Fabricating and Joining Metallic Cylindrical Shell Courses of Large Diameter Pressure Vessels Containing High Internal Pressure

Abstract

The thickness of a metallic cylindrical shell in a pressure vessel subjected to high internal pressure formed from a metallic plate or forging is substantially reduced from the required thickness in order to economically fabricate the cylindrical shell. The remaining required thickness is furnished by a) a multitude of rods formed in circumferential rings placed on the outside of the metallic cylindrical shell and encased in a concrete shell poured on the outside of the metallic shell, and b) high-strength post-tension wires placed on the outside of a concrete shell. Multiple cylindrical shells of this type of construction can be joined to each other to form a long cylinder by using various connection details.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.