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Settings

Setting up APM for Fluid Sample and Condition Tracking

Besides enabling features 53 and 54, you can prepare APM for taking fluid samples and tracking fluid condition by setting up value lists, creating task templates, and more. First, set up these value lists:

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Asset types – Add support for fluid sample collection on the asset types of equipment that uses fluids that must be sampled and tested. You can specify supported labs, gas standards, sample settings, and contaminants. You can select options that are specific to a site, asset type, and fluid type. See **Setting up Asset Types

•	Indicator types – Add or modify numeric indicator types to track the change between the current and previous indicator readings. See **Setting up Indicator Types

•	Checksheet types – Add or modify checksheet types to include the Fluid Types view and support the checksheet’s use for fluid condition results. See Setting up Checksheet Types

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Fluid types – Add or modify fluid types to support fluid samples. You can also set durations for testing bottles and syringes, define rush request settings, assign fluid tests, and identify contaminants. See Setting up Fluid Types Fluid sample tests – Add fluid sample tests, for example, “Color”, “Furans”, or “Dissolved gas”. The tests can then be selected in fluid types, fluid samples, and types of test. See Setting up Fluid Sample Tests

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Types of test – A type identifies a subset of tests and is assigned to fluid sample settings. When an inspector opens an indicator reading to record a sample collection, the fluid sample settings assigned to the indicator determine the subset of tests available for selection. See Setting up Fluid Sample Types of Test

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Oil preservation systems – An oil preservation system is essential for a liquid-immersed transformer to allow expansion and contraction of the liquid due to temperature changes without exposing the insulating liquid to external contamination. Examples of systems are conservator, sealed tank, and gas-oil seal. See Setting up Oil Preservation System Types

•	Gas standards – Gas standards that are recorded in APM are referenced in specifications for assets and fluid samples. An example is the U.S. Geological Survey standards for natural gas. See Setting up Gas Standards

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Sample settings – Lab fluid sample settings are usually created for specific sites and identify types of sample containers, task template to use for results, lab, type of test, and gas standard. They can also be used to set data entry policies, specify whether bar codes are scanned or entered, and control responses to invalid bar codes, used labels, and damaged labels. See Setting up Settings for Lab Fluid Samples

•	Fluid analysis labs – Identify each lab and provide information about labels, review or approval process, contact, and supplier. You can also specify the number of receipt steps required and who creates receipts. See Setting up Fluid Analysis Labs

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Lab sample types and statuses– A lab sample type identifies the indicator template used to determine the fluid condition. It also specifies whether the review or approval process is used with samples of this type. You can also set up sample statuses and events and reasons for new sample. See Setting up Sample Types and Statuses

•	Fluid contaminants – Identify the foreign materials that can be found in fluids. You can also set the number of calculation factors and their labels. See Setting up Fluid Contaminants

•	Label settings – For bottles and syringes, specify the prefix, prefix text, and reports used for batch and single labels. See Setting Label Defaults for the Site

•	Number formatting – Identify the format to use for sample numbering. See Setting the Numbering Format for Fluid Samples

Once value lists have been defined, you can set up indicator templates and standard task templates to collect samples and record test results. You can also set up calculated indicators to determine rate of change and fluid condition based on test result readings.

For related information, see:

•	Setting up Indicator Templates for Fluid Sample Collection

•	Setting up Task Templates for Fluid Condition Tracking

Fluid Type

Fluid type is an APM value list that previously was maintained in Asset subtypes and specifications settings. When fluid sampling and condition tracking is enabled, you can also define fluid types in Fluid Condition settings.

The Fluid Type record now determines whether the type identifies:

•	The product that the asset carries, for example, crude oil in a pipeline

•	The fluid that the asset uses as a coolant or insulator, for example, mineral oil in a transformer. In this case, you can record fluid samples and track fluid condition. Fluid type is identified in the indicator reading when the sample is taken

Note: When you upgrade APM, existing fluid types in your database are automatically set to “Used as product carried in pipe or vessel”.

In fluid types that support sampling, you can specify the time requirements for completing testing on samples in bottles, syringes, or both. You can also specify that rush requests are supported for bottles and/or syringes. For example, when a syringe is used to collect transformer oil for dissolved gas analysis, rush settings reflect shorter sample life, compared to a sample collected in a bottle that undergoes different tests. When an inspector records a sample in an indicator reading and specifies that rush settings are in effect, base time requirements are overridden by rush durations.

For more information, see Setting up Fluid Types.