Description
PV Master is 3D-LABS’ pressure vessel design application for Windows β a full design, analysis and documentation tool for ASME Section VIII vessels, heat exchangers, rectangular vessels, storage tanks and UN portable tanks. It is built for engineers who have to defend every number in a design review: each governing result shows the formula, the inputs and the code clause it came from, and nothing is issued without a checker sign-off.
What PV Master does
Code design
- ASME Section VIII Division 1 and Division 2 design, current edition
- EN 13445 and PD 5500 design routes on the same model
- Allowable stresses read from the published Section II Part D tables
- Material database with temperature-dependent properties and impact-test exemption checks
Shells, heads and openings
- Cylindrical, conical and toriconical shells; ellipsoidal, torispherical, hemispherical and flat heads
- Internal and external pressure with stiffening ring design to the UG-28 charts
- Opening reinforcement by area replacement, including hillside and large openings (Appendix 1-10)
- Ligament efficiency and multiple-opening checks
Flanges and bolted joints
- Appendix 2 flange design on every nozzle and body flange
- ASME B16.5 and B16.47 rating checks, EN 1591 bolted joint analysis
- Clamp, O-ring and full-face gasket configurations
- Bolt load, gasket seating and flange rigidity with PCC-1 bolt-up guidance
Nozzles and local loads
- WRC 107, WRC 537 and WRC 297 local load analysis
- Nozzle finite-element analysis for geometry outside the WRC curves
- Nozzle loads imported from pipe-stress output, so the vessel is checked against the real piping reactions
Supports, wind and seismic
- Saddle supports by Zick analysis, legs, skirts and base rings
- Lugs, trunnions and lifting analysis checked through the full rotation
- Wind and seismic design for tall towers, including variation of wind with height, natural frequency and vortex shedding
Other equipment types
- Heat exchangers with TEMA geometry and UHX tubesheet rules
- Rectangular and non-circular vessels (Appendix 13)
- API 650 storage tanks
- UN portable tanks and ISO tank containers β minimum thickness, inertial load cases, surge plates and UN plate data
Assessment and fitness-for-service
- API 579 fitness-for-service assessments for general and local metal loss and pitting
- Fatigue assessment to Division 2 Part 5 and EN 13445 Clause 18
- MAWP, MDMT and rerating of existing equipment
Codes and standards supported
ASME Section VIII Division 1 and Division 2, ASME Section II Part D, ASME Section V and Section IX references, ASME B16.5, B16.47, B16.20 and PCC-1, EN 13445, PD 5500, TEMA, API 650, API 579 and UN portable tank requirements.
How PV Master compares with PV Elite
Both tools do code vessel design. The differences that matter in practice are about traceability, sign-off and how the licence behaves when you are offline or on site.
| Capability | PV Master | PV Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Every governing number shows formula, inputs and code clause | Yes, on every result | Results reported, source not traced |
| Checker and approver sign-off with an audit trail | Built in | Collaboration features only |
| Licence works fully offline | Yes, signed offline licence | Needs an internet connection to check out a licence |
| UN portable tank and ISO container design | Yes | Not covered |
| Certification forms (U-1, UG-116 nameplate, UN plate) | Generated | Partly |
| Calculation report, 2D drawings and 3D CAD export | Branded PDF, DXF and 3D export | Yes |
| Price for an equivalent seat | A fraction of the cost | Premium licence plus annual support |
Why engineering teams choose PV Master
- Defensible by design. Every governing figure carries its formula, inputs and clause reference, so a third-party review becomes a reading exercise instead of a rebuild.
- Benchmarked. Results are checked against ASME’s published worked examples and an in-house set of 33 benchmark vessels covering the full range of components.
- Checker workflow. Designer, checker and approver roles with an audit trail, so the signed calculation pack reflects who verified what.
- Offline and self-contained. Runs on Windows 10/11 with no cloud dependency β usable on a plant network or a site laptop with no internet.
- AI assistant that works inside the model. It reads drawings and datasheets, sets up the vessel, runs the studies and traces each figure back to its source β and is blocked from inventing numbers it cannot cite.
- Built by working engineers. The same team designs vessels, writes the calculators and teaches the courses, so support answers come from engineers, not a ticket queue.
Outputs you can issue to a client
- Branded calculation report in PDF, with Word and Excel export
- General arrangement and detail drawings as PDF and DXF
- 3D model export to CAD
- U-1 data report, UG-116 nameplate and UN plate data
- Fabrication bill of materials and weight summary
- Full input and result audit log for the project file
What is the licensing model?
Single-user perpetual licence with one year of free updates, or a site licence for up to 25 concurrent users. Annual maintenance covering code-update patches and priority support is available separately. Runs on Windows 10 and 11 64-bit with no cloud dependency.
Is a free trial available?
Yes. A 14-day fully functional trial with no feature locks is available on request through the 3D-LABS contact form. The trial is limited to vessels up to 1,000 mm diameter and 10 bar design pressure.
Who should use PV Master
Pressure equipment engineers, static equipment and fabrication teams, EPC design offices and inspection engineers who need ASME VIII Division 1 and 2, EN 13445 or PD 5500 calculations that will be reviewed by a client or a third-party inspector.
Support
Licensed users get direct access to the engineers who build the software. Reach us on WhatsApp or by email for setup help, code questions and review support on live projects.
About PV Master β Pressure Vessel Design Software
PV Master β Pressure Vessel Design Software is a specialised engineering application from 3D-LABS, built by engineers who use it in practice. It sits between an Excel spreadsheet (too basic) and a full engineering suite (too expensive) β purpose-built for one job, done well.
Key features
- Windows desktop application — installs on Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit. Needs an internet connection to activate on first install and for periodic licence checks.
- Your project files stay local — work is saved on your own machine or network drive, not in the cloud.
- Excel-compatible import/export β bring your existing spreadsheet data in; export results to Excel for reporting.
- Version history β every change is tracked; roll back to any prior state.
- Team collaboration β real-time collaboration on shared projects, with role-based access.
- API access β integrate with your existing workflow through REST API endpoints.
System requirements
Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. Minimum 4 GB RAM. An internet connection is required to activate the licence on first install and for periodic licence checks.
Free trial
14-day full-featured trial without payment. Sign up with your email, no credit card required. If you upgrade to a paid licence during the trial, no data is lost β everything you built during the trial carries over.
Pricing
PV Master β Pressure Vessel Design Software is priced at βΉ74,999 for a perpetual single-user licence with 12 months of updates and email support. Annual renewal from year 2 is 30% of the original price. Team licences and floating licences available for organisations. Volume discounts on 5+ seats.
Support and updates
Email support included with all licences β response within one business day (Mon-Sat, IST). Video onboarding sessions at no extra charge for new users. Software updates roughly quarterly with bug fixes, new features, and code-reference updates. Enterprise SLA (4-hour response) available on request.
Related products and services
- Browse other 3D-LABS software products.
- Complement with our 686 engineering spreadsheets β Excel tools for calculations that do not need dedicated software.
- Need custom software development? See our IT services.
- Prefer AI-driven automation? Explore our 166 AI agents.
Frequently asked questions
What platform does PV Master β Pressure Vessel Design Software run on?
PV Master β Pressure Vessel Design Software is a Windows desktop application. It installs on Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit, and your project files are saved on your own machine or network drive. It is not available for Mac, Linux or mobile devices. An internet connection is needed to activate the licence on first install and for periodic licence checks.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. A 14-day full-featured trial is available without payment β sign up with your email at the trial link on this page. No credit card required. If you upgrade to a paid licence during the trial, no data is lost.
What is the pricing model?
Purchase includes a perpetual licence for one user with 12 months of updates and support. Annual renewal (from year 2) is 30% of the original licence price and covers all software updates and email support. Team licences and floating licences available for organisations.
How does support work?
Email support included with all licences β response within one business day (Mon-Sat, IST). Priority support available for enterprise customers with 4-hour SLA. Video onboarding sessions available for new users at no extra charge.
How does PV Master β Pressure Vessel Design Software compare to alternatives?
The nearest alternative is typically an Excel spreadsheet or a large all-in-one engineering suite. PV Master β Pressure Vessel Design Software fills the gap: purpose-built for one job, faster than Excel, cheaper than a full suite, and integrates cleanly with your existing workflow. Comparison sheet available on request.
About 3D-LABS software
PV Master β Pressure Vessel Design Software is one of five specialised engineering software applications from 3D-LABS. Every application is built and maintained by the engineers who use it in practice β this is applied practice packaged as software, not consulting-firm software built by a marketing team.
