ASME® UHX and TEMA
Heat Exchanger Software

Heat Exchanger design is complicated. Iterate design rules along with multiple design conditions to check make it complex.  COMPRESS is used by all major Owners, EPCs, Fabricators and Design firms who need accurate and complete reporting.   If you need ASME UHX or TEMA heat exchanger design calculations, drawings, and reports then the COMPRESS is for you. Model multiple design conditions for Fixed, U-tube, and Floating type heat exchangers.

  • Multiple ASME and TEMA Editions available.
  • Division 2 supported.
  • Modeling of complete heat exchangers or replacement tube bundles.

Why COMPRESS’ Heat Exchanger Software?

Modeling in COMPRESS

Modeling Heat Exchangers in COMPRESS is easy and efficient. COMPRESS provides a wizard for a user to enter in client’s specifications. The heat exchanger wizard designs the complete exchanger: tubesheet(s), tubes, expansion joint, shell, channels, flanges, head closures and nozzles. Up to eight design and/or hydrotest conditions may be specified. All conditions are investigated simultaneously which includes the various load condition for each design condition as stipulated in the ASME Code.

Multiple Design Conditions

When designing a heat exchanger multiple conditions need to be accounted for. This can range from your basic design conditions to Upset, Shutdown or even steam out conditions. COMPRESS allows for eight design/hydrotest conditions to be entered. This is an efficient way of design a HXGR vs. having to enter a new condition each time or save multiple copies of a design file.

Finite Element Analysis

The COMPRESS heat exchanger option includes built-in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for TEMA Flanged and Flued Expansion joints. Once the expansion joint is modeled, running FEA is a simple click of a button. All meshing, boundary conditions, and required load cases are run automatically. Our FEA engine takes full advantage of your hardware’s abilities which substantially reduces model runtime when compared to conventional general purpose FEA solutions.

FEA Governing Loading Condition in COMPRESS

Tube Bundle Only Calculations

Tube bundle replacements represent a significant portion of the heat exchanger industry, COMPRESS allows users to model and analyze only the tube bundle, without needing to recreate the entire exchanger.

Produce Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Drawings

The Codeware Interface® (CWI) is a no extra cost add-in for Autodesk Inventor® that produces vessel and exchanger drawings automatically. It loads COMPRESS UHX designs into Autodesk Inventor, creates solid models and simplifies the management of equipment details. The CWI also supports advanced smart solid modeling techniques including Assembly Representations in Inventor.

A custom drawing of a Heat Exchanger with nozzles protruding out of an expansion joint created by the Codeware Interface add-in

Robust ASME Calculation Reports

COMPRESS provides a full ASME calculation report. All specified Design/Hydrotest conditions are reported. COMPRESS provides collapsible reports so navigating the report is easy.

Enerquip Logo

COMPRESS has allowed us to explore different variations of what we manufacture, to optimize our designs, and provide a better solution for our customers. It is more than just a tool, it’s a software that allows us to explore limits and saves time.

Jesse Jensen, Senior Design Engineer
Gas Cooler image provided by Enerquip Thermal Solutions

A gas cooler heat exchanger designed in COMPRESS. Image courtesy of Enerquip Thermal Solutions

Featured Heat Exchanger Design Capabilities

Efficient Modeling Simplify heat exchanger design with a guided workflow and built-in ASME and TEMA code compliance. Design Conditions Simplify complex heat exchanger design by allowing multiple operating conditions to be evaluated simultaneously, including true MAWP determination. Tube Bundle Streamline tube bundle replacement by modeling and analyzing only the bundle without recreating the full exchanger. Multiple Codes Supports multiple ASME and TEMA code editions, automatically applying the correct allowable stress values for each. Flange Design Automate complex flange analysis by accounting for shared bolting, governing loads, and iterating conditions to determine accurate MAWP. FEA for Expansion Joints Integrated FEA for TEMA expansion joints, enabling fast, automated analysis with minimal setup and optimized performance. Lift Lugs for Channels Enable lift lug design directly on exchanger subassemblies, eliminating the need to recreate components in separate files. ASME Reports Generate comprehensive, easy-to-navigate ASME calculation reports covering all design and hydrotest conditions. ASME PCC-1 Appendix O Evaluate bolted joints per PCC-1 Appendix O, determining optimal bolt stress and torque while ensuring gasket, bolt, and flange integrity. Automated Drawings The Codeware Interface is an Autodesk Inventor add-in that generates drawings and solid models from COMPRESS designs Finite Element Analysis in COMPRESS

Interactive Heat Exchanger Model Designed in COMPRESS

Heat Exchanger Software FAQs

Below are answers to common questions engineers ask about heat exchanger design software, including code compliance, analysis capabilities, and modeling workflows.

COMPRESS is primarily used for the mechanical design and analysis of shell and tube heat exchangers, including detailed evaluation of tubesheets, channels, shells, flanges, and expansion joints in accordance with ASME Section VIII and TEMA standards.

Yes, COMPRESS supports multiple editions of ASME Section VIII and TEMA standards, allowing engineers to perform calculations using the applicable code requirements and automatically applying the correct allowable stress values.

Yes, COMPRESS allows up to eight design and hydrotest conditions to be evaluated simultaneously, including normal operation, upset, shutdown, and other loading scenarios, ensuring the governing condition is identified for design.

COMPRESS iterates through specified loading and pressure conditions to determine the true Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP), accounting for interactions between components such as shells, tubesheets, and flanges.

Yes, COMPRESS allows users to model and analyze only the tube bundle, which is especially useful for replacement and retrofit projects without recreating the entire heat exchanger.

Yes, COMPRESS includes built-in FEA capabilities for components such as TEMA expansion joints, allowing users to perform detailed analysis with automatic meshing, load cases, and boundary conditions.

COMPRESS automatically evaluates mating flange conditions per ASME requirements, accounting for shared bolting, different pressures, and gasket conditions to determine the governing loads and accurate MAWP.

Yes, COMPRESS generates detailed ASME calculation reports that include all design and hydrotest conditions, with collapsible sections for easy navigation and review.

Yes, COMPRESS evaluates bolted joints per ASME PCC-1 Appendix O, helping determine appropriate bolt stress and torque while ensuring gasket sealing and joint integrity.

The COMPRESS Heat Exchanger option models both horizontal and vertical heat exchangers.