Education in Chemical Process Control Using the Supervisory Laboratory Application

Abstract

The developed CAPE (Computer Aided Process Engineering) application provides a helpful tool for performing the student laboratory works of the chemical process control program of study, allowing an efficient transfer from theoretic concepts to practical exemplification. Different pilot plants, such as: liquid accumulation in a tank, heat transfer in a jacketed reactor, gas accumulation in a set of reservoirs or flow of liquid in a pipe-network, are fitted with specific instrumentation. By means of the special developed application and built in serial communication facility of the µP-based REX F-400 local controllers (with RS485-RS232 converter) the pilots are connected to the PC. Application makes the practical demonstration of the different steps of the chemical process control curriculum possible: mathematical modelling coupled with process identification; frequency response; stability; dynamic behaviour of transducers and actuating elements; P, PI, PD, PID controller response and tuning.