Configure the Batch Activation tab on the BatchXfer record

The Batch Activation tab contains all properties of a batch transfer (batchXfer) record related to the management of pending tickets and configurable options involving the starting or splitting of tickets.

On this tab, it is possible to define settings for how the Ticket Start functionality can be used. If you must wait for a device in the field to reset before a new ticket can be started, you can configure a waiting period, or timeout, that the system will use to wait and see if the field device will reset. If it does not reset, the ticket will not start and an alarm message will be generated. However, the Controller may elect to override this and choose to make the changes immediately.

To define how pending tickets are managed

1. Open the batchXfer record. For more information on opening a batchXfer record, see Open a BatchXfer record.

   The batchXfer Row Edit dialog appears.

   

2. Select the Batch Activation tab.

   The Batch Activation tab appears.

   

3. To execute an action sequence when a ticket is started, select Execute action sequence on batch start.

   Note: The name of the action sequence is configured by the Controller when a pending ticket is inserted. If Execute action sequence on batch start has not been selected, Action sequence required for batch start will be unavailable for selection.

4. To ensure that a valid action sequence has been assigned to the pending ticket when it is started, select Action Sequence required for batch start.

   Note: If the Action Sequence is invalid or missing, the Controller will be prevented from starting the pending ticket.

5. To allow the Batch Transfer application to split tickets with zero volume, select the Allow ticket split on zero volume checkbox.

6. To set a batch's start time to the time the flow is initially indicated, select the Adjust start time on flow indication checkbox. If this checkbox is not selected, the start times are set when the ticket start or ticket split function is performed.

7. In the Pending Queue Low Limit field, enter the low limit of pending tickets.

   Note: An alarm is generated when the number of entries remaining in the pending ticket queue drop below the integer value. Entering a limit of zero disables this feature.

8. If you want to disable the event logging that occurs when the Pending Queue Low Limit threshold is crossed, select the Pending Queue Inhibit Log checkbox.

9. If you want to disable the alarms associated with the Pending Queue Low Limit, select the Pending Queue Inhibit Alarm checkbox.

10. To prevent multiple tickets from having the same Batch ID in the pending schedule, select the Prevent Batch ID Duplication checkbox.

11. In the Start Volume Deadband field, enter the minimum volume that needs to flow on the active ticket before a new ticket can be started.

    Note: This feature is used to avoid starting multiple tickets in a short time period. Entering a deadband of 0.0 disables this feature.

12. In the Minimum Time (sec) field, enter the period of time in seconds that a ticket must be active before a new ticket can be started.

    The minimum value for this field is ten seconds. It is used to avoid starting multiple tickets in a short time period.

13. To inhibit event logging when there is an instance of a product mismatch, select the Product Mismatch Inhibit Log checkbox.

    Note: The software looks for a product mismatch when a batch is activated on ticket Start, or if the Active Batch Product Type is edited on the Batch Transfer Edit dialog by the Controller. The new Product Type is checked against all source records (associated with the batchXfer via the batchXferSource Source Path) with product types. If the source has a different product type configured, an alarm and event are generated and the source Product Type is updated.

14. To inhibit alarms associated with an instance of a product mismatch, select the Product Mismatch Inhibit Alarm checkbox.

15. To ensure that tickets can only be started after a batch switch, select the Batch Switch on Manual Ticket Start checkbox. When the Controller goes to start a ticket, the ticket will start after a batch switch has occurred. The batch switch has to take place first in order for the ticket to start.

16. If you've selected Batch Switch on Manual Ticket Start, you may wish to enter a timeout in the Batch Start Timeout (seconds) field.

    Note: This will configure an acceptable period of time for the reset of the field device to occur after a new ticket start is attempted. This is entered in seconds. Valid entries must be between 5 and 90 seconds. If there is no entry in the field, the default timeout period will be 15 seconds. The Batch Start Timeout is only applied when the Batch Switch on Manual Ticket Start is enabled.

17. In the Batch Switch Path field, define the path to the point that will dictate when a Batch Switch occurs.

    This point acts as a trigger to indicate a batch switch needs to occur. This batch switch will start a new ticket.

    1. Click (...) to select one of the following points:

       • status

       • multistate

       • rate

       • analog 

         The Path Selector appears.

    2. Select a table and associated record.

    3. Select Accept.

18. Do one of the following:

    • If you've selected a status or multistate point from the Batch Switch Path field, from the Batch Switch Digital Criteria dropdown, select one of the following to specify when the batch needs to be switched:

      • Switch on any change

      • Switch on open to close transit

      • Switch on close to open transit

        Note: Open and closed values are defined by their raw values on the status or multistate record:
        — 1 is Open
        — 2 is Closed

    • If you've selected an analog or rate point from the Batch Switch Path field, in the Batch Switch Analog Deadband field, enter a value that will trigger the batch switch to start a new ticket.

      Notes: Once the current value of the point selected by the Batch Switch Path exceeds the entered value, the batchXfer record will attempt to start a new ticket when the value again drops below the configured value.
      The purpose of this field is to prevent multiple tickets from being started automatically when the value of the configured point in the Batch Switch Path fluctuates at a near-zero value. Once the configured value has been reached, the Batch Transfer application can assume a ticket has correctly started and can safely start a new ticket once the value drops back to a near-zero value.
      The Gross Standard Volume (GSV) of the ticket that is being completed will be adjusted by the value in the Batch Switch Path. For example, consider the following scenario where the Batch Switch Path point was found to have suddenly dropped to a reading of 10, indicating a new ticket has been started:
      — Batch Switch Path GSV: 10
      — Previous Accumulator GSV reading: 180
      — Current Accumulator GSV reading: 210
      — Current Ticket GSV: 150

      The Batch Transfer application will determine the end accumulator reading of the current ticket by subtracting the current accumulator reading by the Batch Switch Path value which is used as the new ticket’s GSV:

      Current ticket accumulator GSV end =

      Current Accumulator GSV - Batch Switch Path GSV 210 – 10 = 200

      The total GSV of the current ticket will now be adjusted by the Batch Transfer application based on this new current ticket accumulator GSV end:

      Current ticket total GSV =

      Current Ticket GSV + (Current ticket accumulator GSV end – Previous Accumulator GSV reading) 150 + ( 200 – 180) = 170

      After this adjustment has occurred, a ticket cut will take place, and the new ticket will be started.

      The GSV of the ticket that is being completed will be adjusted by the value in the Batch Switch Path.

19. In the Sediment and Water (%) Analog field, click (...) to select a path to the analog point that supplies the percentage of sediment and water.

20. An alarm is raised when the percentage of sediment and water is below 0% or above 100%. To inhibit this alarm, select the Inhibit Alarm checkbox. To select the severity of this alarm, choose a value from the Severity dropdown.

21. In the Viscosity Analog field, click (...) to select a path to the analog point that supplies the viscosity.

22. In the Sulphur (% Volume) Analog field, click (...) to select a path to the analog point that supplies the percentage of sulphur.

    Note: The Sediment & Water (%) Analog, Viscosity Analog, and Sulphur (%Volume) Analog are used to calculate weighted average values for batches.