ASME® Appendix 2 Flange Design Simplified

Standard ASME B16.5 /16.47 rated flanges usually provide the most cost effective bolted connections but are not always the correct solution for the job at hand. For these cases, the more complex rules of ASME Appendix 2 are used to create custom flange configurations. The number of variables that must be input to produce a workable Appendix 2 flange make this a time consuming task even with software that performs the basic Appendix 2 calculations. This is where the COMPRESS Flange Design Wizard comes in. It creates optimized Appendix 2 (custom or body) flange designs with minimal time and effort.

In addition to the Flange Design Wizard, the Appendix 2 flange design dialog has a handy ASME B16.5 /16.47 lookup table. This feature provides fast flange geometry data entry when performing Appendix 2 stress analysis on standard ASME B16.5 /16.47 rated flanges. One common use for this is to re-rate in-service flanges that have had their faces re-machined to remove corrosion. Note that both the COMPRESS Appendix 2 flange design and ASME B16.5 / B16.47 standard flange ratings include consideration of external loadings and comply with ASME Interpretation BPV VIII-1-16-85.

COMPRESS includes an ASME Appendix 2 Flange Design Wizard that considers external loads and mating flange pairs
COMPRESS automatically uses the mating Appendix 2 flange bolt loads when designing bolted covers

The COMPRESS Flange Design Wizard:

  • Finds a balance between bolt number and size, gasket location, hub dimensions and flange thickness with the goal of minimizing flange weight and machining time.

  • Provides options to use a minimum bolt size, limit the maximum bolt count and specify a minimum gasket to bolt hole clearance.
  • Detects and optimizes mating flange pairs.
  • Automatically uses the mating Appendix 2 flange bolt loads when designing ASME bolted covers.

Increase Your Capabilities With COMPRESS

Nozzles Simplify the detailing of nozzle attachments with flexible and intuitive nozzle design capabilities. Finite Element Analysis Built-in FEA for Nozzles, Clips and TEMA Expansion Joints. API 650 Storage Tanks Modeling storage tanks is easy as COMPRESS guides you through an intuitive design wizard. Vacuum Rings Drag-and-drop vacuum rings and quickly see how the external pressure rating changes. Quick Design Speed up the process of pressure vessel modeling with Quick Design mode. Productivity Software packages like COMPRESS exist to increase productivity and save Engineering hours. Heat Exchanger Perform ASME UHX and TEMA calculations independently or leverage the bi-directional interface with HTRI. Division II As Division 1 increasingly references Division 2 provisions, many companies are transitioning to Division 2 rules to capitalize on material savings. MDMT Rules of UCS-66 The rules of UCS-66 guard against vessel failure by brittle fracture, a low probability, high consequence event. External Pressure Design Simplify the complexity of the
UG-28 rules for external pressure design and vacuum rating. Jacketed Vessels Design both conventional and half pipe jacketed vessels. Vessel Wizard The Vessel Wizard speeds pressure vessel design by creating complete pressure vessel models with minimal input. COSTER Import files from COMPRESS and create user customizable pressure vessel cost estimates in spreadsheet format. Flange Design Create optimized Appendix 2 flange designs with minimal time and effort and account for loadings on standard B16.5/16.47 flanges. Weld Seams Designers can visually confirm good practices such as staggered longitudinal seams. Lifting & Rigging Use an accurate weight, the correct center of gravity, and apply the actual section properties. Modeling + Drawings The Codeware Interface includes Drafter 3D, a feature that auto-generates 2D pressure vessel drawings. Related Codes COMPRESS implements a wide range of related engineering methods, codes and standards. Design Mode Save time by reducing the trial and error iterations that would otherwise be required when designing pressure vessels. Rating (Analysis) Mode The COMPRESS Rating Mode takes your design and determines the vessel’s MAWP, MAEP and MDMT. Hydrotest Performing hydrotest stress calculations in the design stage prevents equipment damage during hydrotesting. Hillside Nozzle COMPRESS saves time by calculating chord openings and governing planes of reinforcement automatically. ASME Editions Older ASME Codes are retained in all COMPRESS releases so you can always use the latest software. Automatic Liquid Levels COMPRESS eliminates the need to manually calculate each vessel component’s liquid static head. Global External Loads The Loads Menu allows designers to easily consider global external loads when sizing pressure vessel supports. Clips and Lugs Quickly add in various structural shapes to complete your design. Multi-Chamber Vessels Certain industrial processes require pressure vessels with multiple chambers operating under different design conditions. Appendix 46 Produce more economical Div 1 pressure vessel designs with increased accuracy from the Div 2 design by rule equations. Manufacturer's Data Reports Simplify the creation, submission and management of ASME Manufacturer’s Data Reports and NBIC Repair and Alteration Forms. Support Skirt Openings Specify piping connections to vertical vessels that require additional piping and openings cut out of the support skirt. Branch Connections Reduce pressure vessel welding and material costs by modeling tees in COMPRESS. Foundation Loads Summary Break down the loads for the specified vessel operating conditions including weight, wind, seismic, and vortex shedding. Shipping Saddles COMPRESS provides a shipping saddle option based on the industry standard Zick Analysis. UG-80 and UG-81 COMPRESS automatically provides out-of-roundness tolerances that must be maintained during pressure vessel fabrication. Nameplate Design Every pressure vessel is required by Code to have a nameplate. COMPRESS handles this by including a convenient nameplate option. Fatigue Screening Quickly enter fatigue data to determine if a fatigue assessment is required. WRC 537 Nozzle Loads Check stresses on nozzles using WRC 107 and WRC 537 stress analysis for spherical and cylindrical shells. COMPRESS Quick Design Mode Heat Exchanger designed in COMPRESS Division 2 option in COMPRESS MDMT Rules of UCS-66 Bill of Materials generated from COSTER Flange design in COMPRESS Weld seam wizard in COMPRESS Lifting mechanics in COMPRESS Drafter 3D from Codeware COMPRESS includes related engineering methods, codes, and standards Design mode in COMPRESS Rating mode in COMPRESS Hydrotesting in COMPRESS Hillside Nozzle design in COMPRESS 2023 ASME VIII Code Edition in COMPRESS Automatic Liquid Levels in COMPRESS External Loads in COMPRESS Pressure Vessel clip with pad in COMPRESS Multi chamber pressure vessels in COMPRESS Appendix 46 in COMPRESS ASME Manufacturer's data reports in COMPRESS Support Skirt Openings in COMPRESS Foundation Loads Summary in COMPRESS UG-80 and UG-81 design in COMPRESS Jacketed Vessel in COMPRESS Pressure vessel nozzles Shipping Saddles in COMPRESS Nameplate design in COMPRESS WRC 537 Nozzle Loads in COMPRESS Fatigue Screening in COMPRESS Vacuum Rings in COMPRESS FEA Nozzles in COMPRESS API 650 in COMPRESS Branch Connections in COMPRESS