KNOWLEDGE BASED SYSTEM FOR DESIGN OF TALL PRESSURE VESSELS

Abstract

Tall vertical vessels are used to a great extent by petroleum industries as vacuum distillation columns in refineries and reaction column in fertilizer factories. Now a days, these vessels which are as high as 200 ft. or more are required to be self supporting. The conditions under which these vessel stand are severe and many times their contents are inflammable. Thus the design of such vessel is very important. The various criterion of different standard codes constraints the design and analysis of tall vertical pressure vessels. At the same time design has to obey the design theories also. The provisions of these standard codes are prone to misinterpretations and unavailability standard methods may lead to bad design. However the number of repetitive calculations involved makes the process more complex. A complete design and analysis method for tall vertical pressure vessel have been presented. The various standard codes and analysis methods are used to approximate real time loading condition suited to the Indian environmental conditions. A knowledge based system have been developed to design and analyze the self supporting vessels. The system developed helps, assists and guides - the designer to make the better decisions. The automation of design and analysis of tall vertical pressure vessel relieves the designer from the tedious tasks.