Educational purpose and experiments

• Design and tune SISO PID loops, then assess setpoint tracking, disturbance rejection, and sensitivity to process dead time.
• Develop dynamic models and compare the direct and manifold flow paths to evaluate transport-delay effects.

Main equipment and instrumentation

• Two tanks with internal steam-heating coils.
• Direct and long-manifold flow paths between the tanks.
• Pneumatic valves with flow, level, and temperature instrumentation.

Control variables and measurements

Manipulated

Water- and steam-valve positions.

Controlled

Typically inlet flow rate, tank level, or water temperature.

Measured

Inlet flow rates, tank levels, and temperatures throughout the system.

Related courses

• CH E 446: SISO PID design and tuning, setpoint tracking, disturbance rejection, and dead-time effects.
• CH E 472: dynamic-model development, parameter estimation, model validation, and transport-delay analysis.

Educational purpose and experiments

• Study process interactions, variable correlation, loop pairing, and the limitations of independent controllers.
• Develop and evaluate multivariable strategies, with emphasis on model predictive control.

Main equipment and instrumentation

• Four tanks arranged as two upper-and-lower pairs.
• Two variable-speed pumps that cross-feed the tank pairs.
• Flow-split valves with flow and level instrumentation.

Control variables and measurements

Manipulated

Power of the two water pumps.

Controlled

Selected tank levels and water flow rates.

Measured

All four tank levels, total pump flows, and flows entering the upper tanks.

Related courses

• CH E 573: process-data analysis, correlation, and identification of interacting variables.
• CH E 576: multivariable control and model predictive control design.

Educational purpose and experiments

• Determine the valve's inherent and installed characteristic curves from flow and differential-pressure measurements.
• Compare operation with and without a positioner, observing changes in response and nonlinear valve behaviour.

Main equipment and instrumentation

• Pneumatic control valve and manual inlet needle valve.
• Differential-pressure cell and analog flowmeter.
• Selectable valve positioner and controller-generated position command.

Control variables and measurements

Manipulated

Inlet water flow restriction and pneumatic-valve position.

Controlled

Differential pressure when determining the inherent characteristic curve.

Measured

Valve differential pressure and water flow rate.

Related courses

• CH E 446: control-valve characteristics, installed behaviour, positioners, and nonlinear effects.

Educational purpose and experiments

• Study batch and semi-batch operation, thermal dynamics, and temperature-control performance.
• Use conductivity, when suitable for the reaction, to estimate conversion and reagent concentrations.

Main equipment and instrumentation

• One-litre jacketed reactor, feed vessel, and variable-speed mixer.
• Thermostatic bath and reflux condenser.
• Thermocouples, condenser flowmeter, and conductivity meter.

Control variables and measurements

Manipulated

Bath tempeature setpoint. Manual feed and condenser flows.

Controlled

Reactor temperature and, when available, concentration.

Measured

Temperatures, condenser flow, and conductivity.

Related courses

This station is not currently used in a course.

Educational purpose and experiments

• Investigate coupled dynamics using series operation, water recycle, or heat recovery through a heat exchanger.
• Configure and evaluate multi-loop and cascade-control strategies with different variable selections.

Main equipment and instrumentation

• Two stirred tanks with electric heating.
• Recycle piping, heat exchanger, pumps, and control valves.
• Tank-level sensors and thermocouples throughout the system.

Control variables and measurements

Manipulated

Valve positions, pump outputs, and electric-heater input.

Controlled

Configurable flow rates, tank levels, and temperatures.

Measured

Flow rates, tank levels, and temperatures at multiple points.

Related courses

• CH E 573: scheduled use for process-data analysis and interacting-system studies.
• CH E 576: scheduled use for multi-loop and advanced control.