Air Process Control Trainer for Engineering Technology

该项目的目的是增加能力，以现有的本科实验室课程的仪表在空气过程控制培训的形式。目前的实验室，部分资金通过以前的ILI赠款，包括设备，演示比例积分微分控制，现代反馈控制理论，可编程逻辑控制器和计算机控制的基础的一些基本原理。使用水箱作为试验台，学生可以熟悉控制水位和流量所涉及的概念。然而，学生的学习受到水位检测系统的低惯性的限制，这限制了微分控制的理解程度。与当地一家工程公司合作，建造并测试了一个原型装置，该装置使用空气温度作为控制参数，从而克服了水箱装置的局限性。该空气过程控制培训器允许控制空气温度和空气流量，允许演示微分控制，并增加了传热和流体力学实验的能力。 该提案要求支持从制造商处购买8台设备，用于我们现有的仪器实验室工作站。这将使我们的学生在过程控制设备更强的背景;我们的许多毕业生受雇于化工厂，炼油厂，发电厂，暖通空调，食品技术和制药等行业，利用这种设备。该课程目前作为选修课程提供给机械工程技术和电气工程技术的学生;它将成为学士学位的要求。1996年获硕士学位。因此，该项目是跨学科的，影响到包括妇女和少数民族在内的许多学生，并可通过传播实验和提供新产品而使其他机构受益。

The aim of this project is to add capability to an existing undergraduate laboratory course in Instrumentation in the form of an Air Process Control Trainer. The present laboratory, partially funded through a previous ILI grant, includes equipment that demonstrates some of the fundamentals of Proportional-Integral-Derivative control, the basis for modern feedback control theory, programmable logic controllers, and computer control. Using a water tank as a test bed, the student can become familiar with the concepts involved in controlling water level, and flow. Student learning is limited, however, by the low inertia of a water level detection system which limits the degree to which Derivative control can be understood. Working with a local engineering firm, a prototype device has been built and tested that uses air temperature as the control parameter, thus overcoming the limitations of the water tank unit. This Air Process Control Trainer permits control of air temperature and air flow, permits demonstration of Derivative control, and adds the capability of experiments in heat transfer and fluid mechanics. This proposal requests support for the purchase of eight devices from the manufacturer for our existing Instrumentation lab stations. This will give our students a stronger background in process control equipment; many of our graduates are employed in industries such as chemical plants, refineries, power plants, HVAC, food technology and pharmaceuticals that utilize this equipment. The course is currently offered as an elective to both mechanical engineering technology and electrical engineering technology students; it will become a requirement for the B.S. degree in MET in 1996. The project is thus interdisciplinary, affects many students including women and minorities, and can benefit other institutions through dissemination of experiments and availability of a new product.