Types of pressure vessel heads and Haihao Group’s manufacturing capabilities

Pressure vessel heads are critical components used to seal the ends of pressure vessels, ensuring the safe containment of gases or liquids under pressure. Selecting the right type of head is essential for meeting design requirements and ensuring long-term reliability. There are several common types of pressure vessel heads, each with specific characteristics suited to different applications:

ASTM A387 Gr22 Cl2 hemispherical pressure vessel head

1.Hemispherical Heads

Hemispherical heads are shaped like half of a perfect sphere. They offer the best strength-to-weight ratio among all head types because the stress is evenly distributed across the surface. Hemispherical heads are ideal for high-pressure applications but tend to be more expensive to manufacture due to their complex shape.

A403 WP304 stainless steel ellipse head

2.Elliptical Heads (2:1 Elliptical Heads)

Elliptical heads are the most widely used type, with a major-to-minor axis ratio of 2:1. They offer a good balance between strength and cost. Their smooth contour provides excellent pressure distribution, making them a popular choice for medium and high-pressure vessels.

Quality inspection of ASME B16.9 A234 WPB pipe cap

3.Torispherical Heads (Flanged and Dished Heads)

Torispherical heads, often referred to as F&D heads, have a flat center section with a toroidal (curved) knuckle at the edge. They are simpler and cheaper to produce compared to elliptical heads but have slightly lower pressure-bearing capacity. They are commonly used in low to moderate pressure applications.

4.Conical Heads

Conical heads are cone-shaped and typically used when there is a need to transition between different diameters in a pressure vessel. They are well-suited for applications that require efficient drainage or material flow. However, careful design is needed to address the stress concentration at the junction between the cone and the cylinder.

5.Flat Heads

Flat heads are the simplest form, essentially flat plates used to close the ends of vessels. They are used for very low-pressure applications or small-diameter vessels where the pressure-induced stresses are manageable. Due to their limited strength, flat heads are less common in high-pressure applications.

6.Spherical Caps

Spherical caps resemble a portion of a sphere but with a smaller radius than hemispherical heads. They provide good strength and are used where compact design and moderate pressure ratings are required.

Heads

Haihao Group: Your Reliable Partner for Pressure Vessel Heads

Haihao Group specializes in manufacturing a full range of pressure vessel heads to meet the diverse needs of global industries. Our production capabilities cover:

• Hemispherical Heads
• 2:1 Elliptical Heads
• Flanged and Dished (Torispherical) Heads
• Conical Heads
• Flat Heads
• Custom Spherical Caps

We can supply heads made from a wide variety of materials including carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, and special materials like ASTM A387 Gr22 Cl2, ensuring compliance with ASME, PED, and other international standards.

Whether you require standard sizes or customized designs, Haihao Group offers precision engineering, strict quality control, and timely delivery to support your pressure vessel projects worldwide. With our advanced forming, welding, and heat treatment facilities, we are capable of producing both seamless and welded heads for a wide range of industries such as oil & gas, petrochemical, power generation, marine, and more.

Contact Haihao Group today to learn how we can support your next pressure vessel project with world-class head manufacturing solutions. Email:sales@haihaogroup.com