Best PV Design Software 1

[Chiller]

I'm sure there will be a few biased comments here, but can anyone please advise which is the best pressure vessel design software. As a minimun the software must be able to design to ASME VIII div1 & PD5500. All other codes will be a bonus. eg Stoomwezen, AD-Merkblatter, TEMA

With everyone's help we might be able to do a pro & cons of each sofware. i.e. a comparison of costs, usability, design coverage etc etc

Appreciate everyone's advise.
Thanks

 

[hiliter]

I have used PVElite for full vessel analysis and Codecalc for component analysis for a number of years. It does support the codes that you mention. It also support pre 1999 ASME stress values. It is available from COADE.COM

Another program which is of equivalent capability is COMPRESS. I do not know thier web site, but they are based in Houston.

These programs are for mechanical analyisis only. If you are doing thermal design, you probally will need a different program.

 

[LSThill]

Hi Chiller (Mechanical)and hiliter (Mechanical)


Take a look at Photo Gallery on

http://www.thill.biz

The Home for "COMPRESS" is

http://www.codeware.com/c6.html

COMPRESS

Take a look at the brochure

Click on the link to the left to download a copy of the COMPRESS 6 Demo, which has the following limitations: only 60" and 120" ID shells and 5" and 10" nozzles are allowed. Besides those two limitations, the demo version is fully capable. The demo version includes both Div 1 and Div 2.

COMPRESS is a true 32-bit Windows 98/NT/2000/Me/XP application, the world's most internationally recognized program for ASME pressure vessel design and analysis.

COMPRESS considers ASME section VIII Division 1 and Division 2. It is used by fabrication shops, process plants, engineering companies, end users and consultants. COMPRESS considers internal and external pressure; wind, seismic and other external loads; nozzle design and various support types. Properties for all of the ASME materials and AISC structures are in the program. Many help screens and user-error traps are included. A vessel design wizard takes user friendliness to the next level. By supplying minimal vessel details, users can build standard vessels more quickly than ever. Also, the vessel details can be saved to build libraries of template vessels and any current vessel file can be converted into a wizard template file. Yet with all its power and flexibility, COMPRESS is very easy to learn and use.

The report is written in HTML format --the language of the Internet. Hotlinking allows you to "surf the report" to quickly find calculations supporting a given result or to find the limiting condition for a thickness. Users can specify an expanded report to see all the details or a shortened report showing just the bottom lines. You can save the report in a self-expanding exe file transmittable by email. The recipient does not have to have COMPRESS to read the report. You can use Adobe Acrobat to generate the report in pdf format, not only electronically transmittable but also capable of being edited by you and notated by your customer.


Click here for a sample COMPRESS report. (Choose option to run file from current location)



Leonard@thill.biz

http://www.thill.biz

 

[johnnymist2003]

Hi Chiller

we also use Coades' products and are quite happy with them generally. Unfortunately, though, there are limitations to all the software currently available as they do not cover all aspects of pressure vessel design, especially where end user specs have their on little quirks. Sometimes it will be necessary to generate manual (or spreadsheet) calculations to cover uncommon configurations. You will not get one package that will successfully cover all aspects of the design you may require.
Regards
John

 

[Chiller]

Hmmm, looks like there are only two contenders!!!

I use finglo at present, its reasoanably flexible but lacks the clarity and usability one would expect from software of nowadays. Which is why, I'm looking at alternatives.

I have downloaded the demo for compress and will take a look at it very soon.... Apart from ASME, does this software cover other design codes?

I too do a lot of spreadsheets and mathcad programs, but like you said, its normally the clients who dictate the design. Anyway no software will ever replace the human mind. However, with all these fancy software around, I just hope that a computer operator doesn't class himself as a engineer.

 

[hiliter]

I had mentioned in my previous reply that the Coade and Compress software was specifically for mechanical design and analysis.

Prior to these programs being developed, the industry leader was B-Jac. This software can do thermal and mechanical design of heat exchangers,and prepare cost estimates of each option. I am not a user of this software, but I believe it is an industry leader.

B-Jac has been purchased by Aspentech and information is available from

http://www.aspentech.com

I would be interested if there are any users of this software, and what feedback you might have.

Have a nice day.

 

[PVGuy]

Hello,

Check out Advanced Pressure Vessel at

http://www.computereng.com

 

[srk]

Hello,
Check out for vessels and Shell and tube heatexchanger

http://www.microprotol.com

 

[ab1234]

PV Elite is good software for ASME DecVIII Div1 vessels. But for DIV2 and PD5500 it has many limitations. If the simple vessels needs to be designed this in undoubtedly the best as the user interface is very simple.

However due care has to be taken in some of its module i.e. Saddle design for a long and heavy vseesl where the saddle supports needs to be stiffened by rings, this do not support this feature.

Similarly while dealing with PD5500 module in Nozzle calculations it gives some abnormal results.

Finglow on the other hand gives accurate results but it is not that used friendly. I don't know if in latest version of finglow some GUI and better user interface have been added.

ab

 

[DSB123]

Why no mention of Whessoe's PVE5 software? It covers PD5500 and ASME VIII Div 1. Tubesheet Design to PD5500, TEMA R,B and C. Also Flange Design is covered to either PD5500 and ASME VIII with additional TEMA rules also. Local Loads are covered to PD5500 and WRC107/297. Wind aand earthquake loadings are catered for.

The software is user freindly, accurate and based on the Whessoe group's experience in designing pressure vessels since the turn of the century.

 

[MicroEng]

Hello
i think the PVELITE(ver_5) is the best.
but u can c Microprotol software & else
best regard.

 

[esce]

MicroEng,
Is there a website for "Whessoe's PVE5"?


Erie Shore Consulting Engineers, Inc.

http://esce.freeservers.com

 

[strain2]

I recomend PVELITE....design approach is simply best.

Yuo can also check "DISASU".

STRAIN2

 

[pvwizzard]

Chiller,

Contact CEA Uk on 0161 366 1188. They supply software for all the codes and offer choices on most codes.I found them very helpful in sorting out my software. They develop their own software but also sell COADE, WHESSOE, FLITE and others. Ask for Alistair Richardson.

 

[MicroEng]

Hi esce
PVElite(all ver) is a product of coade company.

http://coade.com

best regued.

 

[DSB123]

esce,
If you want information on Whessoe's PVE5 software you can contact(Email) the following :- m.kennedy@wcompsys.co.uk
who is in charge of their software sales etc. Note I have been informed that LLoyds are interested in replacing their present software with PVE5.

Hope this helps.

 

[LSThill]

Hi Members

The "Best PV Design Software" is PRESSURE VESSEL APPLICATION SOFTWARE THE CLIENT APPROVE for you to use on the client project.

Leonard Thill
leonard@thill.biz

http://www.thill.biz

 

[gramya]

Sometimes the software selection is dependent on the client preference and vailability of it at their location. But if we review from the consultants angle, thepopularity may be on the basis of usage in a particular country. In India we may list the popularity in the following order;
PVElite, CoadeCalc, COMPRESS, Advanced Pressure Vessel
COMPRESS alongwith their other modules like TEMA Heat Exchanger, ASME Heat exchanger has started getting the user attentions.
Left to me, I will rate COMPRESS the best, economical, fast in updates.

 

[LSThill]

HI gramya (Mechanical)

I total agree with gramya (Mechanical)and COMPRESS FE-Nozzle is the best reference check for Nozzle Analysis.


Leonard@thill.biz

http://www.thill.biz

 

[Moersleutel]

For AD Merkblatt and related codes, I have used DIMy, you can find them at

http://www.rwtuev-at.de

(just click the English button!). Also see

http://www.optivessel.com

for ASME/BS/API calcs. I use Compress and CodeCalc as they tend to give most reliable answers cover the widest range of cases.

Regards
Rudo Louw