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Batch Forensics: The Case of the FactoryTalk Batch Timers
Frequently, we hear new and seasoned engineers say they do not use the Rockwell FactoryTalk Batch (FTBatch) Standard timers ($timer) because they cannot interact with them or can’t tell what the timer’s status is, as they do with controller-based timers. However, our Batch Forensic experts explain that this is not the case.
Standard Recipe timers require no design, implementation, testing, commissioning nor validation as required by timer Phases implemented in the controllers. Standard recipe $timers can be applied at all levels of the procedural model (Procedures, Unit Procedures, and Operations) Standard $timers can be used in as many placed as required, each instance of the timer is given a name defined by the recipe author that can be associated with the activity at hand. Timers are automatically added to the units configured on the area model just like the $Null Phase.
Figure 1 -Sample timer operation
Recipe timer come as standard functionality of the FTBatch Recipe Editor, timers can be added to all levels of the recipes to track activities durations if configured in the count-UP mode (Timer 2 on fig. 1) or can be used in Count-Down mode to determine transition conditions to advance to other steps (Timers 1 &3 on fig. 1). The FTBatch timer’s status is visible and can be interacted with utilizing the standard “FactoryTalk Batch View HMI Controls ” this control is developed with the product and is off the shelve product functionality.
Figure 2 – Active-X. Dynamically displays and updates control recipe timer activities.
The Timer View control provides an interface to view all the Timer steps in batches currently on the batch list. You can configure filter criteria for the Timer View control. You can also configure the behavior of the Timer View control through the control’s property pages during design time. During run time you will have the ability to view their duration and remaining time status, as well as to change the setpoint value for COUNT_DOWN timers if the user has the credentials.
Users can filter the list to meet their needs.
Figure 3 – Timer filters
Timer status can also vie monitored and interacted with from the standard batch SFC view interface.
Figure 4 – SFC View parameter & report tab timer information
Timers can also be used to track activities durations if configured in the count-Up mode.
Figure 5 – Sample Tracking procedural activity durations using timers
The duration can be specified in Days, Hours, or Minutes, or any combination. The phase has a mode, which refers to the action it must take if the phase goes into the Held state and then is restarted, the recipe author selects the mode based on the procedural requirements.
The TIMER phase modes are:
- Continue: If the phase goes into Hold, the timer will continue to time. If the timer completes while the phase is in the Held state, the phase will remain Held. After the phase is restarted, if the timer has not timed out, the timer will continue timing until it completes. At this point, the phase will complete as well. If the timer had completed while Held, then the phase will complete as soon as it gets restarted.
- Retentive: If the phase goes into Hold, the phase will stop the timer and the elapsed time is retained. After the phase is restarted, the timer will continue timing from the previously accumulated time until the timer completes. At this point, the phase will complete.
- Reset: If the phase goes into Hold, the timer stops timing; the elapsed time is not retained, it is reset to zero (0). After the phase is restarted the timer starts from “0” and continues timing until it completes; at this point the phase will be completed.
Figure 6 – Timer modes
Benefit from using standard recipe timers
Recipe timer comes as standard functionality of the FTBatch Recipe Editor, no design, implementation, testing, and commissioning required.
These timers can be added to all levels of the recipes to control activities durations if configured in the count-down mode and used as transition conditions to advance steps.
The behavior of the timer during a recipe hold can be configured to continue timing, hold the count or reset when restarting, this allows the recipe author to configure the behavior to better suit their needs.
The number of timers available is not limited to the number of timers configured, the timer class allows as many unique instances to be instantiated as required by the recipe author.
Timers are named with context relevance, these can easily be identified in the journals for reporting. (i.e. duration for each manual activity or group of activities)
Our Batch Forensics team concludes that Standard Recipe timers ($Timer) can enhance the recipe authors’ ability to provide more recipe functionality as well as capture procedural information without requiring the implementation of a control-based timer. These timers allow users complete visibility as well as control.
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