New method in design and manufacturing of fluid-filled multi-layered spherical pressure vessels

Abstract

Multi-layered spherical pressure vessels were manufactured through the application of the integral hydro-bulge forming (IHBF) method. A spherical pressure vessel consisting of five layers of AISI 1018 steel was manufactured. The thickness of each layer was approximately 1.6 mm and each layer was separated by a fluid filled gap from the next layer. The process showed a linear relationship between the number of layers and the maximum pressure that the vessel can support before leaking (burst pressure). The IHBF method promises to be less costly and more effective in the manufacturing of thick multi-layered vessels in comparison with the conventional practice of manufacturing such vessels. In this paper the procedure of manufacturing the vessels, the welding technique and the results of the forming process will be presented.