Problem
Boilers and other heat exchangers must sustain high internal temperature and pressure loads. Thermal gradients can cause high stresses due to thermal expansion and the shell must be able to support the internal pressure. The consequences of a failure can be significant and so there is motivation to ensure that designs will have sufficient strength to sustain these loads.

Solution
Finite element stress analysis (FEA) allows the calculation of stresses and displacements in solid components under thermal, pressure and seismic loads. Stress calculations can be used in conjunction with design by analysis rules in ASME BPVC Section VIII Div II to ensure that the design will be protected against plastic collapse, local failure, failure from cyclic loading and buckling. Thermal loads can also be mapped from CFD models to improve the accuracy of the assessment.

Result
FEA modelling in conjunction with an approved code of practice ensures that designs will be more reliable and safer for workers and the general public.