A Real-Time Approach to Process Control Education

Brent R. Young, Donald P. Mahoney, William Y. Svrcek

Process control education has traditionally employed classical control methods that were developed as a substitute for the real-time simulation of process systems.  With the availability of fast and easy-to-use simulation software, classical methods now have limited relevance.  A viable real-time approach is outlined and illustrated by application to the control of liquid level in a separator.  Student evaluations from three years of implementation at the University of Calgary are also presented.