ASME Samples

Registered pressure vessels that can be calculated to code rules must be calculated to the code rules. We use 3 commercial software packages combined with our in-house spreadsheets to ensure compliance to the ASME code for the more than 4000 vessel and fitting calculation sets we have designed or reviewed. These samples illustrate our use of the following commercial software packages:

Compress: Currently our favourite all round code calculation package. We use this package by choice for the majority of our VIII-1 code projects. We like the broad range of obscure code rules and checks programmed into the package. We wish that the printout was more concise and readable.

Design Calcs: This program provides the easiest to read output of any software we have seen to date. It does not have the scope of code rules found in Compress.

Pressure Vessel Elite: We use this package by choice when designing heat exchangers. The programmed code rules are extensive, but the reports are challenging to read.

We also supplement these programs with our own spreadsheets for less used code rules that are not programmed into the commercial programs. Although we can calculate complete pressure vessels with our spreadsheets, it is more productive to use commercial packages. We match the software used to the tasks involved in the design, but also consider customer preference. The samples below show all of these programs in use, along with spreadsheet calculations where required.

Matching drawings are made in SolidWorks or AutoCAD. More on Modeling...

We use Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to solve problems not covered by code rules. Whether the problem is to validate an existing design to meet Canadian code requirements or design a new product FEA is an extremely powerful and productive tool. More on FEA...

These samples are from ASME VIII-1 but we also work to VIII-2, I, IV and Piping codes B31.1, B31.3 and B31.5.

Jakub Luszczki, CET jll@pveng.com 519-880-9808 ext 230

Brian Munn, CET bem@pveng.com 519-880-9808 ext 245

	Water Softener Vessel This vessel is typical of many we have designed for water service for human consumption or industrial use. This sample discusses the use of Compress, IBC Seismic calculations, and using SolidWorks for vessel drawing. [Software Used: Compress + SolidWorks]
	Audit Vessel We discuss what happens during an ASME audit and how many sample vessels need to be built to justify more than one stamp. [Software used: Design Calcs + SolidWorks]
	Vessel with a Large Opening This sample vessel is a collection of difficult design features and obscure code requirements: large nozzles, swing bolt covers, cone discontinuities, use of bar stock for nozzles (code case 2148) and the use of sanitary ferrules in vessels. [Software used: Design Calcs + Spreadsheets + AutoCAD]
	Tower This tower is based on a combination of different vessel designs we have run. Its' features are often found on towers, but the combination presented here is unlikely to be used on one tower. [Software used: Design Calcs + AutoCAD]
	Heat Exchanger This sample project started with a collaboration with H&C Heat Transfer Solutions to run the heat transfer calculations. [Software used: Pressure Vessel Elite + SolidWorks]
	Horizontal Retention Vessel This 8ft diameter contact tank (or retention vessel) keeps water and chlorine in contact for a guaranteed minimum safe amount of time at the maximum possible flow rate. [Software used: PV Elite + AutoCAD]
	Spreader Bar We design spreader bars like this used by our customers to move their pressure vessels. A common variation is to have multiple bottom lifting locations for different size vessels.