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Click here to download the 01.01.24 RCSWin Update
This download is an installer for the 01.01.2024 update to RCS. This update is considered a major one, as it coincides with an ASME Code update year, and it will update RCS from each of the past two versions (01.01.2022 and 01.01.2023). If you did not run the previous update, it is not necessary, as the changes from that update are included in this one as well. Material files, gasket files, and default files will not be updated. If you are significantly behind on updates, or if you have need for other reasons, contact RCS and we can provide you with a fresh complete installer for the latest version of the software.
Click here to download the 01.01.24 User Directory (only needed for network installations)
This update is only needed if you are running a network installation of RCSWin and your working directory resides on a local drive. This update needs to be run and installed directly into the user directory (usually called rcs_user_001) on each machine that uses RCSWin, while the main 01.01.24 update needs to be run on the network path where RCSWin is installed.
Summary of Changes and Updates (01.01.24)
2023 ASME Material Update
All material properties from the 2023 edition of ASME Section II Part D are now included within this update. This includes stress table values, yield table values, moduli of elasticity values, coefficient of thermal expansion values, and Poisson’s ratio values for all materials in ASME Section II Part D, as well as updates to the notes for those tables. As with all previous updates, each user is required to update their material database in order to migrate their specific material list to the new 2023 material properties. Below is a summary of the material update process:
Click here to download the 01.01.23 RCSWin Update
This download is an installer for the 01.01.2023 update to RCS. This is an intermediate update year (it does not coincide with an ASME Update). Consequently, there are not a lot of significant changes that will impact designs within this update. Material files, gasket files, and default files will not be updated. If you are significantly behind on updates, or if you have need for other reasons, contact RCS and we can provide you with a fresh complete installer for the latest version of the software.
Click here to download the 01.01.23 User Directory (only needed for network installations)
This update is only needed if you are running a network installation of RCSWin and your working directory resides on a local drive. This update needs to be run and installed directly into the user directory (usually called rcs_user_001) on each machine that uses RCSWin, while the main 01.01.23 update needs to be run on the network path where RCSWin is installed.
Summary of Changes and Updates (01.01.23)
New RCS executable. This change should have minimal impact on the user, but represents a substantial change to the RCS software. The old primary executable is called rcs_master_menu.exe, and this is what the RCS shortcut points to. The new one is simply called RCS.exe, and a new shortcut will be made to this program when the update is installed. The look and feel of the new program should be very similar to the old one. The significant change is that the new version is compiled to the .NET framework, which is installed and updated automatically on Windows machines. This new version of the RCS executable is considered a test version, as it has not gone through a complete set of testing. As such, it is installed in parallel with the old RCS executable. Note that the calculations should not be impacted in any way with this new program, only the user interface has changed. We would love for folks to use the new version and provide any feedback on it, but if you encounter any problems or difficulties, the old version is still available, and you can simply switch to it and run RCS as normal.
Appendix O Calculations: There were a couple of different changes to Appendix O, the first was to correct a bug, and the second was to expand the Appendix O calculations to cover more scenarios.
Estimating program: Minor changes to the amount of machining allowance added for flanges, tubesheets, and covers for ordering purposes.
In the previous update (01.01.2022), the method to round stresses, specifically, the number of significant digits, was modified to exactly comply with ASME Code. We received a few complaints about the change and requests to go back to the old version. Consequently, on Page 6 of the RCS settings, we added an option that allows the user to toggle between the new and old methods of stress rounding. Caution should be exercised when overwriting this option. The modified rounding logic is exactly per ASME Code.
Click here to download the 01.01.22 RCSWin Update
This download is an installer for the 01.01.2022 update to RCS. This update is considered a major one, as it coincides with an ASME Code update year, and it will update RCS from each of the past two versions (01.01.2020 and 01.01.2021). If you did not run the previous update, it is not necessary, as the changes from that update are included in this one as well. Material files, gasket files, and default files will not be updated. If you are significantly behind on updates, or if you have need for other reasons, contact RCS and we can provide you with a fresh complete installer for the latest version of the software.
Click here to download the 01.01.22 User Directory (only needed for network installations)
This update is only needed if you are running a network installation of RCSWin and your working directory resides on a local drive. This update needs to be run and installed directly into the user directory (usually called rcs_user_001) on each machine that uses RCSWin, while the main 01.01.22 update needs to be run on the network path where RCSWin is installed.
Summary of Changes and Updates (01.01.22)
UW-20 Tube-to-Tubesheet Welds: There were some changes in this section that affect the tube to tubesheet joint load calculations in UHX. Figure UW-20.1 previously contained 4 different sketches for tube to tubesheet welding options. In the 2021 edition, they added two additional figures for “inset” tube to tubesheet welds, where the tube does not project to or past the face of the tubesheet, but is instead inset back from the face of the tubesheet. Within the UHX tubesheet section of RCS, these new options were added to the drop down list of possible types to select, and logic was added to handle the new equations introduced to calculate these joint types, and display the results in the UHX printout. Note that type “e” from Figure UW-20.1 can only be considered a partial strength weld per UW-20.6(e)(1), where type “f” can be either a partial or full strength weld.
Appendix A: There were some changes within Appendix A that affect UHX calculations as well. The welds are now classified as “af” for fillet welds, and “ag” for groove welds, where they were previously just all called “a”. This makes the naming convention consistent with UW-20. These updated selections are now available in the drop down, and the updated descriptions are shown on the printouts as well. There are two weld types that are no longer permitted: Weld joint types a and b for the “No Test” column. Note that, within RCS, these options are still available so that older job files will still be able to run. In the drop down, the text states that they are no longer allowed, and that a value for fr will no longer be defaulted based on this selection. If one of these two types is selected anyway, a pop up will appear with a more detailed explanation and caution, but it will allow for the user to provide their own fr value. This should only be done if trying to duplicate a design done prior to this update.
Previously, the screening criteria to determine if shear stress needed to be checked were based only on the allowable stress. ASME revised the screening criteria to be consistent with actual shear stress calculations. The screening criteria in UHX 12.5.9 (u-tube exchangers), UHX 13.5.8 (fixed tubesheet exchangers), and UHX 14.5.8 (floating head exchangers) now considers the yield stress. This change has been incorporated into RCS.
Appendix 1 changes for cone calculations: ASME changed the logic for cone reinforcement calculations in the 2021 edition in a few ways. The changes are in Appendix 1-5 and 1-8. Appendix 1-5 is for internal pressure calculations for cones, and 1-8 is for external pressure calculations for cones. Both sections are used to determine if additional reinforcement is necessary for the cone to cylinder joint at either end of the cone. Three tables in Appendix 1 have all been removed: 1-5.1, 1-5.2, and 1-8.1. References to these tables have been removed in RCS printouts and calculations as well. The tables were used to arrive at a Delta value, and all three tables have been replaced with formulas instead. Previously, Delta was limited to a maximum value of 30 degrees, but with the new formulas, that is no longer the case. In addition, the formulas for calculating the effective area of reinforcement (Aes for the small end, and AeL for the large end) have changed. There are two different formulas, depending on whether the attaching cylinder meets the minimum length requirements. All formula changes have been made within RCS, and all calculations and printouts will reflect the new requirements.
When designing a three pass exchanger and using the “Fast Input” method for entering nozzles, RCS would sometimes locate the channel nozzles incorrectly. This has been corrected. This also involved forcing the reach channel to have a cylinder (BEM1 for example) if the Fast Input located one channel nozzle at the front and the other channel nozzle at the rear.
In previous updates, RCS had added UG-44(b) calculations (formerly Code Case 2901) for nozzles. However, these calculations were not available from the print menu (File -> Print from the main menu, or the Print icon on the main toolbar). Now, these calculations are available for selection from the print menu, and the calculations are properly saved within the print file for each nozzle.
Similarly, RCS had previously added Appendix O calculations for flanges, but they were not properly being saved for each flange, or available from the print menu. This has been corrected, and now Appendix O calculations can be run and saved for each flange, and all calculations properly printed.
The CNC Program has been cleaned up a bit and added to the help system, providing some additional information on functionality, as well as a couple of bug fixes within the program. The “Change Formats” button now works correctly, and the “Edit” button does as well, where these both generated errors previously.
All aspects of nozzle calculations are now included in the help system. This includes the initial nozzle input and Fast Input screens, as well as the Menu Mode nozzle calculations (Run -> Menus -> Nozzle Reinforcement or Nozzle Reinforcement Edit). The process of altering a nozzle after it has been added to a job file is somewhat convoluted, and this process is now described in greater detail within the help system.
In the previous “intermediate” update to RCS (01.01.2021), we added the ability to handle a few new TEMA types (N-U, N-S, and N-T). This was a very extensive change in that it affected virtually every aspect of the design process. After some feedback from customers, we discovered some problems with the new TEMA types. Specifically, problems with handling the dimensions on the drawings for the new types. Tail dimensions and center to center dimensions were handled in different locations within RCS, as well as different sections of logic for batch mode and menu mode. After further changes and extensive additional testing, we believe the new TEMA types are now being handled correctly in all aspects – from the initial data input, through all aspects of the designing and customizing, to the drawings and sketches, to the BOM and estimating programs.
After receiving some questions from a customer regarding values pulled from HTRI, it was discovered that the shell and tube mean metal temperatures being imported from HTRI did not match the actual mean metal temperatures that HTRI shows within their printout. In short, this has been corrected. The more detailed explanation is that, in the older version of the DBO file, the actual mean metal temperatures were not available. Instead, RCS pulled a different value from HTRI and then made some assumptions. If you are using the HTRI Automation Server and importing directly from an HTRI file, this problem is automatically corrected. If you are exporting to a DBO file from within HTRI, make sure to choose the “Extended DBO” option – as this is the only version of the DBO file that contains the mean metal temperatures. RCS has added logic to read this extended version of the DBO file and pull the correct fields. If you use the older version of the DBO file that does not contain the mean metal temps, RCS will now generate a warning indicating that the previous logic and assumptions that RCS made will be used.
In the RCS UHX program, there was a problem with the button labeled “Calc AL”. AL is the variable in Code for the total pass lane area. There is a subroutine within the RCS calculations that did an excellent job of this part of the time, but other times simply gave an error message. There were multiple scenarios that could cause this error message. The program has been corrected so that the subroutine is called appropriately for all scenarios, and internally, an intermediate file containing results from this subroutine has been appropriately cleared so that no results from a previous run are left in the file.
Fixed a rarely encountered problem with the RCS nameplate drawing. When creating the nameplate drawing, RCS calculated the dimensions for the bracket to attach the nameplate. In the event of a very small pipe sized exchanger, it was possible for the bracket calculation to actually arrive at a dimension that was larger than the diameter of the exchanger, which caused the program to crash. This has been corrected.
For many years, RCS has simply used 0.3 for the Poisson’s Ratio for all materials. Within UHX calculations, the Poisson’s Ratio field was editable, so users could override this value, but it always defaulted to 0.3 and most users simply used this. With this update, RCS is now using values from Table PRD in ASME Section II Part D. The only thing necessary to make this work is to run the RCS Material Update utility, which is required with a new release of ASME anyway. When the update is run, it will automatically populate your entire material database with the appropriate Poisson’s Ratio values from Table PRD. In addition, any new materials that are added will automatically look up the correct value for Poisson’s Ratio.
The allowable stress rounding logic within RCS has changed to match the requirements set forth in the General Notes of the stress tables in Section II Part D. This rounding logic is used when interpolating between points within the tables. In short, the requirements specify that the number of significant digits used in interpolation must not exceed the number of significant digits of the actual table values, and then requirements are given on when to round up or down. RCS was retaining more significant digits in order to get a more accurate result, but per Code, this additional level of accuracy is not allowed. The end result is that looked up allowable stresses within RCS may vary slightly from previous versions, but will now be based on the proper rounding rules.
All applicable data from ASME Code charts and tables, such as heat treat data, radiograph data, x-ray data, impact test exemption data, external pressure charts, paragraph references for UHX, UCS, UHA, UNF, etc. have been updated to the 2021 edition of ASME Code.
We have continued the expansion and improvement of the RCS help system, with more topics available and more areas of the software integrated into the help system.
2021 ASME Material Update
All material properties from the 2021 edition of ASME Section II Part D are now included within this update. This includes stress table values, yield table values, moduli of elasticity values, coefficient of thermal expansion values, and now Poisson’s ratio values for all materials in ASME Section II Part D, as well as updates to the notes for those tables. As with all previous updates, it is required that each user update their material database in order to migrate their specific material list to the new 2021 material properties. One other noteworthy change with this update is a considerable expansion of ASME’s yield stress table. There are more materials included in the table, but more significantly, the yield stress table was expanded to higher temperatures for many materials. Previously, many materials within ASME had maximum allowable stress values at temperatures above the highest temperature at which yield stress values were present. With this update, ASME has corrected this discrepancy for many materials. Running the material update program will automatically update RCS to use these new expanded tables. Below is a summary of the material update process:
Click here to download the 01.01.21 RCSWin Update.
This download is an installer for the 01.01.21 update to RCS. This installer will update RCS from 01.01.20. Material files, gasket files, and default files will not be updated. This is NOT a comprehensive update. If you have not previously updated RCS to the 01.01.20 version, this update will not work! If you are behind on updates, feel free to contact RCS and we can provide you a fresh complete installer for the latest version of the RCS software.
Click here to download the 01.01.21 User Directory (only needed for network installations)
This update is only needed if you are running a network installation of RCSWin and your working directory resides on a local drive. This update needs to be run and installed directly into the user directory (usually called rcs_user_001) on each machine that uses RCSWin, while the main 01.01.21 update needs to be run on the network path where RCSWin is installed.
Summary of Changes and Updates (01.01.21)
Note: To get a printout of all instructions, and a summary of updates from within RCS, go to Tools -> Administrative and double click Edit / Print Updates.
Click here to download the 01.01.20 RCSWin Update.
This download is an installer for the 01.01.20 update to RCS. This installer will update RCS from each of the two previous versions: 01.01.18 and 03.25.19. If your company has not run the 03.25.19 update, it is not necessary to do so. Material files, gasket files, and default files will not be updated. This is NOT a comprehensive update. If you have not previously updated RCS to at least the 01.01.18 version, this update will not work! If you are behind on updates, feel free to contact RCS and we can provide you a fresh complete installer for the latest version of the RCS software.
Click here to download the 01.01.20 User Directory (only needed for network installations)
This update is only needed if you are running a network installation of RCSWin and your working directory resides on a local drive. This update needs to be run and installed directly into the user directory (usually called rcs_user_001) on each machine that uses RCSWin, while the main 01.01.20 update needs to be run on the network path where RCSWin is installed.
Summary of Changes and Updates (01.01.20)
Note: To get a printout of all instructions, and a summary of updates from within RCS, go to Tools -> Administrative and double click Edit / Print Updates.
Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
RCS, Inc.
PO Box 417
Jenks, OK 74037
Phone:
918-299-7262
Email:
For technical support, software related questions, updates, etc.: support@rcs-system.com
For billing, pricing, and other sales related questions: sales@rcs-system.com