Design of Jacketed Pressure Vessels: Introduction to an Innovative Methodology Based on Formulae for Cylindrical Jackets

Abstract When pressure vessels are intended to transfer heat and require temperature control, jacketed vessels can be an effective technical solution. Commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry and chemical engineering, these vessels consist of a main chamber (where exothermic or endothermic chemical reactions can occur) and an external cavity through which a cooling or heating fluid circulates. Theoretically, such equipment can be designed by analysis (DBA). However, this approach presents several challenges: temperature variations and gradients (due to heat transfer), buckling (due to external pressure), and fatigue (due to load cycles). Therefore, preparing a calculation note to justify the mechanical strength of such equipment remains a challenge. The French pressure vessels code, CODAP (FC, 2022), has conducted a series of studies to provide innovative and simplified rules based on formulae (DBF). Several types of jackets were considered, differing in their geometries. A previous paper (PVP2024-123464 (P. ROHART, 2024)) described chapter C12.2, which deals with U-shaped jacketed vessels. This paper PVP2025-152312 describes the rules recently published in chapter C12.3, related to cylindrical pressure vessels. It outlines the technical basis, scope (in terms of geometry, material parameters, loads considered, failure modes covered, ...), and design criteria. Finally, it details the developments and future evolutions expected in the next versions of CODAP.