DESIGN OF COLUMN WALL THICKNESS

1. Design pressure of the process:

P = 1200 kN/m2 = 1.2 N/mm2

2. Wall thickness of shell:

t=

Pi Di
2 SE0.2 Pi
Pi = Design pressure = 1.2 N/mm2
Di = inner diameter of the column = 1500 mm
S = the design stress of the material of construction
E = the weld joint efficiency = 1.0
The weld joint is double welded butt or equivalent joint and 100 percent degree of
radiography.

From table 14.2: Typical Maximum Allowable Stresses for Plate under ASME BPV code Sec.VIII D.I
Design temperature: 150 0C

302 0F

Temperature
300
302
500

Max allowable stress, S

15
X
12.9
X = 14.98 ~ 15 ksi
15 ksi =103.422 N/mm2

t=

1.2( 1500)
2 ( 103.422 ) (1 ) 1.2(1.2)

= 8.76mm
* The length of cylindrical column at the base of column is 37m. it is likely that the column will
buckle, thus we let the thickness be 10mm.

Note:
A much thicker wall at the base of column is to withstand the wind load and dead weight of column.
As the first trial, we divide the column into 5 sections with thickness increasing by 2mm per section.

* Thickness not include the dome

For all other calculations, the average thickness is used.

T avg =

t 1+ t 2+t 3+t 4+ t 5
5

10+ 12+14 +16+18

5

T avg = 14 mm

3. Dead weight load of DC

Consist of:

Weight of metal make up the main body (Wv)

Weight of sieve plate and accessory
Weight of insulation material

For section 1,

Circumference = 2 r
=

d = ( 1500 ) =4712.39 mm

For steel vessel:

Wv=240 CwDw ( Hv+0.8 Dm ) t

Where:
Wv = total weight of shell
Cw = 1.15 for column with man-hole
Hv = height of column =37m
T= tavg
Dm = mean diameter of vessel

Dm=Di+ t X 103
Dm = 1.5 + (14 x 10^-3)
3

= 1.514 m

Wv = 240 X 1.15 X 1.514 (37 + 0.8 X 1.514) 14

= 223,539.1883 N
= 223.54 kN

Weight of sieve plate:

Di= 1500 mm =1.5 m
Plates area = /4 X 1.52 = 1.77 m2
*note: weight of fitting, contacting plate typical liquid loading = 1.2 kN/m2
Weight of a plate including liquid on it:
1.2kN/m2 X 1.77 m2 = 2.124 kN
For 50 plates = 50 X 2.124 = 106.2 kN

Weight of insulation material + accessory:

Mineral wool density = 130 kg/m3
Approximate volume of insulation = x 1.5 x 37 x 50 x 10-3
= 8.72 m 3
Weight = 8.72 m3 x 130 kg/m3 x 9.81 m/s2 = 11,121 N
= 11.12 kN
Double this to allow for fitting, etc. = 22.24 Kn

Total weight:
Shell/column
Sieve plate + accessory
Insulation material
TOTAL

223.54 kN
106.2kN
22.24 kN
351.98 kN

4. Effect of wind load

Pw = 0.07 Uw2 for cylinder with attachment
Take dynamic wind pressure as 1792 N/m2, corresponding to 160 kph (100 mph) for
preliminary design studies.

5. Mean diameter of vessel including thickness and insulation:

3

Di+2 ( t avg+ t ins ) X 10

= 1.5 + 2(14+50) x 10-3

=1.628 m

6. Loading per linear meter, Fw

W= 1792 N/m2 x 1.628 m = 2917.38 N/m

7. Bending moment at bottom column,Mx

Mx =

FW
x Hv
2

= (2917.38 (N/m)/2) x (37)2 m

= 1, 996,943.872 N.m

8. Analysis of stress:
Consist of:

Circumferential stress
5

longitudinal stress

Circumferential stress:

h =

PiDi
2t

(N/mm2) =

1.2 x 1500
2 x 18

= 50 N/mm2

1.2 x 1500
4 x 18

= 25 N/mm2

Longitudinal stress:

L =

PiDi
4t

(N/mm2) =

9. Dead weight stress, w

Wv

w = ( Di+t ) t

(N/mm2)

223.54 x 10 3 N
= ( 1500 mm+18 mm ) 18 mm

= 2.604 N/mm2

10. Bending stress, b

M Di
b = Iv 2 +t

Where:
M= bending moment at bottom column
I= second moment area

Iv =

64

4
o

-Di4)

Do=Di+2 t
= 1500 +2 (18)
=1536 mm

Iv =

64

64

4
o

- Di4)

(15364 - 15004)

= 2.47 x 1010 mm4

M Di
b = Iv 2 +t

)
3

1, 996, 943.8 x 10 N .m 1500 mm

+18 mm
2.47 exp 10 mm
2

62.09 N/mm2

11.Resultant longitudinal stress, z

z = L + w b
Upwind:

z = L + w + b
z (upwind) = 25 + (- 2.604) + 62.09 = 84.5 N/mm2
7

Downwind:

z = L + w b
z (downwind) = 25 + (-2.604) 62.09 = - 397 N/mm2

*w is compressive therefore it is negative.

84.5 N/mm2

Upwind
50
N/mm2

= 50 84.5
= -34.5 N/mm2
39.7N/mm2

Downwind
50
N/mm2

=50 (-39.7)
= 89.7 N/mm2

12. Conclusion

The stress differences for upwind and downwind condition are less than S= 103.42 kN/mm 2. Therefore
the design thickness, t bottom = 18 mm is satisfactory.

DESIGN ON VESSEL SUPPORT

S = max allowable stress = 89 N/mm2

E^ = 200,000

N/mm2

E= 0.85
= 90 0
1. Max dead weight load,

2 1000 kg 9.81
d hx
x
kN
4
1000
mm2


1000 kg 9.81
( 1.5 )2 X 37 x
x
kN
2
4
1000
mm
= 641.42 kN
Max dead weight = 641.42+ 351.98
= 993.4 kN
2. Wind load = 2917.376 N/m

3. Bending moment at base of skirt:

1
X2W
2
1
X 2.92 X ( 37+2.5 )2
2
2277.97 kN

4. Bending stress in the skirt, bs

bs = 4*Ms/

*(Ds + t)*t*Ds]

= 4* (2277.97 * 10^3 * 10^3)/ (1536+18)*18 *1500

= 69.13 N/mm2

ws (test) : fully filled with water

10

993.4 x 10
= ( 1536+18 ) ( 18 )
= 11.30 N/mm2

ws (operating) : without water

351.98 x 103
= ( 1536+18 ) ( 18 )
= 80.34 N/mm2
s (compressive) = bs +

ws

= 69.13 + 11.30
=80.43 N/mm2

s (tensile) = bs -ws
= 69.13 - 4.0
= 65.3 N/mm2
For condition 1:
s (tensile) < SE sin
65.13 < 89* 0.85* sin90
65.13 < 75.65 N/mm2, satisfy condition 1.

For condition 2:
s (compressive) < 0.125

t sk
sin
Ds

80.43 < 0.125 * 200, 000 * (18/1536) * sin90

80.43 < 292.97 N/mm2, satisfy condition 2.
11

COVER DESIGN
Standard ellipsoidal type

t=

Pi Di
2 SE0.2 Pi

t=

1.2(1500)
2 ( 89 ) ( 1 )0.2(1.2)
= 10.12 mm

Add 2 mm for corrosion allowance:

10.12 + 2
= 12.13 mm

12