribution function through the inlet-outlet ports.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of incorporating headers inside the pressure vessel body (conventional approach), the header is inverted to be positioned outside between the body and flange. This inversion simplifies the pressure vessel body structure, reducing both material usage and manufacturing cost.
3Volume of moving object
If the pressure vessel body is made smaller to enable compact installation, then installation space is reduced, but space for internal headers is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The header function is extracted from the pressure vessel body interior and positioned in the external space between the body and flange. This extraction allows the pressure vessel body to be minimized in size while the header maintains its fluid distribution function in the external region.
Solution Approach 2:
The header mounting capability is shifted from the internal longitudinal dimension to the external transverse dimension (between body and flange). This dimensional shift enables compact pressure vessel body design while preserving header functionality in the available external space.
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure vessel includes a pressure vessel body provided with a flow channel through which a fluid is caused to flow, having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and formed in an elongated shape, and a circular body flange provided on at least one longitudinal end side of the pressure vessel body, the pressure vessel body has a fluid inlet-outlet port which is provided on the one longitudinal end side and the body flange side of the pressure vessel body and connects with the flow channel and through which the fluid is caused to flow in or out, and the pressure vessel further includes an inlet-outlet header which is formed between the pressure vessel body and the body flange as a closed space connecting with the fluid inlet-outlet port and which the fluid is caused to flow into and out of.