Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) Design and Fabrication: A Literature Review

Abstract

The general design follows the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and fabrication processes used in different countries. Detailed knowledge of the design and fabrication information is necessary to assure long-term structural integrity and safe operation of the Pressure vessels. In this article, a brief overview has been presented to address the unique features of pressure vessels, such as material used for their preparation, design and construction along with various other relevant aspects of pressure vessel. About 32 published studies (1967-2009) are reviewed in this paper. It is marked from the literature survey articles that A516 are the most frequently studied and used material in designing and construction of pressure vessels.