Faq

Yes Just Double Click on the title “New Process Card” and rename it

In vessel module, you may have unlimited process cards. On heat exchanger module there are only two process cards applicable (shell side and tube side).

It allows you to check your component roughly when you need to review alternative design conditions (using the “Components and Warnings” checks) , without saving the component.

This allows software to run faster, by running just the calculations that are related to pressure (such as shell, heads nozzles e.t.c). The software will ignore calculations that implicate many scenarios run, such as the saddles, legs, brackets e.t.c.

This allows software to run faster, by running only the calculations related to stability (i.e saddles, legs e.t.c). Calculations for pressure components (i.e nozzles) are ignored. When checking the vessel for stability, since there are many Load Cases to be examined, it is best that you select “run for stability only”. This will allow for faster modifications on the support components, until you reach the desired dimensions.

When a nozzle with flange is created, VCLAVIS checks both nozzles and the flanges. Each component is presented on the main desktop view. In order to simplify your view, this options allows to hide the components attached to nozzles (in this case the flanges). The flange calculations can always be obtained from the “print reports” tab.

No. The names are fixed in order to best model a shell and tube heat exchanger.

A heat exchanger module (in vessel mode) is used to evaluate the standard shell and tube heat exchangers. For more complex geometries, user may apply the “collection” mode of VCLAVIS. When the heat exchanger module is selected, VCLAVIS automatically creates 3 process cards, that is the “shell side” the “tube side” and “combination of shell and tube side” process card. The combination process card is used to verify components such as: tubes of tube bundles, floating heads, backing rings and expansion bellows inside the heat exchangers. It implicates the worst resulting process scenario for the parts inside the heat exchanger, as combined from the shell and tube side process cards.

You can’t model a vessel with a heating bundle using the heat exchanger module. Model the vessel in “vessel” mode and then verify the tubesheet and heating bundle using the “collection” mode. Incorporate the bundle weight as mass on the primary vessel.

Yes. In “Load Cases Tab”, instead of using the: “Calculate using process card pressure data and design temperatures”, apply the: “Calculate with user-set pressure data and design temperatures”

It checks all the primary components for all load case scenarios involved, as selected on the Load Cases tab. It is a critical calculation not to be neglected especially when checking tall vertical vessels such as towers.

For vertical down accelerations typically input (-) y value of g-loading. All other axis just enter a positive value.

Typically nozzle local loads need not be implemented on stability since typically the loads are self equilibrating and of local nature. However there are cases where large nozzles in respect to vessel diameter may affect vessel stability. VCLAVIS applies the dedicated methodology of AD2000 to implement nozzle local loads both on the vessel primary components and on vessel supporting structures.

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VCLAVIS introduces the concept of “intermediate” nozzle on horizontal vessels. Model the “intermediate” nozzle at shell bottom (typical for boots) and give the nozzle a minimum projection (i.e 100mm) which is a typical projection to account for nozzle wall reinforcement. After this specific nozzle creation, you may attach a cylindrical shell (being the boot shell) and a head (being the sump boot head). You may also attach nozzles on the boot shell and head, just as you attach nozzles on the main vessel components. Boot liquids can be implemented, and VCLAVIS automatically calculates additional boot liquid heads.

VCLAVIS introduces the concept of “intermediate” nozzle on horizontal vessels. Model the “intermediate” nozzle at shell top (typical for dome columns) and consider flanged connection. After this specific nozzle creation, you may attach another flange, a cylindrical shell (being the column shell) and a head (being the column top head). You may also attach nozzles on the column shell and head, just as you attach nozzles on the main vessel components.

Two chamber vessels can be created either by using the “intermediate head” component, or the “intermediate shell” and “intermediate cone” components. Intermediate heads are attached always at the node connecting two shell components. When modeled on main vessel, they separate the shell liquid columns and separate the vessel into two chambers automatically. There are no pressure calculations performed when modeled on main vessel. Their verification can be done only on “Calculations Collection”.

Two chamber vessels can be created either by using the “intermediate head” component, or the “intermediate shell” and “intermediate cone” components. Intermediate shells and cones are always attached on a completed vessel chamber (thus the first head to shell junction needs to be created). The start of an intermediate shell is connected on a “shell to head” junction. Afterwards, a cylindrical shell needs to be connected on the other edge of the intermediate shell. Finally, a head needs to be attached on that particular “shell to intermediate shell” junction. Intermediate shell and cone is not calculated under pressure, but participates in overall stability analysis of the vessel.

You may calculate a spherical vessel in VCLAVIS along with its nozzles, but stability checking (sphere on legs) is not supported due to the absence of calculation formulas for verifying the leg to spherical shell interaction. In order to create a spherical vessel, when in “vessel mode”, you must select the “vertical” vessel orientation. Spherical shell components along with attached nozzles can be as well evaluated in “calculation collections” mode.

Use “calculation collections” mode.

No. Since this implicates a complex stability algorithm, there is no way to model a vessel supported on more than two saddles. However, no other commercial software solves the linear beam model correctly, even if it allows for entering three (3) saddles on your vessel. We recommend solving the beam model of the vessel using beam online software and obtain the saddle reaction forces. Then simply use “Calculation Collections” to calculate a single saddle component where you simply input the saddle reaction forces obtained from the beam solver.

Yes. As long as the Code supports such a scenario. For example in EN13445 and in AD2000 there is the option to support a vessel on rings (instead of saddles) and attach legs on the rings.

Dedicated local loads analysis is primarily needed when a piping clip interaction needs to be checked. In order to save calculation time when running a complete vessel we decided not to allow the users to perform this type of analysis when in “Vessel Mode”. This type of analysis is only available on “Collections mode” where you may add as many local loads checks as required, without loosing speed.

VCLAVIS applies dedicated local loads check per Code. There is no option to apply i.e EN13445 local loads check on an ASME Vessel. VCLAVIS remains a bit conservative here, and does not allow for mixing the methods.

Yes. Knowing the vessel MAWP, you may simply go to the nozzle local loads tab, and select the option to perform the local loads check using different pressure than the pressure assigned on the process card.

WRC107 and WRC297 stress summation was practically first introduced on commercial software which were developped during the 90’S. Since WRC107 and WRC297 stress summation had to be consistent with the ASME Code, a specific way to sum up the stresses was formed (i.e account for Pm, Pm+Pl, Pm+Pl+Q e.t.c). However there is another method to sum up the stresses, similar to the concept adopted in BS5500:1990. Classic WRC107 and WRC297 output will familiarize with the BS5500 stress summation (introducing the “maximum stress intensity” theory).

No. You need to calculate the heat exchanger separately. You may model the heat exchanger shell and add additional weight on that shell (representing the inner bundle), so you may evaluate the main vertical column for stability.

Follow these steps

• Make the 1^st half (in length) of the heat exchanger main shell
• Add the bellow on the shell edge
• Make the 2^nd half of the main shell, attaching it on the bellow free edge
• Make a tubesheet on the 1^st half free node
• Make a tubesheet on the 2^nd half free node
• Incorporate a tube bundle (this is a separate component) and attach it on either tubesheet. Check the tube bundle orientation via the 3D output (it should fall inside the shell components)
• Attach flanges and channels on each tubesheet accordingly
• Revisit and finalize shell component lengths. Don’t forget to model tube side components under the “Tube Side” process card.

Follow these steps

• Make the heat exchanger main shell
• Add the shell-to-tubesheet body flange on either shell edge (assume this is F1)
• Add the stationary tubesheet on the body flange (F1)
• Add the channel-to-tubesheet body flange on the stationary tubesheet free edge(this is F2)
• Prepare the rest of the channel by connecting components on F2 and so on.
• Add the tube bundle on the stationary tubesheet
• Check the tube bundle orientation via the 3D output (it should fall inside the shell component)
• Add the floating tubesheet on the tube bundle free edge
• Add the floating head on the floating tubesheet free edge
• Add the backing ring on the floating tubesheet back edge (an option is given automatically)
• Add the shell-cover body flanges on the heat exchanger main shell free node (this is F3)
• Add the rest of the shell-cover bonnet components on F3.
• Revisit and finalize shell component lengths. Don’t forget to model tube side components under the “Tube Side” process card.

No. You need to model each heat exchanger separately. Top heat exchanger needs to be incorporated as “weight” on the bottom heat exchanger, so that stability verification of the bottom equipment can be accurate.

No. We believe that reading VCLAVIS output leaves no room for questioning the accuracy and integrity of the calculations and we would not like engineers to tamper with the software output. It is best to contact the support team when an error is spotted. Correction will be implemented within 2 working days.

You may click and drag a component report to the desired order. The viewing order, is the order that the unified document will present each report.

No. Just use an online free .pdf maker to merge both files

Indeed, unified report creating takes time. Try to select as few components as possible, omitting similar calculations e.t.c.