Hyperbaric Test Chamber

[elphou]

Does anybody know what rules govern construction of Hyperbaric Test Chambers?

This vessel is to be used for doing in-house simulation of devices/equipment going down to 10000 ft of seawater depth.

The vessel will be made of a cylinder capped on both ends. Thus subject to internal pressure matching the depth rating of these devices.

I am trying to determine what is the basic membrane allowable. I would like to use A516 Gr 70 plate as the material.

This vessel is not for sale and just for in-house use (no stamp). Do I have to use ASME DIV 1 or 2 allowables? Is there some other criteria I can use to justify going to higher allowbles?

 

[weldtek]

Hyperbaric chambers come under ASME-PVHO-1, however, if this vessel is not stamped, and not for human occupancy, I think ASME Div. 1 or Div. 2 could be used. You might reduce mat'l costs with Div. 2.

 

[metengr]

The answer to this question depends on your location of installation and local Jurisdictional requirements for pressure vessels.

The reason I mentioned this is that some Jurisdictions do not regulate pressure vessels. If this is your case, I would probably have an engineering firm experienced in pressure vessel design put together a Request for Proposal. I would use the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, which pertains to unfired pressure vessels, as the design code for building this chamber.

 

[elphou]

Note to all. This vessel is not for human occupancy. It will sit in our companies test lab for use in verifying other vessels external pressure capabilities. I will check the jurisdiction requirements for this area.

 

[unclesyd]

Just for curiosity.
Is the vessel for long term use?

What is the pressurizing medium?

What is the physical size of the vessel?

What type closures do you plan to use?

How do yo plan to pressurize the vessel?

If the vessel is of any size, 6" dia I would definitely follow the advice given above with a good paper trail.

Failure of any apparatus of any size operating at this pressure will fall under what has been called the "The Best Available Practices".
Just sat in a lawyers office with an old cohort where the first word out of the companies attorney was "What code or standard was used to design the apparatus and is or was it the best available practice at the time of design and construction?"

 

[elphou]

The vessel is to use water and have a type of quick release clousure. It appears it will be 42" ID. We pump in water until we get the pressure we need. Another company I have noted has used allowables of 90% of Sy as the basic primary membrane on a similar type and size of vessel.

Since this vessel is going to be used long term (but not often, i.e. 10 times a year). I am finding it difficult to justify not going with code allowables.

This is going to be an expensive vessel.

 

[unclesyd]

I would stick with a code and use standard components if possible. There are several quick acting pipe closures that are in the Class 2500 flange rating which should take care of this part.
I maybe wrong in stating this but I think 42" is an in between size. I've seen more components in 36" and 48".


You may want to look at this site.

http://www.snap-tite.com/index.asp?...Pressure_Systems/&title=High Pressure Systems