Vessel supports — choose the correct application: Saddle supports are primarily used to support which class of process vessels?

Introduction / Context:Mechanical support design must accommodate vessel geometry, weight distribution, thermal expansion, and external loads. Saddle supports are a standard solution for horizontal cylindrical vessels such as storage tanks, heat-recovery drums, and separators.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Vessel is a right circular cylinder lying horizontally.
• Two saddles typically spaced symmetrically support the shell.
• Loads include self-weight, contents, wind/seismic reactions, and thermal growth.

Concept / Approach:Saddles cradle the curved shell, distributing bearing pressure and minimizing local stress concentrations. One saddle is often fixed; the other allows sliding to accommodate axial thermal expansion. Vertical vessels instead use skirts or legs; spheres use columns or skirts with different load paths.

Step-by-Step Reasoning:

Verification / Alternative check:Industry standards (e.g., Pressure Vessel Handbook) illustrate saddle supports on horizontal drums; vertical columns use skirts with anchor bolts.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Tall vertical/thick vertical: use skirts or legs.
• Spherical: use column legs (multi-supports), not saddles.
• Square silos: flat-bottom or leg supports.

Common Pitfalls:Placing saddles too close to heads causing high midspan bending; ignoring nozzle-induced loads in support spacing.

Final Answer:Horizontal cylindrical vessels