Recent Development Activity Highlights

The COMPRESS Development Team is committed to providing customers with the latest Code Addenda as well as features and functionality upgrades.  The following summaries provide a sense of the types of software enhancements we routinely make available. For more detailed development information view our comprehensive COMPRESS Change List.

January 23, 2008 - COMPRESS Build 6258

  • An error message was frequently displayed that said “Unknown object version (-2029)” when working with heat exchanger files that utilized the tube layout synchronization option. This error did not affect program functionality or calculation results and was only an issue with Build 6257.
  • For multiple nozzles in a head straight flange, an internal error has been corrected in the adjacent nozzle check that determines if nozzle reinforcement limits overlap or actual interference occurs.

January 22, 2008 - COMPRESS Build 6257

  • The first Revisions and Errata to the NBC 2005 Building Codes, issued December 2007, is now incorporated into COMPRESS. The changes are limited to data in the NBC Look Up dialog. In the New Brunswick province, Chatham was renamed Miramichi. Also, Whitehorse, Yukon had its Sa(1.0) value changed from 0.01 to 0.1.
  • COMPRESS now allows perpendicular nozzles to be placed on heads located on nozzles. Previously, an error message was displayed when attempting to choose this configuration.
  • A crash has been corrected that occurred when a nozzle was located on a spherically dished cover. This bug was present in builds 6255 and 6256 and affected new and existing files.
  • In some cases, customers were not able to update COMPRESS files to the latest ASME addenda. This occurred when a file was created in Build 6252 or later with a protection key with an expired support and update (SUS) contract. After the SUS is renewed any COMPRESS files saved using that key should be able to use the newer ASME addenda options if opened using the same key, but an internal error preventing this from occurring.

December 06, 2007 - COMPRESS Build 6256

  • For vessel designs using metric units, an issue has been corrected that occurred when creating a nozzle. The issue could result in a crash or a change to the reinforcing pad material, if present. This affected Build 6255
  • COMPRESS users running Windows Vista with a single user key and administrative privileges get an "Access is denied (2). COMPRESS will now be shut down" error message during start-up. Non-administrator users were not affected by this issue. This was only an issue in Build 6255.
  • An issue was corrected that occured for nozzles with an integral flange. The selected material was changed for a small sub-set of the ASME B16.5/16.47 materials. A different material was assigned to the flange when the file was opened or calculated. This affected Build 6255 only.

November 28, 2007 - COMPRESS Build 6255

  • COMPRESS has been updated to include the ASME Section VIII, Division 1 2007 Edition.
    The materials database now includes all ASME Section II, Part D 2007 Edition data for both Customary and Metric editions.
    The rules of Appendix 1-7 are now permitted for large radial openings in conical shells.
    Appendix 1-10 is available as a new alternative method to evaluate large openings in cylinders and cones.
    The units of measure are no longer included in the base forms. Any quantity to which units apply is entered using the chosen units.
    A new simply supported tubesheet method of calculation is now available for U-Tube, Fixed, and Floating tubesheet exchanger.
    Click here for more details.
  • The NBC 2005 building code is now available for wind and seismic design.
  • The following reports now present the analysis and results in full metric formatting instead of the previous dual unit reporting : Ellipsoidal and F&D Heads, Saddles, Support Legs, Skirt Base Rings, Vacuum Rings, Appendix 2 Flanges, and Skirt Supports.
  • The NBC Look Up feature present in the normal Wind and Seismic dialogs is now available in the Vessel Wizard and Vessel Wizard Defaults dialogs for all NBC building codes.
  • A crash has been corrected that occured when the Standard Saddle Details dialog was opened if COMPRESS was being run on the Korean version of Windows.

September 13, 2007 - COMPRESS Build 6254

  • Custom headers and footers are now available for PDF reports.
  • The print margin error for html reports has been corrected.
  • A studding outlet type 12 calculation error is corrected.  For type 12 studding outlets in the corroded A5 available area calculation, the studding outlet inner diameter (Pad ID) was incorrectly increased by the inner corrosion two times.
  • A crash has been corrected that occurred only for Build 6253 in some East Asian locales such as Korea.
  • An issue was corrected that occurred in some foreign Windows operating systems.  It was not possible to design components using the M.K.S. unit system with Kg/cm^2 as the pressure units.
  • A crash that occurred when creating new heat exchangers with both the Calculate MAWP and Calculate MAP option switches turned off has been corrected.
  • An issue has been corrected where the calculated ASME tubesheet design thickness presented in the exchanger dialog increased un-necessarily which in turned increased the actual tubesheet thickness.  This issue did not apply to the reported design thickness.
  • An issue has been corrected where the pass partition groove depth was not set correctly for the channel cover thickness calculation.  

August 07, 2007 - COMPRESS Build 6253

  • COMPRESS is now compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista.
  • Hemispherical channels are now supported for heat exchangers as per Figure UHX-10 (b).
  • The ASME Division 2 A-1, A-2, and A-3 forms are now available.
  • COMPRESS now provides the option of specifying trunnion type lift lugs for vertical vessels.
  • The ear type lift lug now includes an option to increase the weld area, which provides more weld strength for the same size lift lug.
  • The ability to place nozzles on heads is now available when creating an exchanger.
  • An option is now available for ear type lifting lugs to include a bracing plate from the lug to the top head. This brace plate increases the permissible weak axis bending angle.
  • Sets of heat exchanger inputs may now be saved as heat exchanger default files. When one of these files is loaded into the Heat Exchanger Wizard, all of the inputs are automatically filled in from the file.
  • The ASME U-4 form is now available as a standalone form.
  • Metric versions of all forms are now available.

November 22, 2006 - COMPRESS Build 6252

  • The ASME Section VIII, Division 1 2006 Addenda is available. Click here for more details.
  • The IBC 2006 Building Code  is available for wind and seismic design. The calculations performed are those required by ASCE 7-05, which is adopted in the IBC 2006 by reference.
  • Code Case 2547 can be invoked as an alternative to the Appendix 2-14 flange rigidity calculations for the A05 addenda or after.
  • A new feature to customize PDF reports is available. This feature allows control over which report sections are included in your PDF report.
  • COMPRESS supports Undo/Redo functionality. While editing a vessel, any previous change to the vessel may be undone or redone.
  • A new Edit toolbar is available that contains the Undo, Redo, Edit, Edit Last, Delete, and Insert buttons.
  • The XML file was extended to include more flange and nozzle data.

September 28, 2006 - COMPRESS Build 6251

  • A problem has been corrected that occurred when a nozzle is located from the datum line and the length of a vessel component is modified in a manner that results in the nozzle's attachment point no longer falling on the original parent component. In this situation, COMPRESS automatically relocates the nozzle to a new vessel component maintaining the position from datum line. In Build 6250, this resulted in a corruption of the file and a program crash when performing various functions such as selecting the Cancel option when in an attachment (e.g. nozzle or ring) dialog.

September 25, 2006 - COMPRESS Build 6250

  • The ASCE 7-05 building code is available for wind and seismic design. Highlights of the changes implemented into COMPRESS follow. 2.4.1 Basic Combinations - Load combinations 7 (wind) and 8 (seismic) are now investigated. They specifically apply to the tensile side of the vessel where the uplift forces oppose the vessel weight. These 2 load combinations affect ASCE 7-98 and later as well as IBC 2000 and 2003 and are automatically disabled for vessels created in previous builds. A new option switch Do Not Consider ASCE Load Combinations 7 and 8, located in the Set Mode\Calculation tab, disables consideration of these new load combinations.
  • A new option for automatically generating and filling out ASME U-1, U-1A, U-2, U-2A, U-3 and U-4 forms. NBIC R-1 forms (repair and alteration) are also included. This new feature supports the National Board's EDT (Electronic Data Transmission) facility allowing you to submit forms to the National Board electronically saving both time and money. Additionally, COMPRESS generated ASME and NBIC forms may be archived using the built in forms database management utility. The COMPRESS forms management utility supports network access and can be used to store all forms and necessary support files as well as generate a National Board Log.
  • COMPRESS now offers the option of specifying split reinforcement pads for nozzle types 2, 4 and 8. This new feature functions as outlined in ABSA Information Bulletins IB-05-004 and IB-05-005.
  • The intermediate skirt support option has been enabled for VIII-2 vessels. Previously, intermediate skirts were available only for VIII-1 vessels.
  • The use of user-defined material for skirts is now supported.

April 26, 2006 - COMPRESS Build 6249

  • COMPRESS now indicates Required UG-116 markings in the settings summary report and on the General Arrangement drawing. Radiography and postweld heat treatment required per UG-116 are indicated for Division 1 vessels. For Division 2 vessels, the postweld heat treatment required per AS-100 is indicated.
  • A number of enhancements to the General Arrangement drawing have been implemented, view the history document for full details.
  • A new Reduce Data Entry option is now available in COMPRESS Exchanger. This new feature directs COMPRESS to make simplifying assumptions for various corrosion, MDMT and design temperature inputs.
  • COMPRESS Exchanger's TEMA floating tubesheet calculation has been extended to handle floating tubesheet configurations that are similar to Figure N-1.2 types S or T with the exception that an integral tubesheet construction is used.
  • The UHX Use Operating Temperatures for load cases 4-7 option for floating heat exchangers is now available only when the Consider Radial Differential Thermal Expansion option has been selected. This prevents the input of unnecessary operating temperature data.

December 09, 2005 - COMPRESS Build 6247

  • COMPRESS has been updated to include the 2005 Addenda of the ASME Code.
  • COMPRESS now offers a complete U-4 and UG-23(a) metric units solution through the inclusion of the Metric Edition of Section II, Part D. The COMPRESS materials database has been extended to include the II-D metric values for both the 2004 Edition and 2005 Addenda.
  • COMPRESS now includes an option to generate general arrangement drawings for both vessels and exchangers without requiring additional third party CAD software.
  • A native PDF reporting option has been added to COMPRESS. No additional PDF creation software is required.
  • Three button mouse support is now available for the 3D view in COMPRESS. This handy new feature allows the middle mouse button to translate or rotate the vessel. The middle mouse wheel will zoom in and out.

September 27, 2005 - COMPRESS Build 6246

  • COMPRESS Exchanger now includes an interactive thermal-mechanical interface to the popular HTRI Xchanger Suite. Xchanger Suite users can now access shell and tube heat exchanger (Xist) files directly from within COMPRESS.
  • COMPRESS Exchanger now creates general arrangement drawings without requiring any third party CAD software.

August 15, 2005 - COMPRESS Build 6244

  • The implementation of UCS-66(i) now includes nozzles and integral ASME B16.5/B16.47 flanges.
  • Flat style toolbar buttons.
  • Flanged and flued expansion joints are now permitted on the port cylinder of a kettle type exchanger.

August 03, 2005 - COMPRESS Build 6243

  • Baffles are now available for heat exchangers.
  • ASME 2004 Edition metric equivalents are now considered when designing a vessel in SI or MKS units .
  • A bearing stress calculation is now reported for standard lugs as well as the ear type lugs.

June 09, 2005 - COMPRESS Build 6242

  • New shear check for nozzles with external loads is available.
  • Design consideration of saddle support where each saddle is on a separate pressure chamber is available.
  • Tailing lifting lugs on vessels with multiple skirt sections is available.