An inverted pressure vessel system for conducting automated industrial processes requiring elevated pressure and temperatures has a vertically movable pedestal for opening and closing the underside loading port, with pedestal drive system and locking mechanism located below the pedestal top and isolated from the chamber opening. The chamber is connectible to a pressure control and process fluid supply system, and has heat exchangers connected to an external source for temperature control. Process fluids are distributed across a central process cavity through divergent inflow and convergent outflow process fluid channels.