The chemical reactor shown below has a cover (called a head)that is held in plac

Question

The chemical reactor shown below has a cover (called a head)that is held in place by a series of bolts. The head is made ofstainless steel (SG = 8.0), is 3in. thick, has a diameter of 24in., and covers and seals an opening 20 in. in diameter. Duringturnaround, when the reactor is taken out of service for cleaningand repair, the head was removed by an operator who through thereactor had been depressurized using a standard venting procedure.However, the pressure gauge had been damaged in an earlier processupset (the reactor pressure had exceeded the upper limit of thegauge), and instead of being depressurized completely, the vesselwas under a gauge pressure of 30Psi. (a) What force ( lbf ) were the bolts exerting onthe head before they were removed? (Hint : Don't forget that apressure is exerted on the top of the head by the atmosphere.) Whathappened when the last bolt was removed by the operator? Justifyyour prediction by estimating the initial acceleration of the headupon removal of the last bolt.

Explanation / Answer

(a) Atmospheric pressure =14.7 Psi force F = pressure *area force F = 30 **202/4 -14.7**242/4 force F = 9224.8-6650.1 force F = 2574.7 lbf (b) When last bolt is removed, head will be thrown outwith initial acceleration a F =ma F = v**a where is density of steel = 8*0.036 lb/cu.in is density of steel = 0.288 lb/cu.in 2574.7=(*242/4)*3*0.288*a =>initial acceleration a = 6.586 lbf /lb.sec

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