(384f) A Novel Approach for Laboratory Experiments in Process Dynamics and Control

A novel, state-of-the-art Process Dynamics and Controls experiment has been commissioned, constructed, and implemented for the Unit Operations Laboratory (UOL) at the University of Kansas (KU). For the last several years, the Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department at KU has mobilized resources to improve, update, and modernize the Unit Operations Laboratory experiments with the goal of enhancing the student's learning experiences. A novel approach to UOL instruction was implemented and several new experiments have been commissioned. This new approach has received positive feedback from students and resulted in improved learning outcomes. Unit Operations Laboratory courses at KU are designed as a series of two courses taken in the Fall and Spring semester of senior year: Chemical Engineering Laboratory I and II, respectively. In the first of the series, students cover 3 experiments on the fundamentals of Chemical Engineering (Kinetics, Fluids, Thermodynamics). For this course, 3 new and updated experiments were added and results on their implementation in the course structure were published in the Journal of Chemical Engineering Education. In the second laboratory course, students carry out three experiments on distillation, absorption, and process dynamics and control.

The process dynamics and control experiment discussed in this presentation is the most recent addition to our UOL facilities and it is meant for students in the second laboratory of the series. The system is assembled in a mobile rack so that it can be wheeled into the classroom where process control is taught prior to taking this laboratory course. With this apparatus, students can design and carry out experiments on liquid level control, pH control, or temperature control. The equipment consists of a set of two analogous “reservoir” glass tanks labeled “hot” and “cold” tanks (or “basic” and “acidic” tanks for pH experiments). Each of the reservoir tanks has an inlet water and an outlet water flow. The inlet water line to the hot tank goes through and electric heater before entering the tank. The outlet flow from both reservoir tanks are mixed and sent into a third “mixing” glass tank. Finally, the outlet flow of the mixing tanks is sent into a final collection tank. Additionally, mildly acidic or basic solutions can be continuously added into the reservoir tanks to make each tank either acidic or basic. Each of the three tanks is equipped with agitators as well as RTDs, pH probes, and level sensors. All flows described are controlled with either a pneumatic control valve, proportionating solenoid control valve, or variable frequency drive pump. Once switched on, the equipment is completely operated from a computer running LabVIEW and could be operated remotely. In this presentation, we will share details of the equipment design and associated educational advantages for the instruction of a laboratory in process dynamics and control. Positive feedback was received by the first class of students to operate the equipment in the Spring of 2022. The flexibility of the design allows for different options and teaching strategies. We will discuss some of the many possibilities to explore with future classes that will apply and deepen their knowledge of process dynamics and control with this experiment.