Virtual Controllers Improve Internet-Based Experiments on Semi Industrial Pilot Plants

Author:	Metzger Mieczyslaw, Silesian University of Technology, Poland
Topic:	9.4 Control Education
Session:	Teaching Control Labs
Keywords:	Virtual controllers, Distributed process control; Ethernet-based networks; Internet-based control; pilot plants; real-world experiments; remote-access laboratory.

Abstract

TCP/IP-based access to pilot plants for research and educational purposes in the field of distributed process control was presented. Five especially chosen pilot plants, having permanent importance in process biotechnology and heat transfer have been developed. First distributed control system (especially useful for remote experiments via Internet) has been presented. A new idea of application of TCP/IP-connected virtual controllers, which improves such experiments, is presented, discussed and demonstrated in the paper.