Fabrication Services FAQ: Process Equipment, Materials, and Design Considerations

A pressure vessel is a container engineered to hold liquids or gases under internal or external pressure. These vessels are commonly used in chemical processing, pharmaceutical production, biotech, cosmetics manufacturing, and other industrial operations requiring pressure control.

American Alloy Fabricators designs and fabricates pressure vessels in accordance with ASME Section VIII, Division 1 requirements. The company’s client overview also identifies ASME Code as a core certification.

American Alloy Fabricators manufactures several types of pressure vessels, including:

• Jacketed reactors
• Distillation towers
• Mixing vessels
• Autoclaves
• Vacuum tanks
• Heat exchangers

Pressure vessel shell materials may include stainless steel and corrosion-resistant alloys such as Hastelloy, Inconel, Monel, Alloy 20, and AL-6XN. The right material depends on the process fluid, pressure, temperature, and corrosion profile.

Pressure vessels can be configured with supports such as legs, sidewall supports, load cells, and casters. Relief devices may include safety valves, relief valves, and pressure safety relief valves, depending on the application and code requirements.

Pilot plant vessels are small-scale process containers designed for research, testing, and process development. They may include miniature pressure vessels, heat exchangers, reactors, or other process equipment.

Pilot plant vessels are smaller than full-scale production equipment but are designed to emulate production conditions. This allows teams to test process behavior, gather data, and identify design adjustments before scaling up.

Pilot plants allow manufacturers to test production methods, verify process feasibility, and refine operating parameters before moving into commercial production. They can also help engineers improve models, evaluate materials, and reduce risk before investing in larger equipment.

Pilot plant vessels can be customized in terms of material, configuration, and internal components. Options may include stainless steel or nickel alloy construction, standalone vessels, modular skid assemblies, packed beds, and spray headers.

Pilot plant vessels are commonly used by biotechnology, chemical, food processing, and pharmaceutical manufacturers for research, testing, and process scale-up.

American Alloy Fabricators manufactures custom storage tanks, including:

• Vertical storage tanks
• Horizontal storage tanks
• Single-walled tanks
• Double-walled tanks

Vertical storage tanks use less floor space and are often suited for facilities with adequate ceiling height. Horizontal storage tanks may be better for low-clearance spaces, transportation, or applications where access and mobility are important.

A double-walled storage tank is used when the stored material requires secondary containment. This is common for petroleum, hazardous chemicals, or other materials where leak prevention and environmental protection are important.

Stainless steel storage tanks are used in food and beverage processing, cosmetics, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, brewing, and other applications where corrosion resistance and cleanability matter.

Yes. American Alloy Fabricators can manufacture non-code custom storage tanks for atmospheric-pressure applications. The client’s FAQ notes that these tanks can be fabricated up to 10 feet in diameter for corrosive and non-corrosive liquids.

A process piping system includes the pipes, fittings, valves, flanges, gaskets, tubing, hoses, separators, and other components used to move process fluids through a manufacturing operation.

Standard plumbing supports building water and waste systems. Process piping moves raw materials, intermediates, finished products, chemicals, or gases used in production. It must be designed around flow rate, pressure, temperature, material compatibility, and product quality requirements.

Process piping systems may include:

• Pipes and tubing
• Flanges and gaskets
• Valves and pressure hoses
• Strainers and separators
• Custom fittings and supports

The client FAQ states that custom process piping systems are designed to meet or exceed ASME B31.3 standards.

Process piping is used in chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, textile processing, and other operations that require controlled fluid transfer.

A pressure filter separates solids from liquids or slurries by forcing the liquid through a filter medium while retaining the solids within the filter.

A Nutsche filter uses a perforated filter plate inside a vessel. The liquid passes through the filter medium while solids remain on top of the plate for drying or further processing.

American Alloy Fabricators fabricates pressure and Nutsche filters from corrosion-resistant materials, including stainless steel, Hastelloy, Inconel, and Alloy 20.

Custom options may include mixers, temperature controls, jacketing, specialized valving, porting, sight ports, and alternative coatings.

Available finishes may include mechanical finishes and electropolished finishes, depending on sanitary, corrosion resistance, and cleanability requirements.

An industrial reactor pressure vessel is a container designed to hold reaction mixtures under controlled pressure and temperature conditions. These vessels are used for applications such as chemical reactions, extractions, distillation, and post-processing.

American Alloy Fabricators offers several jacketed reactor configurations, including:

• Conventional jacketed reactors
• Half-pipe jacket reactors
• Dimple jacketed reactors

A half-pipe jacketed reactor uses piping welded to the outside of the vessel to support higher flow rates and higher pressure or temperature requirements. A dimple jacketed reactor uses an embossed jacket design to support heat transfer at lower pressures and flow rates while reducing weight and cost.

Sanitary reactor interiors may be mechanically polished or electropolished. The client FAQ references finishes up to an 8 Ra mechanical finish or 4 Ra electropolish finish, but those values should be confirmed with the client before publishing if they are not currently documented on the website.

Yes. Custom reactors are designed and fabricated in accordance with ASME Section VIII, Division 1, where applicable. Avoid using “Section VII,” which appeared in the Cennos draft, because that is not the correct reference for pressure vessels.

American Alloy Fabricators fabricates equipment, including stainless steel piping, storage tanks, pressure vessels, and pressure filters, for nutraceutical processing.

Stainless steel is commonly used because it is durable, corrosion-resistant, non-porous, and easier to clean than many alternative materials. These properties support sanitation between batches and help reduce the risk of contamination.

American Alloy Fabricators can fabricate nutraceutical processing equipment to support applicable sanitary and process requirements. Specific compliance needs should be reviewed during the design and specification process.

Stainless steel nutraceutical equipment offers durability, corrosion resistance, cleanability, and long service life. It is also recyclable and can withstand demanding production environments when properly specified.

This equipment may support manufacturers producing functional foods, dietary supplements, herbal products, isolated nutrients, and related nutraceutical products.

Cosmetics manufacturing may require mixers, homogenizers, storage tanks, pressure vessels, process piping, and filling-related equipment. Equipment needs vary depending on whether the product is a cream, lotion, gel, liquid, powder, or emulsion.

Sanitary design helps reduce contamination risk and supports cleaning between batches. Smooth finishes, accessible surfaces, proper drainage, and compatible materials all contribute to easier cleaning and more consistent production.

Equipment can be designed with accessible interiors, reduced dead space, appropriate surface finishes, and sanitary connections. These features help reduce residue buildup and simplify cleaning procedures.

Inspection requirements should be reviewed during the specification process. Depending on the application, equipment can be designed to support customer quality control procedures and sanitary production requirements.

For cosmetic and regulated applications, American Alloy Fabricators can review sanitary design, material, and finish requirements during the equipment specification process.

Environmental equipment includes systems designed to monitor, control, or reduce environmental impact from industrial processes. These systems may be used for air pollution control, water treatment, emissions reduction, or workplace safety.

American Alloy Fabricators fabricates custom environmental equipment, including Venturi scrubbers, quenchers, separators, and related systems.

A Venturi scrubber removes particles or gases from an exhaust stream by using a high-velocity liquid spray to capture contaminants. These systems are commonly used in air pollution control applications.

Quenchers rapidly cool hot gases or vapors by introducing a cooling medium. Separators remove solid or liquid particles from gas or liquid streams based on differences in density, size, or process behavior.

Custom environmental equipment can help facilities control emissions, manage waste streams, improve safety, and meet environmental compliance requirements. The right design depends on the process conditions, contaminants involved, and applicable regulations.