Hi, I am new to this forum and to automation and instrumentation. I am tasked with seeing if it is possible to use an ABB watermaster batch based process, where: devices totalizer starts at 0 -> operator presses a button to start flow, totalizer starts recording flow -> once the receptacle is full and operator stops flow, the flow at that point in time is recorded and the totalizer is reset. it would also be important to record the total flow as well, in addition to the flow for every "batch". Given that the device appears to have no digital input terminals, I am wondering if it would need to be done using a HART DTM? although I am not sure about how to go about automating the process this way as I had maybe originally pictured if I had been using a PLC to control the process.
in short, my questions are:
Q1) is it possible at all to send a reset command via HART even if the meter itself has no digital input terminals
Q2) if it is possible to send a reset command for the totalizer using a HART DTM, is it possible to automate this process this way? beyond, say, an operator stands recording values into a spreadsheet and manually resets the totalizer on the device
Q3) to test this application we are using an E+H Commubox at a test bench, but this is not ideal for the real application. We largely use Emerson AMS for remote device connection, so would it be possible to carry this out through AMS as well?
Q4) is it still possible to incorporate PLC logic into this process if using a HART DTM? Or is it one or the other?
Any help is much appreciated.
If it is of any use, this is the manual for the device: OI_FEX100HART-EN_B.pdf

 

1. Yes, command 143 in the manual you linked provides this capability.**

2. If ABB's DTM provides a user interface for command 143 ("Trigger Action"), as well as displaying the totalizer value.

3. If ABB's AMS implementation provides a user interface for command 143 ("Trigger Action"), as well as displaying the totalizer value.

4. I don't think there are PLCs that can interact with DTMs. DTMs and AMS interfaces were intended for human use, operating on a PC.

In theory, a PLC with a HART interface could construct and send the HART commands to read the totalizer value and reset it. In practice, I doubt there are any PLCs that provide an easy way to do this, especially the reset, which requires a device-specific command.

If you have the DTM and / or AMS files supporting the flow meter, try them, find how to view the totalizer value of interest, look for a "Trigger Action" control, and try resetting the totalizer.

**Provided you are not using a MID flowmeter (whatever that is).