A Real-Time Approach to Process Control Education

Authors

  • Brent R. Young University of Calgary
  • Donald P. Mahoney AEA Technology Engineering Software
  • William Y. Svrcek University of Calgary

Abstract

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.

Author Biographies

Brent R. Young, University of Calgary

Brent Young is Associate Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Calgary. He received his BE (1986) and PhD (1993) degrees in chemical and process engineering from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. His teaching and research interests center on process control and design.

Donald P. Mahoney, AEA Technology Engineering Software

Donald Mahoney is Vice President of AEA Technology Engineering Software, Hyprotech Ltd. He earned a BSc in mechanical engineering from Penn State, a Masters in control from Purdue, and an MBA from Delaware. He has lectured extensively on the topic of process control, publishing a number of papers in refereed journals.

William Y. Svrcek, University of Calgary

William Svrcek is Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Calgary. He received his BSc (1962) and PhD (1967) degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Alberta. His teaching and research interests center on process control and design.

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Published

2000-07-01

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 3 (2000): Summer 2000

Section

Manuscripts