A refrigeration receiver used in industrial chillers must be designed in accordance with which ASME section?

• A. ASME Section VIII Division 1
• B. ASME Section IV
• C. ASME Section VIII Division 2
• D. ASME Section II Part C

Answer: (A)

A refrigeration receiver is a pressure vessel used in a refrigerant system, so it falls under ASME’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code for design, fabrication, and testing. The part of the code that covers most pressure vessels is Section VIII, and for the majority of standard vessels the general, widely used rules are found in Division 1. Division 1 provides the baseline design requirements, allowable stress levels, material qualifications, welding, inspection, and testing criteria that match typical industrial chillers.

Division 2 exists for vessels that require more advanced design approaches or tighter safety margins, using alternative, often more stringent calculations and construction rules. It isn’t the default path for a standard refrigeration receiver unless a project specifically calls for Division 2 criteria.

The other options aren’t appropriate for a refrigeration receiver: Section IV deals with heating boilers, which is a different application; Section II Part C covers material properties rather than design rules; and Division 2 would only be used if Division 1 isn’t required by the project’s design basis.

So, the standard approach is ASME Section VIII Division 1.