COMPRESS Quick Start Guide

About COMPRESS������������������������������� 1

The COMPRESS Modeling Approach������������������� 2

Suggested Vessel Modeling Sequence������������������� 3

Integration������������������������������������ 11

Neutral 3D Solid Model Export���������������������� 12

COMPRESS Tips������������������������������� 13

Document revised November 22nd, 2022 6530 Sawyer Loop Rd., Sarasota, FL 34238
© Codeware Inc. 2022 +1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com
About COMPRESS

COMPRESS is an expert system that produces professional level pressure vessel and UHX/
TEMA heat exchanger design reports with a single button click. It saves engineering hours while
reducing errors and omissions.

COMPRESS checks your inputs and makes design recommendations. This makes it the perfect
solution for companies that want to bring their design work in-house. COMPRESS automates
jobs that less capable solutions require you to do. Tasks such as compiling reports, determining
MDMT chart assignments, calculating hillside nozzle intersections and liquid static head
determinations are handled for you. Features like solid modeling, drawings, lift lugs/clips,
cladding, and fatigue assessments come standard with COMPRESS.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 1

The COMPRESS Modeling Approach

COMPRESS offers two approaches to modeling vessels: Wizards and Free Form Design. For quick
model creation, COMPRESS includes a Wizard interface which requires only basic information to
model typical vessels.

For unparalleled flexibility, COMPRESS also offers a component-by-component Free Form Design
approach. This method is useful when designing vessels which do not fit typical parameters and
when modifying vessels created by Wizards.

Whether building new vessels or rating existing equipment, you can build your model using a
specially tailored input mode. In Design mode, COMPRESS selects sizes, thicknesses and ratings
to meet Code requirements. In Rating mode, COMPRESS calculates the MAWP and minimum
thickness while allowing you to input your existing geometry. In both modes, inputs are
re-evaluated during the modeling process and updated as necessary to reflect applicable Code
dependencies.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 2

Suggested Vessel Modeling Sequence

This guide outlines one possible way to model a pressure vessel in COMPRESS. This is just one of
many ways to model vessels in COMPRESS.

Please note, components and loads may be modeled in any order and individual components
may be designed without specifying the entire vessel.

1 Begin a new design by selecting File > New > Division 1 Vessel (or Division 2 Vessel).
Alternatively, you can begin a new design by clicking on the Division 1 or Division 2
toolbar icon. All required information for each model is saved in a single file.

2 COMPRESS automatically uses the newest ASME Code Edition/Addenda when creating a
new file. You may change this default setting to any ASME Code Edition/Addenda from 1995
through to the present by selecting Codes > ASME.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 3

3 If wind or seismic loads are present, add the applicable loads by selecting Codes > Wind or
Codes > Seismic.

4 Specify the datum line location and vessel orientation by selecting Action > Set Datum.

5 Set design options, such as units, hydrotest and nozzle design basis, by selecting
Action > Set Mode Options or pressing F7. These options can be updated later if required.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 4

6 Design the vessel.

COMPRESS builds the model by working sequentially down from the top of the vessel.
Begin with the top head (left head for horizontal vessels) and work down (or left to
right). Components can be added to the model from the Component menu, from the
Component toolbar or by pressing the Insert key.

To save time and enhance productivity, you can specify design data and the material
scheme in the Specification Sheet Data pane, and then activate Quick Design Mode to
drag-and-drop components into place.

Component Description

Activate Quick Design Mode

Cylinder
Transition
Ellipsoidal Head
F & D Head
Hemi Head
Dished Cover
Bolted Cover
Welded Cover
Appendix 14 Cover
Appendix 2 Flange
Appendix Y Flange
Rings
Jacket
Half Pipe Jacket
Detailed Nozzle Design
Platform and Ladder
Packed Bed
Support Skirt
Saddles
Legs
Lugs
Heat Exchanger
Air Cooled Heat Exchanger

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 5

Add the pressure boundary components (cylinders and formed heads) before adding
nozzles. If external pressure is specified and vacuum rings are required, ring spacing
should be finalized before adding nozzles.

If operating liquid is present, set the desired liquid level(s) by selecting Loads > Liquid
Level.

If external forces or loads are present, add them by selecting Loads > Lateral Force
or Loads > Vertical Load. Note that vertical loads are treated as a mass and affect the
natural frequency of the vessel.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 6

Add the major attachments such as platforms/ladders, trays and packed beds. These
items are located under the Attach menu.

Add the supports (skirt, lugs, saddles, legs, etc.) from the Support menu.

Add any remaining attachments. These items generally will not affect the nominal
thickness of shell components and may be left until the design is almost completed.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 7

7 Reports can be generated at any time during the operation of COMPRESS by pressing F3
or clicking . Click the or toolbar icon to toggle between a file’s design and report
windows. You can control how reports are displayed within the Report Defaults dialog
(Action > Reports > Report Defaults).

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 8

8 Prepare and submit ASME forms to the National Board (optional).

Select Forms > Form Settings and Defaults to store your company’s information, such as
your name, address and shop information, in a centralized location for use on all forms.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 9

Select the form type you require from the Forms menu. COMPRESS automatically fills in
your vessel or exchanger data and displays an editable form.

Click the Generate button at the bottom of the form to create your PDF form.

Once your PDF has been generated, click Forms > Manage Forms > Submit
Electronically to create an EDT-compatible file. This file can be uploaded directly to the
National Board’s website. You can also save the PDF form for manual submission or
internal record keeping.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 10

Integration is Standard

COMPRESS fully integrates with Inventor® and SOLIDWORKS® through the included Codeware
Interface add-in and XML3D data export. Shopfloor, our cloud-based ASME Section IX and AWS
welding and project management platform, also utilizes the XML3D data. If you are not using
Inventor or SOLIDWORKS, COMPRESS exports 3D solid models of pressure vessel and heat
exchanger designs in ACIS (*.sat), IGES (*.iges), Granite (*.g) and STEP (*.step) formats. These
neutral file formats can be opened in many drafting and plant design systems. We also support
custom systems with the ability to reference COMPRESS data in the XML and XML3D data
exports.

Full Integration with SOLIDWORKS and Inventor

The included Codeware Interface is an add-in for SOLIDWORKS and Inventor. It imports your
COMPRESS model and manages the associated data through custom properties (SOLIDWORKS)
or iProperties (Inventor).

How to export a COMPRESS file to SOLIDWORKS or Inventor:

1 Install the Codeware Interface within Inventor or SOLIDWORKS.

2 In COMPRESS, click the toolbar icon to generate a solid model.
3 Click the toolbar icon to export your model. Select Codeware XML 3D as the file type.
4 Open Inventor or SOLIDWORKS and click Codeware > Import Model to transfer your design
from COMPRESS.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 11

Neutral 3D Solid Model Export

Our 3D solid model export enables you to convert any COMPRESS file into a 3D solid model
Import the COMPRESS 3D solid model into any software package that can open ACIS (*.sat), IGES
(*.iges), Granite (*.g) or STEP (*.step) files.

1 Click the toolbar icon to generate a solid model.

2 Once the solid model is created, click the toolbar icon and select your neutral file format.
3 Open the exported file in your software of choice.

Loading COMPRESS designed pressure vessels into plant layout programs like
AutoCAD® Plant saves EPC companies time and money

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 12

 COMPRESS Tips

1• Every open file has two (or more) windows associated with it: the design (graphic) window
and the report (calculation) window. To toggle between a file’s various windows, click the
corresponding toolbar icon ( HTML report, PDF report, general arrangement
drawing).
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2• Learn to use the COMPRESS shortcut keys. Examples include:
•
Insert to insert a component
Delete to delete a component
F2 for nozzle design
F3 to generate Code reports
F4 to edit a component
F7 to set mode options
F8 to set the datum

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 13

3 COMPRESS can perform dimensional conversions automatically. For example, when you
input 6’7” and press the Tab key, COMPRESS converts your input to 79”. Similarly, you can
also enter data as a basic mathematical expression. For example, an input of 1/16” will be
automatically converted to 0.0625” when you press the Tab key.

•
•
•
•
4• COMPRESS provides a database of all materials listed in Section II, Part D. Any of these may
be added to the material lists in the component dialogs.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 14

5 COMPRESS provides a database of all structural sections from the AISC Manual of Steel
Construction such as angles, wide flanges, WTs, channels, flat bars and pipes. These items
may be added to the lists that appear for stiffener rings and support legs as needed through
the Materials > Structures menu.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 15

6 Applying external loads on flanges results in a reduced pressure capacity for that flange. By
selecting Component > Body Flange > ASME B16.5/16.47 and checking Consider external
loadings on flange MAWP rating, COMPRESS automatically reduces the pressure rating of
ANSI/ASME flanges based on the “equivalent pressure” related to the external loads. A similar
option is available for flanges on nozzles.

7 Support skirts may be comprised of multiple segments, both tapered and cylindrical. This
assists with designing a skirt made of different materials.

Support skirt material #1

Support skirt material #2

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 16

8 The MAWP of a nozzle may be limited by any one of a number of criteria. COMPRESS
determines the nozzle MAWP by iteratively performing the Code calculations: the pressure is
increased incrementally until one of the Code criteria is met. The corresponding pressure is
by definition the MAWP.

9 You can shorten the Code reports generated by COMPRESS within the Report Defaults dialog.
This command can be reached by selecting Action > Reports > Report Defaults.

10 The Undo (Ctrl+Z) and Redo (Ctrl+Y) buttons enable quick design changes.

+1 (941) 927-2670 www.codeware.com Page 17

Codeware Inc.
6530 Sawyer Loop Rd.
Sarasota, Florida 34238
United States

Telephone
+1 (941) 927-2670

Fax
+1 (941) 927-2459

Sales
sales@codeware.com

Support
support@codeware.com

Website
www.codeware.com

Codeware and its respective logo is a trademark of Codeware Inc.

COMPRESS is a registered trademark of Codeware Inc.
Inventor is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.
SOLIDWORKS is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes.