AEA Technology Engineering Software Launches MECHX Mechanical Design System; Release of Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Design Software.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1999--

AEA Technology Engineering Software today announced the release of MECHX(TM), a dedicated program for the mechanical design of shell and tube heat exchangers, at the Chem Show in New York City. MECHX can be used for new equipment or for re-rating existing exchangers for new operating conditions.

Ing. Joh. Van der Kamp, Chief Design Engineer at Bronswerk Heat Transfer BV, commented: "Our decision to use MECHX rather than continue to maintain an in-house program enables our engineers to focus on our primary business of designing and manufacturing exchangers. Since we have been using the ASME calculation engine of MECHX with great success over the past number of years, I have complete confidence in the results."

The combination of TASC thermal design software and MECHX enables the engineer to rapidly optimize exchanger geometry for both thermal performance and mechanical design constraints during a single session without the need to re-key data. By fully integrating the internationally respected thermal design program, TASC, with a tried and tested mechanical design program such as MECHX, the most cost effective solution is now available without compromising on quality assurance or mechanical integrity.

MECHX handles all commonly used TEMA shell & tube types using the ASME VIII Div 1 code, for the design of exchangers up to pressures of 3000 psi. All of the exchanger components that require a code calculation are displayed on the Calculation List. In a pre-determined order, MECHX performs a calculation for each component, taking account of component interactions. It then provides the user with a ready means of viewing individual results for each component.

The output from MECHX can be either printed or produced in electronic format for further processing. This output includes:

-- Calculation Report -- comprising a front sheet, index sheet and selected calculation results as required.

-- Tube Layout -- a scale drawing of the tube layout. All MECHX drawings can be printed or saved as a metafile or .dxf for further processing in a commercial CAD package.

-- Setting Plan -- a fully dimensioned scale drawing of the unit, including the location and standout of process nozzles and supports.

-- Baffle Layout -- a scaled drawing of the tube bundle, indicating the location of baffles and support plates. It also includes detail views of the baffles indicating the required baffle cut and the location of tierods, sealing strips and bundle runners.

-- Bill of Materials -- a table detailing all major components: user-defined item number, quantity, component name, material specification and finished geometry. This can be printed out or copied to the clipboard and pasted into other windows applications such as Excel for further processing.

-- Budget Costing -- based on individual component and sub-assembly material and labor costs to construct the shell and tube heat exchanger. User defined factors allow costs to be tailored to local conditions and particular manufacturing capabilities. A full report can be printed or saved as a text file for further processing.

-- File Export -- all mechanical design data can be exported from MECHX as .xml to enable transfer of the data into any suitable package for further processing.

"The release of MECHX is a significant step towards our vision to provide our customers with an integrated working environment throughout their design process, providing 'best in class' solutions at each step," stated Gareth Pugh, HTFS Business Manager at AEA Technology. "An engineer can develop a plant design using HYSYS and then perform thermal and mechanical design of the individual exchangers with TASC and MECHX, without having to re-enter any data through the design process."

Over the next few months, one-day introductory workshops entitled "Mechanical Design of Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers using MECHX" are planned in Barcelona, Calgary, Houston, Kuala Lumpur, London, Milan, Paris, Seoul, and Yokohama. For further information on these workshops please contact [e-mail].

About AEA Technology Engineering Software

AEA Technology Engineering Software is a leading supplier of engineering solutions for the process and mechanical manufacturing industries. The business operates from a network of 20 offices worldwide, with subsidiaries in Canada, USA, Germany, Spain, France and Japan. Its range of software products includes process simulation (HYSYS), batch process design (BaSYS), computational fluid dynamics (CFX), separation process design (SPS), heat transfer (HTFS), plant lifecycle data management (AXSYS), as well as operator training, fatigue and lifetime prediction solutions (nCode). The business aims to provide an unequalled software environment for the management of knowledge and design throughout the engineering and operational lifecycle within its expanding customer base.

AEA Technology Engineering Software is a business of AEA Technology plc, one of the world's leading innovation businesses supplying technical, safety and environmental solutions to a broad range of industries worldwide. AEA Technology plc (LSE: AAT) employs nearly 4,500 people in 26 locations around the world, bringing science to the marketplace through consultancy, technical services, hardware and software systems, research and development and technology transfer. For more information on AEA Technology Engineering Software, visit their website at www.software.aeat.com or for more information on MECHX, contact Gareth Pugh at [phone] / [e-mail] or Marie Telepneff at [phone] / [e-mail]

All trademarks or registered trademarks herein are the property of their respective owners. Other companies in this industry include AspenTech (AZPN) and Simulation Sciences Inc. (SIMSCI).