Automatic Allocation and Release

Automatic allocation is performed by default by Batch Manager. Automatic allocation occurs whenever a phase needs to be run and appropriate equipment (unit or connection) is not currently allocated to the batch. Batch Manager allocates the equipment required and releases the equipment automatically when it is no longer needed. For process phases, only the unit is allocated. For transfer phases, both the destination unit and the connection are allocated. Source units are never automatically allocated when a transfer phase is run.

As part of the evaluation criteria for unit allocation, Batch Manager uses the equipment status (such as Clean or Dirty), equipment availability (such as in use by another batch), train definition (such as, Is the unit in the train assigned to the batch?), equipment attribute requirements (such as capacity and material of construction), and the equipment state (such as Ready, Run, Held, or Alarm). When there are multiple units to select from, Batch Manager makes the selection based on the manner in which unit selection has been defined in the recipe. If no units are available, Batch Manager continuously evaluates the possible units and waits until one becomes available.

Connection allocation is a result of source and destination unit allocation. When multiple connections are available between two units, Batch Manager selects the first connection that it encounters. For cases when the source unit has not been allocated, either a material is used for connection selection or Batch Manager selects the first connection that it encounters. Connection allocation is also influenced by any segments that are assigned to the connection in the process model. Segments with an Unavailable status render all connections to which the segments are assigned unavailable for allocation.

Segment allocation occurs when a connection to which the segment is assigned is allocated to run a transfer phase.

Allocated equipment is automatically released when it is no longer needed or at the end of the batch. Therefore, units are automatically released after a transfer phase in which the unit that is the source is complete or at the end of the batch. Connections and segments are automatically released after the transfer phase on the connection and segments are complete.