Pressure Vessel Design Calculation & Technical G.A. Drawings
Client
A Canadian-based company in the Chemical Process Industry, specializing in distillation plants, located in Port Colborne, Ontario.
Objective
The client required the complete engineering design of a vertical pressure vessel (distillation column reflux tank) for use in their chemical process facility.
Needs
The vessel had to comply with ASME Section VIII, Div. 1 and CSA B51 codes. It also needed to meet specific process conditions for handling both process fluid (EM) and internal heating/cooling coils.
Challenges
The client required the complete engineering design of a vertical pressure vessel (distillation column reflux tank) for use in their chemical process facility. This vessel had to comply with ASME Section VIII, Div. 1 and CSA B51 codes while meeting specific process conditions for handling both process fluid (EM) and internal heating/cooling coils. Key challenges included multi-nozzle configurations, internal/external coil connections, and strict mechanical and process safety standards.
Solution
Zetacadd Engineering Services provided an end-to-end engineering package covering both design calculations and technical fabrication drawings:
 Design Calculations:
- Pressure Vessel Design per ASME VIII, Div. 1 & CSA B51
- Calculations for:
- Internal and external pressure conditions (F.V to 0.345 MPaG for vessel, 0.97 MPaG for coils)
- Torispherical head design (10% depth)
- Hydrostatic test pressures
- Nozzle reinforcement pad checks for various nozzles ranging from ½” to 8”
- Coil design for >3.2 m² surface area
- Vessel weight calculations (empty, working, and full water weight)
 Technical Drawings:
- General Arrangement (G.A.) Drawings
- Full vessel dimensional details: 2000 mm ID Ă— 1700 mm TL
- Detailed nozzle schedule (18 nozzles + 2 coil systems) with ASME #150 rating
- Hand hole and manhole arrangement
- Coil inlet/outlet positions
- Accessories: sight glasses, level gauge nozzles, lifting lugs, and brackets
- Skirt support layout and anchoring provisions
- Skeleton assembly drawings including platform, ladder, and nameplate positions
 Materials & QA Requirements:
- All pressure parts specified in SS316L
- Coils in Duplex Stainless Steel
- Bolts/nuts to ASME A193 Gr. B8 / A194 Gr. 8
- Hydrostatic test and pneumatic test protocols included
- Surface treatment: pickling for inside and outside
Result
The client received a complete design package ready for fabrication approval and regulatory submission. This included:
- Comprehensive ASME-compliant design calculations
- Fully detailed, labeled fabrication drawings
- Optimized coil and nozzle layout for operational flexibility
- Improved process safety and reliability through rigorous design validation
The project was successfully delivered on schedule, contributing to the timely commissioning of the distillation unit for Project Eagle.