COADE PVElite Quick Start 1

Getting Started With PVElite

Introduction

PVElite is very simple to use. Once you know the basics of how to build a model (it will also
analyze a single component such as a shell or head also), you will find it very simple to move
around the program.

Before we get into the program, bear in mind two things:

1 The vessel (model) is built on the screen from the bottom to the top, and,
2 You would do well to get to know what information is available on the screen that speeds up
your design or analysis process.

At least remember the first point namely, that the model is built from the bottom to the top, or in
the case of horizontal vessels from left to right).

Once PVElite is up and running, you will receive a screen that closely resembles the following
picture (there may be one or two differences, but ignore them for the moment).
COADE PVElite Quick Start 2

At first, the screen looks quite complicated, but this is only your first impression. That feeling will
soon go away once you get started. So relax. Its all very easy really.

Instead of getting into the technical details, let us work our way step by step through a simple
calculation. We shall design an ellipsoidal head in accordance with ASME VIII Division 1 (which
is the default code more of that later).

At the top of the screen there is a row of icons that look like this:

Let us just consider this little group, which displays the icons to add components to your model.

From left to right, they represent:

Cylinder (cylindrical shell)
Elliptical head
Torispherical (or F & D) head
Hemisphere
COADE PVElite Quick Start 3

Cone (with or without knuckle radii)

Now, before we go any further, even though the screen is blank, save the file with any name you
choose. To do this, just click the Diskette icon and save the file as you normally would
save any other file in a Windows program.

Now we are ready to start.

On the component tool bar shown at the top of this page, simply click the Elliptical Head
icon.

After a second or two, the elliptical head will appear on your screen, and the screen should look
something like this:

Notice the two pictures of the head. One has a flat 2D appearance, and the other has a rounded
3D appearance. Notice also the vertical bar between the two pictures. This bar can be moved
with the mouse to enlarge either the 2D or 3D screen. Simply place the mouse pointer over the
bar, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the bar either to the left or to the right. For the
time being, just leave things as they are shown in the picture above.

As a suggestion, let us first ensure we have the correct material for the head. The material we
are going to use is SA-240 316L. We have deliberately done this to force you to change the
default material, which is SA-516 70.

To change the material, look for the little icon near the top of the screen that looks like
this (which represents a little stack of plates):
COADE PVElite Quick Start 4

The Material Selection screen will open up and looks like this:

At this point, you can scroll down using the scroll bars, to find the material (SA-240 316L), but
there is a quicker way. In the Material Search String textbox, as shown above, simply type
SA240316L and the material will be highlighted in the upper window (see above). Simply select
and click on the line in the upper window, and this will select that material.

A new screen opens, which gives you certain details of interest, it looks like this:
COADE PVElite Quick Start 5

This screen gives you details that might be of interest to you, but for now simply click the Select
button, and the Head Material box should now look like this

Now let us fill in the rest of the information for this head. Simply enter the information as shown in
the illustration below:
COADE PVElite Quick Start 6

Now, let us look a little further into the information this screen provides, before we add any more
components. Firstly, look at the very bottom of the screen at what is known as the status bar.
This is what it looks like:

Even though we have not run the calculation, there are some very useful results sitting right there
on the screen. Working from left to right, we are told the following:

Tr : 0.3055 This is the minimum calculated thickness

MAWP : 207.6 This is the Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
MAPnc : 277.9 This is the Maximum Allowable Pressure new and cold
Trext : 0.288 This is the minimum calculated thickness for external pressure
EMawp : 55.2 This is the MAWP for the external pressure.

Before we move on, let us explore this feature of PVElite a little further:

Change the finished thickness of the head from 0.5 inches to 0.25 inches, then press the Enter
or Tab key. Note what happens to the information on the status bar. It now looks like this:
COADE PVElite Quick Start 7

Note the red type. This indicates there is a problem, and that the thickness of the component is
not sufficient for either the internal, or external pressure.

To fix the problem, return the finished thickness in the data field to 0.50 inches again, press the
Enter key, and the status bar will return to its original appearance with everything in black,
indicating all is well again.

Having got that out of the way, we are ready for our next component. We are going to add a
cylindrical shell to this head.

Going to the components icons again which as you recall look like this:

Click the Cylinder icon, and a cylindrical shell will be added to the head. Notice how all
the information is carried forward, such as pressures, material, thickness etc. Change
the length of the shell to 10 feet, and the screen should look like this:

Again, look at the status bar, which now refers to the highlighted item (the shell in our case which
is colored light green in the 2D screen). Now, click on the bottom head in the 2D screen. Notice
how the head now becomes highlighted in light green. It this way, we can move from component
to component easily with just a click of the mouse. As you highlight the different components,
notice how the status bar keeps you informed of calculated values for the current highlighted
component.
COADE PVElite Quick Start 8

Ok, this time add the top head on your own. Now we have a fairly complete vessel.

The Help Feature

PVElite is rich in its help features (probably far more so than any other available pressure vessel
software). Click your mouse cursor into any of the input fields, let us say, Finished Thickness
field. Now press the F1 button on your keyboard, and a help screen will open up. In many
instances where you are not sure what information to enter into any particular field, simply click in
the appropriate field, press F1, and hey presto, there is the information right at your fingertips.

The complete PVElite User Manual is available right there on your screen also (disabled in the
Demo version). This is the exact copy of the manual that comes with the original package. It is
available whenever you need it. To access the manual, click the HELP menu at the top of the
screen, and select ON-LINE DOCUMENTATION. Up it comes, ready for you to browse through its
contents as any time. Do not forget to use the help feature, it will help you in many ways, and
sometimes will include extracts from the ASME code to save your running to the bookshelf in your
office.

Getting The Results

By now, you are probably wondering how to the get the results printed. This is very
simple. We have to generate some output, so we invoke the output processor. Look
for the Running Man icon. Simply click this icon, and the output processor will appear
on the screen. The output processor provides you with a list of all the components in your model.
This list will look something like this:

Now, press the Ctrl button on your keyboard, and click the items you are interested in viewing.
The screen should look like this depending on what you selected:
COADE PVElite Quick Start 9

Now look at the icons at the top of the screen.

From left to right, they are:

Print
Home (the house)
Print Preview
Send output to MS-Word

Click the TV screen that does not have the W in the window . You will get a print preview.
When the screen opens, it gives all the results. You can scroll down to see the complete
calculation for that component. If you had selected more than one component to
generate output, you can go from component to component using the right and left
arrow buttons as show here:

Once you finished looking at the results, you can return to the output processor screen by
clicking the house icon.

Now let us look again at the output control icons. This time click the TV screen with the
letter W in the middle. This will send your selected output to MS-Word if MS Office is
installed on your computer. Once MS-Word opens up with the results, you are able to edit the file
as you would any Word document. You can re-name the file, and add your own notes and import
images into the document. This is a very powerful feature of PVElite.

Let us add another feature to our model. Oh yes! Once the output processor is on the screen, the
PVElite input screen is frozen. You cannot modify the model until you close the output processor.
Simply close the output processor (by clicking the little cross icon in the top right corner of the
screen), and you are back in the input screen.
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Adding A Nozzle To The Model

Before we can add a nozzle, PVElite needs to know into which component we are going to add
the nozzle. Tell PVElite by selecting the component. In our case, click on the shell in the 2D
model, which will become highlighted in light green.
Click the Nozzle icon , the Nozzle dialogue screen appears where you enter all the nozzle
information. Remember, this nozzle is going to be installed into the component that is
highlighted in light green. Ok, click the nozzle icon and you will get the nozzle dialogue box
shown on the next page.

At this stage, simply fill in the data fields as shown above. We shall not go into great deal of
detail here, but before leaving this screen let us look at a few features.

Firstly, different nozzle configurations can be considered. The choices are basically nozzles
without pads, nozzles with pads, protruding nozzles without pads and protruding nozzles with
pads. There are also special forged nozzles available for analysis. The part of the screen that
determines the type of nozzle is this part (shown below). We have chosen a protruding nozzle
without a re-pad. You can experiment with this feature to see how it works, and dont forget
about the help feature that shows you what the various parts of the screen mean.
COADE PVElite Quick Start 11

Look at the status bar at the bottom of the nozzle dialogue box. Again, it gives you a summary of
the results of the analysis. As all the results are in black type, we know that all is probably well
with the nozzle.

Now click the Ok button at the bottom of the nozzle dialogue screen, and you are returned to the
normal input screen for the vessel.

The 3D Model

The 3D model is now the focus of our attention. If you click on the model, and hold down your left
mouse button, you will be able to move the 3D model as you please. If it suddenly zooms and
becomes very large, simply click on the icon on the right hand side of the 3D model screen that
looks like this (or press Ctl+Z):

To manipulate the model, click this button:

We do not go into too much detail here, but if you experiment a little, you will be able to change
the colors of the models components, give it a wire frame appearance and even do some other
magical stuff.
COADE PVElite Quick Start 12

Units Metric And Imperial

As far as we know, PVElite is unique in its ability to handle different sets of units. In fact, if you
wish you could even invent your own units if you wish (not advisable unless you are from the
planet Venus!).

Let us take a look at this feature, which we feel allows the user to customize his analysis in the
units with which he/she is most accustomed.

On the menu bar at the top of the screen click on TOOLS then on CHANGE UNITS. This is what
we mean:

Once you click Change Units, you will be able to choose a new units data file. From the following
screen, select the applicable file. We leave you to play with this feature.

And open it. The new units will be reflected in your input screen, and all the data you entered will
be automatically converted to the new units for you. You can experiment with the CREATE
UNITS feature of on the TOOLS menu.
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Other Features

PVElite is a very sophisticated program with many features we have not covered in this brief
introduction. It analyses the effects of wind and seismic loads. You can apply forces and
moments in global co-ordinates if so desired. You can also perform fatigue analysis.

As part of the ongoing development of this software we are introducing new features all the time.
Although we did our sample calculation in accordance with ASME VIII Division 1, the program will
also perform the analysis in accordance with ASME Division 2, as well as the British Pressure
Vessel Code PD 5500. This code has been included because of COADEs interest in the
European pressure vessel market.