Pressure vessel heads (tank heads, end closures) – ellipsoidal, torispherical (dished), hemispherical and flat heads in carbon steel and stainless steel, diameter 300mm – 4000mm, thickness up to 60mm. Formed in-house on our pressing line.
Head Types We Manufacture
| Type | Shape / Standard | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Ellipsoidal 2:1 | EHA, ASME VIII / GB 150 | Pressure vessels, tanks – the common default |
| Torispherical (dished) | DIN 28011, R=D, r=0.1D | Low-pressure tanks, storage |
| Hemispherical | ASME VIII | High-pressure vessels – thinnest wall for given pressure |
| Flat / blanked | To drawing | Access covers, low-pressure closures |
Materials & Range
Carbon steel Q235B/Q345R (GB) and SA516-70 equivalent; stainless 304/304L/316/316L. Diameters 300 – 4000mm, wall 4 – 60mm. Heads ship with material certificates and dimensional reports; PMI and third-party inspection available. Forming is done in-house – pressing, spinning for smaller diameters, and heat treatment where specified.
Selection Notes
The 2:1 ellipsoidal head is the industry default: it handles the same pressure as the shell with only slightly thicker wall, and its shallow profile saves height. Hemispherical heads need the thinnest wall but cost more to form and take the most height. Torispherical heads are the cheapest to press and fine for low-pressure storage. Confirm the design code (ASME VIII or GB 150) before ordering – wall calculations differ.
FAQs
Can you match an existing tank head? Yes – send diameter, crown radius, knuckle radius and thickness, or a dimensioned sketch.
Do heads come with a straight flange (edge)? Standard heads include a straight flange (typically 25-50mm) for butt welding to the shell; length is customizable. Send your spec.
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Ordering Information
To quote a head we need: type (2:1 ellipsoidal / torispherical / hemispherical), inside diameter, wall thickness (or design pressure + code for calculation), material, and straight flange length. Dimensional sketch welcome. Production: pressing for large diameters, spinning for smaller; heat treatment per code; dimensional report and EN 10204 3.1 with every shipment.
Quality Checks
Every head is checked for: overall diameter, crown and knuckle radius (template), minimum wall thickness (ultrasonic), straight flange length, and surface condition. PMI on stainless heads on request; third-party inspection (3.2) available for code vessels.
Vessel heads in production
Heads are formed, trimmed and prepared in-house. The photographs below are from our own production and storage – shapes and edge details change with every order because the head is made to the drawing of the vessel it closes.
Custom vessel head manufacturing
Heads are made to order when the standard shape or thickness does not match the vessel. We produce heads to drawing in carbon, stainless and alloy steel, with the edge preparation and thickness profile the fabrication requires.
- Shapes to specification – 2:1 ellipsoidal, torispherical, hemispherical, conical and flat heads
- Thickness to the design calculation – with the knuckle and crown profile as required
- Edge preparation – trimmed, bevelled or machined edges ready for the shell weld
- Material options – carbon steel, stainless steel and alloy steel plate
- OEM marking and documents – heat numbers, EN 10204 3.1 certificates and inspection records
Send your drawing or specification and we will confirm what can be made before quoting. Request a made-to-order quotation · info@pipingfitting.com.