State

A State defines a named condition that an Engineering Item (valve, pump, instrument, etc.) can be in. Each state carries a color for visual representation on the P&ID and a fluid response that determines how it affects fluid flow.

💡 In pharmaceutical terms: States are how you tell AseptSoft what position each valve is in during a given process step. For example, during a CIP rinse, your inlet valve might be in the "Open" state (green, allowing caustic to flow) while the product valve is "Closed" (red, blocking flow).

📋 Properties

💧 Fluid Response Types

The fluid response determines what happens to fluid flow when an Engineering Item is set to this state:

⚠️ Conflict resolution: When multiple fluid responses overlap, the system resolves them using priority: Generate > Change Into > Allow > Unknown > Block

📐 Percentage-Based States

When percentage-based blending is enabled, a state supports smooth visual transitions between two appearances:

• At 100% — the state uses its own Color and Fluid Response

• At 0% — the state uses its Zero Color and Zero Fluid Response (or inherits from the referenced Zero State)

• At any value in between — the color is blended proportionally

🏭 Pharma example: A modulating control valve (e.g., a steam regulation valve during SIP) might be at 65% open. The P&ID shows a blended color between the "Open" color and the "Closed" color to visually represent the partial position.

How the Zero State Works

The Zero State reference points to another State whose color is used as the 0% baseline color. If a separate Zero Color is also defined on this state, the system uses it as a fallback if the referenced state is not found.

The fluid response at any percentage is determined by comparing the two responses (current state and zero state) and using the higher-priority response.

🔧 Usages (Valve Type Compatibility)

The Usages property defines which valve types are compatible with this state. A state can be assigned to multiple valve types. When assigning states to Engineering Items, only compatible states appear based on the item's valve type.

💡 Tip: If a state should apply to all valve types in your module, make sure to add each valve type to the Usages list. If you forget one, that valve type will not see this state in the selection list.

📖 How To: Create and Assign States

1. Open Module Data — Navigate to the Data panel in the Module Ribbon and open the Module Data window.

2. Go to the States tab — Select the States section.

3. Create a new State — Click "Create new" and give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Open", "Closed", "CIP Drain").

4. Set the color — Choose a color that will make this state visually distinct on the P&ID.

5. Choose the fluid response — Select the appropriate behavior:

   • "Allow fluid to pass" for open valves

   • "Block fluid" for closed valves

   • "Generate a new fluid stream" for fluid sources

   • "Change into an existing fluid stream" for transformation points

6. Set valve type compatibility — In the Usages section, select which valve types this state applies to.

7. Enable percentage-based blending (optional) — If this is a modulating state, enable the percentage option and set the zero state reference.

8. Use it in Process Design — Assign this state to valves in your Process Steps.

🏭 Example: CIP Module States

Below is a typical set of states for a pharmaceutical CIP (Cleaning in Place) module:

🏭 Why "Transition"? In pharma processes, valves do not switch instantly. The "Transition" state represents the brief period while a valve is moving between positions. During this state, the fluid response is "Unknown" because the valve position is indeterminate.

🔗 Related Pages

• 💧 Fluid — Fluid flow states used in "Change Into" and "Generate" responses

• 📋 Module Data — All module data types

• Engineering Item — Components that states are assigned to

• Fluidstream Simulations — Visualizing fluid flow based on state assignments

• 📐 Process Design — Creating processes and assigning states to steps