17 AUXILIARY FUNCTION BLOCKS

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The FLOWCOMP (Flow Compensation) block operates on uncompensated flow measurements of liquids,
steam, gases or vapors. It computes a flow compensation factor based on variations in parameters like
temperature, pressure, specific gravity, and molecular weight. The block derives a compensated flow value as its
output. It looks like this graphically.

The parameters for a FLOWCOMP block should be fetched from another function block, by block wiring or
through a parameter connector
At every execution cycle the parameter will be fetched to calculate the compensation term and compensated
flow.

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The FLOWCOMP block uses the following basic equation to calculate a compensated flow value as its output.
Compensated flow = (uncompensated flow)* COMPTERM
Where:
uncompenated flow = An input
COMPTERM = A calculated compensation term
The FLOWCOMP block offers five different equations for calculating the flow compensation term
(COMPTERM). There is one equation for liquids, one for steam, and three for gases and vapors. Each equation
may require different inputs. For example, depending on which gases and vapors equation you choose, one
requires temperature and pressure measurements, another requires temperature, pressure and specific gravity,
and a third requires temperature, pressure and molecular weight.

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The following table provides a summary of the FLOWCOMP specific parameters that you can configure
through the Main tab of the block's properties form in Control Builder. You must have an access level of at least
Engineer to enter or modify values for these parameters. The table does not include descriptions of the common
parameters such as block name and description.

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PV Display Format PVFORMAT Lets you define the decimal format to be used to display the
PV value. The choices are D0 (None), D1 (One), D2 (Two), or
D3 (Three). The default value is D1.
Overall Scaling Factor for CPV Lets you define the overall scaling factor to be applied to the
PV PV value to meet your process requirements. The default
value is 1.
Flow Compensation Factor CF1 Lets you define a compensation factor to use for converting
1 units of measurement for the uncompensated flow to units for
the compensated flow, or correcting for assumed design
conditions The default value is 1.
Flow Compensation Factor CF2 Lets you define a compensation factor to use for converting
2 units of measurement for the uncompensated flow to units for
the compensated flow, or correcting for assumed design
conditions The default value is 1.
Compensation Term High COMPHILM Lets you define a high limit for the flow compensation term
Limit The default value is 1.25.
Compensation Term Low COMPLOLM Lets you define a low limit for the flow compensation term
Limit The default value is 0.8.
PV Equation Type PVEQN Lets you select the flow compensation equation type the block
is to use. The default value is EQA (Equation A).
PV Characterization Option PVCHAR Lets you specify square root as the PV characterization to use.
The default value is SQUAREROOT.
Bad Comp Term Alarm BADCOMPTERM.PR Lets you specify the priority level for a bad COMPTERM
Priority alarm. The default value is LOW.
Bad Comp Term Alarm BADCOMPTERM.SV Lets you specify the severity level for a bad COMPTERM
Severity alarm. The default value is 0.
Alarm Filter Cycles MAXCYCLE Lets you specify the number of filter cycles before a bad
COMPTERM alarm is generated. The default value is 0. If the
value is NaN, the COMPTERM is frozen at its last good value
for indefinite period
Zero Ref. for Pressure P0 Lets you specify the zero pressure reference value for
equations that require it. The default value is 0.
Zero Ref. for Temperature T0 Lets you specify the zero temperature reference value for
equations that require it. The default value is 0.
Specific Gravity RG Lets you specify the specific gravity reference value for
equations that require it. The default value is 1.
Pressure RP Lets you specify the absolute pressure reference value for
equations that require it. The default value is 1.
Steam Quality RQ Lets you specify the steam quality reference value for
equations that require it. The default value is 1.
Temperature RT Lets you specify the temperature reference value for equations
that require it. The default value is 1.

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Steam Compressibility RX Lets you specify the steam compressibility reference value for
equations that require it. The default value is 1.
Reference Molecular RMW Lets you specify the molecular weight reference value for
Weight equations that require it. The default value is 1.

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The PV Equation Type (PVEQN) selection determines the number of inputs that the FLOWCOMP block
requires as outlined in the following table. All inputs must be fetched from other function blocks.

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Equation A (EQA) uncompensated flow (F) and mass-flow or volumetric-flow
compensation of liquids.
specific gravity (G).
Equation B (EQB) uncompensated flow (F), mass-flow compensation of gases or
vapors
pressure (P), and
temperature (T).
Equation C (EQC) uncompensated flow (F), mass-flow compensation of gases or
vapors.
pressure (P),
temperature (T), and
specific gravity (G).
Equation D (EQD) uncompensated flow (F), volumetric-flow compensation of a gas
or vapor.
pressure (P),
temperature (T), and
molecular weight (MW).
Equation E (EQE) uncompensated flow (F), mass-flow compensation of steam.
pressure (P),
temperature (T),
steam quality factor (Q), and
steam compressibility (X).

If you need characterization or alarming on individual inputs to the FLOWCOMP block, provide the inputs
through a DATAACQ block.
If you want alarming for the compensated flow output, send the output to a DATAACQ block.

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This block produces the following outputs:
• PV and its status, PVSTS
You can configure the COMPTERM parameter as an output pin on the FLOWCOMP block for connection to
another block.

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The FLOWCOMP block uses the following basic equation.
PV = CPV *CF1 / CF2 *F *COMPTERM

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Where:
CPV = Overall scale factor for PV
CF1 = Compensation factor
CF2 = Compensation factor
F = Uncompensated flow input
COMPT = A calculated flow compensation term
ERM
• The PVCHAR parameter is the COMPTERM Characterization option. Default value is SQUAREROOT.
Valid options are SQUAREROOT and NONE.
• If COMPTERM is greater than COMPHILM then COMPTERM is clamped to COMPHILM.
• If COMPTERM is less than COMPLOLM then COMPTERM is clamped to COMPLOLM.
• The COMPTERM is calculated differently for each equation as noted in the following sections.

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Used for mass-flow or volumetric flow compensation of liquids.
• If PVCHAR = SQUAREROOT, then:
•

• Else: If PVCHAR = NONE, then:

•

See “REMCAS (Remote Cascade) Block” below.

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Consider the following when converting uncompensated, standard volumetric-flow to compensated, standard
volumetric-flow.
• If the variation in density caused by fluid-composition changes is not significant, then:
– G = Gravity of the actual fluid at flowing conditions
– RG = Gravity at flowing conditions used in design basis
• If the variations in density caused by fluid-composition changes are significant, C1 and C2 of the
FLOWCOMP should be manipulated as follows:
– C1 is set to the Gravity at reference conditions used in the design basis.
– If the measured value of specific gravity at flow conditions is available, the actual specific gravity,
referenced to standard conditions, is calculated from that measurement by another function block (using
the flowing temperature and expansion formulas) this is pulled by the FLOWCOMP block into the C2
pin.
– If actual specific gravity is measured by a lab, a numeric block could be used to hold the value and can
be pulled by the FLOWCOMP block into the C2 pin. In this case, another function block may use the lab
value and flowing temperature to calculate specific gravity at flowing conditions and the result is used as
the G input.
• For these cases:
– G = Gravity of the actual fluid at flowing conditions
– RG = Gravity at flowing conditions used in design basis
– C1 = Gravity at reference conditions used in design basis
– C2 = Gravity of the actual fluid at reference conditions

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Used primarily for mass-flow compensation of gases and vapors.
• If PVCHAR = SQUAREROOT, then:
•

• Else: If PVCHAR = NONE, then:

•

See “REMCAS (Remote Cascade) Block” below.

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Used for mass-flow compensation of gases and vapors.
• If PVCHAR = SQUAREROOT, then:
•

• Else: If PVCHAR = NONE, then:

•

See “REMCAS (Remote Cascade) Block” below.

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Used typically for volumetric-flow compensation of gases and vapors.
• If PVCHAR = SQUAREROOT, then:
•

• Else: If PVCHAR = NONE, then:

•

See “REMCAS (Remote Cascade) Block” below.

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Used for mass-flow compensation of steam.
• If PVCHAR = SQUAREROOT, then:
•

• Else: If PVCHAR = NONE, then:

•

See “REMCAS (Remote Cascade) Block” below.

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Where:
G = Specific gravity
MW = Molecular weight
P = Pressure (input)
T = Temperature (input)
Q = Steam quality (input)
X = Steam compressibility (input)
RG = Reference specific gravity (configured)
RP = Reference pressure (configured)
RT = Reference temperature (configured)
RQ = Reference steam quality (configured)
RX = Reference steam compressibility (configured)
RMW = Reference molecular weight (configured)
P0 = Zero pressure reference (configured)
T0 = Zero temperature reference (configured)

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If the status of any input is bad, the FLOWCOMP block handles the situation as explained in the Alarm
handling section below.
If there are no bad inputs, but the status of one or more inputs is Uncertain, the FLOWCOMP block sets PVSTS
to Uncertain.
If you do not connect the required inputs to the FLOWCOMP block for the selected PV Equation Type
(PVEQN), an error message displaying that “All required Inputs Not Connected” appears while activating the
Control Module.

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The logic used for BAD COMPTERM behavior is as follows.
If any of the inputs used in the configured PV Equation Type for computing COMPTERM goes BAD, then:
• If Cycle is less than MAXCYCLE or MAXCYCLE = NaN, then:
– Freeze the COMPTERM to last good value
– Set PVSTS to UNCERTAIN
– Increment Cycle count
• Else, if after MAXCYCLE cycles or if MAXCYCLE equals 0, then:
– Trigger a BAD COMPTERM alarm
– Set COMPTERM to NaN, PVSTS to BAD and PV to NaN.

Where:

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MAXCYCLE Is the configured number of alarm filter cycles during which the last good value for the
COMPTERM is to be held before becoming NaN.
MAXCYCLE can take three possible values::
• NaN - In this case:
– COMPTERM will freeze to its last good value
– COMPTERM will never go to bad
– PV status will be set to UNCERTAIN
• 0 - In this case:
– If the COMPTERM is BAD, BAD COMPTERM alarm is raised right away, PV status will
be set to UNCERTAIN.
• Greater than 0 - In this case
– COMPTERM will be frozen at its last good values till the MAXCYCLE cycles.
– After MAXCYCLE cycles, set COMPTERM to NaN, PVSTS to BAD and PV to NaN.
Cycle Is the number of cycles elapsed after freezing the COMPTERM.

You can view the alarm with the highest priority through the HIALM.TYPE parameter on the monitoring
faceplate of the FLOWCOMP block. When the FLOWCOMP block is in BADCOMPTERM alarm, the
HIALM.TYPE indicates BADCOMPTERM. In this case, HIALM.PR and HIALM.SV parameters are updated
with BADCOMPTERM.PR and BADCOMPTERM.SV parameter data, respectively.

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In case of EQNA, if Specific Gravity (G) is BAD for longer than acceptable number of cycles (MAXCYCLE
cycles) then BADCOMPTERM alarm will be raised.

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If any of the input status signals F Status, X Status, P Status, T Status, Q Status, G Status, and MW Status
become BAD, the corresponding input values are set to NaN. There are no fail-safe values for these variables

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Refer to Control Builder Components Reference for a complete list of the parameters used with the
FLOWCOMP block.

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