All Stop
This is a command to stop all pumps immediately. This is sometimes referred to as Emergency Stop and covers the type of situation where someone is seen smoking a cigarette near where a customer is delivering fuel. Issuing an All Stop command will immediately stop deliveries on all pumps and prevent any new deliveries from being started.
Authorisation
This is a command or message that tells a pump it is allowed to deliver fuel, after the customer has lifted a nozzle.
In many countries the normal method of operation is "auto auth" which means that pumps are automatically authorised as soon as the nozzle is lifted. However when the pump is operating without staff on site (such as with an Outdoor Payment Terminal) authorisation is dependent on other rules.
API
Short for Application Programmers Interface.
API - American Petroleum Institute
The American Petroleum Institute which was founded in 1919. This Oil Industry trade association provides services including: standards documents, health and safety guidelines, statistics, and certification programs.
ATL
Short for Active Template Library (previously known as ActiveX Template Library). This is a set of library routines created by Microsoft to assist development of applications in Visual C++. The ATL is included in the Microsoft Visual C++ Development Environment, and is documented in the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN).
Calculator
Calling
A state of a pump. We refer to a pump that has a nozzle lifted, but is not yet released (or authorised) to deliver as 'Calling'. Also known as Calling for authorisation.
CRIND
Card Reader IN Dispenser - another name for an OPT
CRIP
Card Reader In Pump - another name for an OPT
CSLD
An acronym which stands for "Continuous Statistical Leak Detection". Processing done by an Automatic Tank Gauge to detect leaks in storage tanks and lines on site. This type of leak detection does not require the site to be shutdown (static) in order to detect a leak.
Current Loop
A type of physical layer used for serial communications between devices. Unlike RS232 which uses voltage levels to represent binary data, a current loop uses current flow or 'open circuit' (no current flowing). A single current loop (2 wires) provides a half duplex link.
A current loop was originally created for industrial applications because it allows transmission on longer cables, and has good noise immunity (resistance to electomagnetic interference). There is no industry standard for current loop hardware, and hardware manufacturers have implemented variations of this idea. For example, two current loops are sometimes used together to create a four-wire, full-duplex link.
Datum Plate
A level metal plate at the bottom of a storage tank, directly under the reference gauge point. This plate provides a fixed surface from which reliable liquid depth measurement (See Dip) can be made.
DCA
Driveway Card Acceptor - another name for an OPT
Dispenser
A piece of equipment that dispenses fuel. ITL use this interchangeably with "pump". Dispenser is probably more technically accurate.
Dip (Tank Dip)
This term is used to refer to:
- The depth of liquid in a storage tank above the Datum Plate.
- The process of taking measurement of the liquid level in a tank.
Drive-off
When fuel is delivered to a customer, but they drive away without paying for the fuel. Enabler allows deliveries to be cleared as "drive offs", which means that the fuel is deducted from tank levels but not added to total sales (a separate total of drive-offs is kept).
Electronic Totals
The total amount of fuel dispensed by a pump, over it's lifetime, communicated electronically to the controller. The electronic equivalent of the mechanical meters fitted to some pumps. Totals are used to monitor ongoing total sales, as a backup for delivery values, and to detect fraud (deliveries done while the dispenser is disconnected from the controller). Some pumps do not support electronic totals. Totals can be volume, value or both.
Enabler Card
Enabler card is a compact PCI device designed to provide control of forecourt devices such as pumps, tanks and card readers, and integrate these into supplier systems. A single Enabler Card supports multiple Point of Sale (POS) terminals or other applications on a site
EnbConfig
The Enabler configuration application, EnbConfig.exe. Used to tell the Enabler how to operate with different kinds of pumps, etc.
Encoder
Part of a pump used for measuring fuel flow. A rotary encoder is part of the pulser and converts the rotation of a shaft, connected to a turbine in the fuel flow, into pulses which the pump computer can count.
EPROM
An acronym standing for Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. These memory chips are most commonly used to store software or data permanently (without the need for power to hold its memory). Commonly used in pumps. The Enabler has an EPROM. The most common type of EPROM these days is "EEPROM" which is electrically erasable EPROM, whereas older chips required ultraviolet light to shine on the chip to clear them.
FDM
Forecourt Distribution Module. An ITL circuit board used to connect the forecourt devices, such as pumps and tanks to The Enabler card, providing the physical and electronic format to suit each manufacturer's equipment. More information
Firmware
Software or program code that is stored into a device permanently, such as into an EPROM or Flash-memory. There is no clear difference between firmware and software.
Free Water (FW)
The water present in a tank (container) that is not in suspension in the contained liquid (fuel/oil).
FST
Forecourt Service Terminal - another name for an OPT
Full-duplex
Signal can go in both directions at once, ie. a device can both send and receive at the same time. RS-232 and RS-422 are full duplex protocols. Most others are not.
Grade
A type of fuel product. For example "Super", "Unleaded" or "Premium 98".
Half duplex
Signal can only go in one direction at a time, ie. a device can only transmit, OR receive, not both at the same time. A two-wire current loop is half-duplex, as is RS-485, IFSF LON, Ethernet and many others. Half-duplex uses less wires (two wires can be full-duplex, but the circuits are more complex), but requires some kind of protocol to avoid conflicts. In most forecourt protocols, it simply master-slave: a master device (the Controller) transmits to a single pump, and then waits for a response from that pump. Other pumps are not supposed to transmit at the same time. IFSF and Ethernet use more complex rules so that any device can start transmitting at any time.
Head (Pump)
The head of a pump is the part containing the displays and pump computer. Sometimes used as a convenient term for the pump computer itself, as in "the pump head is faulty". A pump head is usually isolated from the rest of the pump to prevent any sparks from igniting fuel vapours.
IFSF
International Forecourt Standards Forum. This was established by European Oil Companies to develop a single common standard for forecourt communications including Pumps, Price Signs, Tank Gauges. It now has the active support of nine Oil Companies. IFSF standards now cover a wide range of forecourt equipment types including dispensers, tanks gauges and card terminals.
IFSF Standards specify both the hardware (LON) and software layers. In theory, any device can be used without software changes; however, IFSF is often an extra-cost item, and many devices do not exactly follow the standard.
The Enabler includes both the Hardware (LON), and Software layers to control IFSF Pumps, Price Signs and Tank Gauges.
ISA
Industry Standard Architecture. An older standard for expansion cards/boards in PCs. Now mostly outdated in favour of PCI. Version 1 of Enabler was an ISA board, and required manual configuration of interrupt level and I/O address, using jumpers on the board.
Locked
A state of a pump. We refer to a pump that is idle and available to perform a delivery, but not authorised as 'Locked'. See also Calling
LON
"Local Operating Network", a 2-wire, multi-drop communication link designed by Echelon company. The standard communication type used for IFSF. Relatively fast and robust, but uses more expensive electronics.
MFC
Short for Microsoft Foundation Classes, a library of C++ classes developed by Microsoft, for Windows-based applications written in C++. The MFC library is included with the Visual C++ Development Environment, and is documented in the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN).
MOP
Method of Payment. A type of payment used by customers. For example, cash, cheque or credit card. Could also be known as a finalisation type.
MPD, MPP
Multi-Product Dispenser/Multi-Product Pump. A pump with more than one nozzle per side. Normally only one nozzle can deliver fuel at once.
Nozzle Juggling
Nozzle joggling is when the customer is allowed to lift one nozzle, then change to another, without the pump being reauthorised - the nozzles are "juggled". Many pumps will by default allow this, even if a small amount of fuel (e.g. less than 0.1L) has been delivered. Juggling is usually a bad thing for a controller, because it can no longer tell which nozzle is being used. It should be turned off in the pump if possible.
OPT
Outdoor Payment Terminal. A point of sale that allows the customer to buy products or fuel without involving service station staff. Also known as a CRIND (Card Reader IN Dispenser), CRIP (Card Read In Pump), FST (Forecourt Service Terminal), or DCA (Driveway Card Acceptor).
Sometimes an OPT is mounted inside each pump - in this case they are usually referred to as CRIND or CRIP. Sometimes they are mounted in a separate pillar or box on the forecourt, and the customer selects the pump number to use when starting a transaction.
PCI
Peripheral Connect Interface - A standard for expansion cards/boards in PCs. The current Enabler board, version 2, is a PCI board.
Pulser
A device in a pump that converts the flow of fuel into a series of electronic pulses. The pump computer then counts these pulses and multiplies them by a calibration factor to calculate the volume of fuel that has been pumped. The pulser is key to the accuracy of the pump, and pumps can therefore detect errors in the pulser, typically stopping the delivery of fuel.
Protocol
A set of rules to determine how information is exchanged over a communications link.
Each Pump manufacturer has defined their own way of talking to their pumps. In this way each Manufacturer has created their own Pump Protocol.
Pump
Used interchangeably with Dispenser. Sometimes, however, this refers to the actual mechanical pump inside a dispenser, or underground, or in a tank.
Pump Computer
The computer inside a pump (dispenser). This computer is usually responsible for switching motors, valves and lights on and off, displaying the current prices and delivery amounts, and keeping a total of the amount of fuel the pump has dispensed. It also contains the interface to allow a controller, like the Enabler, to control the pump remotely. These computers usually have many configuration options, either through switches or a built-in menu. Some of these options may be protected by a calibration seal, set in place by a government agency which has checked that the pump is accurate.
RS-232
A 3-wire serial communications standard. It has been widely used for decades. Many instruments with digital control interface, and communications devices are equipped with the RS-232 interface. Now known as EIA/TIA-232. This is usually not used directly for pump control as it is not reliable enough over distance, or in electrically "noisy" environments like a forecourt. Enabler uses this for short distance communications to some FDMs or tank gauges.
RS-422
A full duplex, 4-wire serial connection. It uses "differential" signalling like RS-485 but allows communication in both directions at once. Rarely used for modern equipment.
RS-485
A common 2-wire serial communications link, used for industrial applications due to it's high noise immunity, long distance, and multi-drop capability. Many pumps use this connection type for communication.
Running totals
A periodically updated display of the current delivery value (or volume) during a fuel delivery. This facility is not provided by all pump protocols.
SLD
An acronym which stands for "Segmented Leak Detection", and may be confused with "Static Leak Detection". Processing done by an Automatic Tank Gauge to detect leaks in storage tanks on site. This type of leak detection does not require the site to be shutdown (static) in order to detect a leak.
Slow flow
Reduced flow rate used by pumps to accurately stop at a limit (preset, prepay, preauth).
Slow flow offset
The amount of volume left before a limit, when the pump switches to slow flow. This gives more accuracy in stopping exactly on the limit. If it is set too small, limits may be overrun slightly. If too large, the pump will take a long time to finish delivering. The useful setting depends on the flow rate of the pump, e.g. a high-flow diesel may require a larger value than a standard petrol pump. Some pumps manage this automatically, some have a setting in the pump, and some allow the controller (Enabler) to set the slow flow offset. Some low-end pumps don't have a slow flow option, since an extra valve must be fitted, adding cost.
SPD
Single Product Dispenser. A dispenser with only one nozzle per side.
Submersible pump
A pump that is installed inside a service station fuel tank, submersed under the fuel. It is then remotely controlled by the dispensers on the forecourt.
Tank Drop
We use this term to refer to the process of transferring fuel from a tanker (truck) to a tank at the site. Also known as a Tanker Delivery.
Tank Gauge or Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG)
Device that measures the amount of fuel in a service station fuel tank. Older equipment may only measure a tank level, but modern Tank Gauge devices are more complex devices that can accurately calculate volume (including temperature compensation).
Tank Gauges normally have features to raise alerts for warning and alarm conditions - for example when a tank is too empty or too full.
Most Tank Gauge equipment provide interfaces to communicate tank level information to a controller.
Test Delivery
Delivery of fuel from a pump, into a can or bucket, which is then poured back into the site's tank. These are used when setting up and testing a site, and also by government inspectors certifying pumps for correct measurement. Because the fuel is poured back into the tank that it came from, it isn't wasted and can be sold, and doesn't mess up reports on total fuel. If you do a test delivery, make sure you know which tank to return it to - this is usually not obvious from the surface!
Ullage
Refers to the volume of a tank that is unfilled. This word is also used in reference to the unfilled air space at the top of a tank. Space at the top of a tank is essential to allow for expansion of the contents as the temperature changes.
Some people use this term to refer to the available height in a vessel rather than the volume of available space. But in Enabler we use this term to refer to the available volume.
Valve
In a petrol pump, this is an electrically operated switch for controlling fuel flow. There are typically at least two valves per pump, one for full (or fast) flow and one for slow flow.
Volume
Most commonly refers to the amount of space occupied by a fluid.
The following, more specific API defined terns are used in relation to Volume measurements for Storage Tanks:
Gross Observed Volume (GOV)
The total volume of all petroleum liquids and sediment and water, excluding free water, at observed temperature and pressure.
Gross Standard Volume (GSV)
The total volume of all petroleum liquids and sediment and water, excluding free water, corrected by the appropriate volume correction factor for the observed temperature and API gravity, relative density, or density to a standard temperature such as 60°F or 15°C and also corrected by the applicable pressure correction factor and meter factor.
Also known as Temperature compensated volume.
Total Observed Volume (TOV)
The total measured volume of all petroleum liquids, sediment and water, and free water at observed temperature and pressure.
Weights and Measures
Organisation or process concerned with the accuracy and reliability of pumps (and other measuring devices). Government W&M authorities certify that pumps measure correctly, show the specified price, and therefore are allowed to sell fuel. In some countries this can extend to other parts of a site system.