Configure the Auto Idle/Ext Flow tab of the Tank record

The Auto Idle/Ext Flow tab enables you to specify database records that will be used to perform inter-related calculations, to ascertain whether the tank is in an idle state, and to determine the external flow status of the tank.

The following database record types can be used as inputs for the tank idle/external flow evaluation, which can correspond to real devices in the field:

• Status (status)

• Multistate (multistate)

• Analog (analog)

• Rate (rate)

• Batch Transfer (batchXfer)

• Virtual Flow Computer (virtualflowcomputer)

The information gathered from the associated points and the Comparison Operator defines how the value from the database points (status, multistate, analog, rate, batchXfer, virtualflowcomputer) should be compared with the values provided in the Value or State columns.

For example, if an analog or a rate point is configured to indicate the tank’s idle/flow state, it compares the analog/rate point’s value to the configured value with the configured Comparison Operator.

If a status or multistate point is configured to indicate the tank’s idle / flow state, it compares the status/multistate point’s state to the configured state. The comparison is true if the status/multistate point’s state matches the configured state.

Each row comparison, if true, indicates that for that device the tank is in the idle state and has no flow. If at least one row comparison evaluates to false, it indicates that the tank is not idle, and that this can indicate that a flow is occurring. If all row comparison situations are met (for example, you've defined an analog point with a Comparison Operator of less than 30 to look for a Flow Out situation) if the analog point comes back reporting a value of 27, meeting the criteria of less than 30, the tank will not report a Flow Out situation, but instead will indicate that it is, in fact, in a Tank Idle state.

To configure the Auto Idle/Ext Flow tab

1. Open the tank record. For more information on opening a tank record, see Opening the Tank Record.

   The tank Row Edit dialog appears.

   

2. Select the Auto Idle/Ext Flow tab.

   The Auto Idle/Ext Flow tab appears.

   

3. For each necessary row, do the following:

   1. From the Usage dropdown list, select a method for how the information supplied from the field will be interpreted.

      The functioning of the Usage field is as follows: regardless of the situation you've defined, when the criteria you've defined for the point is matched, that indicates that there is no flow.

      • Unused: This row is not used for any calculations.

        Note: A selection must be made in the Usage dropdown list first, or the Path field will be disabled.

        A blank Path field also indicates an unused row.

      • Idle Test Only: This row contributes to the test for the tank being idle (if it matches the no-flow criteria) but NOT to the test for external flow.

      • Flow In: If the point does not match the criteria, it is considered to be non-idle, and that there is some flow into the tank.

      • Flow Out: If the point does not match the criteria, it is considered to be non-idle, and that there is some flow out from the tank.

      • Flow In/Out: If the point does not match the criteria, it is considered to be non-idle, and that there is some flow both into and out of the tank.

   2. In the Path columns, click (…) and select a table, a record, and a field. For more information about how to select a pathway, see Define the proper Path information.

   3. From the Comparison Operator dropdown list, select the Comparison Operator to define how the device value should be compared against the value in the table. There are five available comparison Controllers:

      • Less than (<)

      • Less than or equal to (< =)

      • Greater than (>)

      • Greater than or equal to (> =)

      • Equal to (=)

        This setting can be applied to analog, rate, virtualflowcomputer, and batchXfer records.

   4. In the Value field, enter the value that would act as a trigger point to indicate that the point is in an Idle (non-flowing) state. This is only used as an operand for the Comparison Operator when an analog, rate, virtualflowcomputer, or batchXfer point is defined in the Path field.

   5. In the State field, click (...) to select the tank’s idle state. From the Select a State dialog, you will be able to select one of the possible defined states for a status or multistate point.

4. For each Mixer, click (…) and select the status or multistate points corresponding to the tank mixer unit.

   Note: These fields are not included in the Tank Idle/Flow Configuration calculations. They have no impact on processing, and are solely used to provide information to the Controller.

5. To set the tank into an Auto Idle state, select the Auto Idle checkbox. If selected, the Tanking application declares the tank idle based on the comparison result defined by the tank idle configuration.

   If not selected, the Controller must manually declare the tank idle.

   Even if this is not selected, the external flow, if there is any, will be calculated for the tank.

   Note: The tank configuration must have Auto Idle enabled in order to turn on the Tank Idle checks. For more information, see Examples of how the auto idle and external flow states function.

6. In the Setting Time (HH:MM:SS) field, enter the time that must elapse after the valves are closed before the tank is considered idle.