Temperature Control Trainer- Engineering Lab Training Systems

Technical Description This teaching and training system provides a comprehensive experimental introduction to the fundamentals of process control using an example of temperature control. A circulating pump transfers water within a closed circuit. The flow of water can be regulated by a hand-operated valve. The loop also contains a screw-in heater, a heat exchanger with fan, and three integrated thermocouples for temperature measurement. Dead times can be represented by the use of different lengths of process delay. A thyristor power controller is used as the actuator. The controller used is a state-of-the-art digital industrial controller. It can be configured as a continuous or a switching device, and can activate the heater via the actuator and / or the fan.  The controlled variable X and the manipulating variable Y are plotted directly on an integrated 2-channel line recorder. Alternatively, the variables can be tapped as analogue signals at lab jacks on the switch cabinet. This enables external recording equipment, such as an oscilloscope or a flatbed plotter, to be connected.  A process control software is optionally available. The software permits the construction of a complete networked system comprising multiple trainers from the series. The key process variables can also be represented, and control functions executed. The well-structured instructional material outlines the technological fundamentals and provides a step-by-step guide through the experiments.