What standards are used in the United States for designing pressure vessels at normal pressure (from -0.1 Mpa to 0.1 Mpa)?
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Gentlemen, since the pressure range specified by ASME standards is above 0.1 MPa, what standards are used in the United States for design and manufacturing in the range between -0.1 MPa (vacuum) and 0.1 MPa? It is understood that the national standard utilizes the NB/T47003 atmospheric pressure standard. Thank you for the advice!
For atmospheric pressure vessels operating within the range of -0.1 MPa to 0.1 MPa, the United States typically uses API 620 or API 650 standards for their design and manufacture. Among them, API 620 applies to cryogenic storage tanks and pressure vessels with a total volume of less than 150,000 gallons (approximately 568 cubic meters), while API 650 is applicable to tanks with a total volume exceeding 150,000 gallons. Additionally, the ASTM standards can also be referred to for design and manufacturing. .
API 620 and API 650 are only used for the design of large vertical storage tanks; but what standards should be used for smaller tanks, such as horizontal vessels with heads, or vacuum vessels with low pressure (–0.1 MPa)?
For small horizontal vessels and vacuum vessels with low pressure (-01 MPa), the ASME VIII Division 1 standard or the ASME Sect. X standard can be used for design and manufacturing. These standards apply to atmospheric pressure vessels and low-pressure vessels. In addition, the AWS D1.1 standard can also be referred to for design and manufacturing; this standard is applicable to steel structure welding. It should be noted that the choice of which standard to use depends on the specific requirements and operating environment of the container. It is recommended to consult a professional engineer prior to design for evaluation and selection. .
You can use any standard, or even none at all, but it will be disastrous if problems arise.
Foreign standards are truly just standards; there are no mandatory requirements. They’re different from what we refer to as standards in our country. This is why, when our country joined the WTO, a /T was added after the standards; it is also why technical specifications are made available freely without cost, while standards have to be purchased.
Atmospheric pressure vessels that fall outside the scope of ASME standards can refer to ASME standards; however, they require AI inspection, and their manufacturing costs are also higher. This isn’t a mandatory requirement. Are there any other standards that cover this area?
The OP mentioned that API 620 applies to cryogenic storage tanks and pressure vessels with a total volume of less than 150,000 gallons (approximately 568 cubic meters), while API 650 is applicable to tanks with a total volume exceeding 150,000 gallons. Is this a clear stipulation in the API standards? Which standard is it?