Hydrodynamic Effects in Pressure Vessel

[kapilengtips]

I am current working on SC-II Pressure Vessel equipment. Customers have asked use to consider hydrodynamic effects during seismic event (sloshing), if necessary.

My question, how to I determine, whether these effects are significant and also how are these kinds of loads applied on the equipment.

 

[IFRs]

Try reviewing API 650 and AWWA D100 for their take on hydrodynamic loads from seismic acceleration.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Huh?

I thought that most pressure vessels have multiple levels that collect different density fluids. The depth of fluid at each level is usually pretty small.

I can see including the weight of the fluid at each level within your seismic calculations. But, I'm not sure that it's possible to do sloshing calculations on this sort of thing.

 

[JStephen]

If it resembles a rigid flat-bottom tank, then the API or AWWA standards would be helpful for seismic design.

On larger tanks the effect of considering sloshing is a net reduction in the seismic loading. If there are not internals that can be damaged by sloshing, then it'd probably be reasonable to ignore the effect.

ASCE 7 includes some design info for pressure vessels, but is not always real clear- I suspect the people that write it haven't actually worked with tanks or vessels.

 

[dhengr]

Check out Prof. Anil K. Chopra, at U.C. Berkeley. He’s done a lot of work on Earthquake analysis, and dynamic fluid-structure interaction. He’s published a lot in the ASCE Structural Journal over the years, plus a number of good text books on structural dynamics. Was also a very good Prof. for my first few struct. dynamics courses.