Equipping a Process Control Laboratory to Reflect Contemporary Control Technology

All aspects of process monitoring and control have been affected by increasingly powerful and ubiquitous technology. Implementation takes place using standard desktop PC’s interfacing with the plant via several systems which are often high performance versions of standard Ethernet technology. These changes should be reflected in the academic environments where control specialists are trained. The Process Control Laboratory environment should offer students the opportunity to experiment with new technologies while remaining flexible and manageable. This article explains the steps taken at the University of Pretoria to ensure that the process control laboratory in the Department of Chemical Engineering is ready for contemporary and future control technology.