Improvements of a Three-Tank-System Operated in Real Time with MATLAB in a PLC-Profibus-Network

This paper summarizes the authors efforts to establish a well working laboratory system of worthwhile character for student courses, accounting for aspects of system modelling, control theory and state of the art industrial automation. Therefore, a Three Tank System operated by a standard industry PLC and MATLAB in real time has been chosen as laboratory setup.Besides an overview of the experimental setup this paper addresses some interesting improvements of the Three Tank System, that have been developed in the recent years and enhance accuracy andreproducibility of the dynamic system behavior. Through these developments, this laboratory facility shows motivating validation results and combines the instructive practical aspects of an up-to-date PLC-System and the comfort of a system analysis and control design tool MATLAB in real time application, thus having high educational value.