Rates

Inflow and outflow rates define the processing rate (the working or turnover rate) of batch inflow or outflow segments expressed in units of the main product for each hour. Rate is related to other batch segment characteristics by the (rate = quantity / duration) formula. You can specify the rate when creating a process step for the methods listed in this table. For other methods, duration and rate are deduced from coupled batches upstream and downstream.

Method	Theoretical inflow rate	Theoretical outflow rate
flow process	same as outflow	specify a value
flow buffer	same as outflow	specify a value
batch process	specify a value	specify a value
batch inline	specify a value	deduced
batch buffer	specify a value	specify a value

These are the variants of inflow and outflow rates:

• The initial rate of an Inline tank batch is the inflow rate during the period when the batch does not have outflow. When the filling level is reached, outflow begins such that outflow rate = inflow rate <= initial rate, ensuring that filling level is not exceeded, and a bounded inventory simulation exists. Initial rate is applicable only for process steps using Flow inline and Batch inline methods.
• The maximum rate is the maximum outflow rate for a tank batch. This is verified with the Check Schedule function. A conflict in the planning board can be indicated, if required. The default value is zero, which implies that validation is not performed. You can specify maximum rates for batch process, flow pushed, flow buffer, flow process and flow pushed methods.
• The theoretical outflow rate is specified in the Process Step Entry window for each alternative resource group. The batches are created and assigned an outflow rate equal to the theoretical outflow rate multiplied by the efficiency of the allocated resource group. Instead of an outflow rate, you can specify a duration.