Rockwell Automation Arena Users Guide - Manual (Page 109)

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The Flow Process Panel
To meet high-volume production requirements, manufacturing operations in the consumer
packaged goods industry usually involve semi-continuous batch processing and/or high-
speed packaging operations. While some of these operations can be modeled using
discrete approximations, often a better approach is required.
The Arena Flow Process template is one of a family of application solution templates
(ASTs) built on the Arena simulation system. The flowchart and spreadsheet data modules
in the Flow Process panel were designed specifically to model combined discrete-
continuous systems (e.g., batch processing and material flow). If a system contains semi-
continuous batch processes as well as high-speed packaging or filling operations, then it
may be desirable to use modules from the Flow Process template with those from the
Packaging template.
Flowchart modules
Flowchart modules are the set of objects that are placed in the model window to describe
the simulation process.
Tank module
D ESCRIPTION
The Tank module defines a location where material is held or stored.
The Capacity is the maximum quantity that may be stored in the tank. The Initial Level is
the quantity in the tank at the beginning of the simulation or when the system is cleared.
The Regulators repeat group specifies a list of devices that may be used to add or remove
material from the tank (e.g., valves or pumps) at a specified rate. Semi-continuous flow
operations may then be executed by discrete entities using the regulators via the Flow
module.
If a system contains both semi-continuous batch processes as well as high-speed packag-
ing or filling operations, then it may be desirable to use the Flow Process panel with the
Arena Packaging template. Enable the Packaging Input Connection and/or Packaging
Output Connection options to connect a Flow Process Tank graphically to a Valve or
Machine module in the Packaging panel.
When an Arena model (i.e., .doe file) is run, the simulation results are stored in a
Microsoft Access database (.mdb) file by the same name (e.g., the simulation results for
Banking.doe are stored in Banking.mdb). If statistics collection for all tanks is enabled in