One of the aims of process automation is to monitor and control plant or plant components centrally from a computer. This task performed by a process control system.

  This experimental unit demonstrates the operation of a process control system based on a simple application. The experimental unit consists of two industrial controllers interconnected via a field bus interface (Profibus DP) and an interface card with a PC. On the PC, an OPC (OLE for Process Control) server makes the controller data available to other programs under Windows for further processing. The process control software developed by GUNT on the basis of LabVIEW accesses the process data on the controllers and enables it to be visualised. The software also allows the controllers' parameters to be set. Various functions such as recorders and alarm logs enable a simple control room function to be simulated.

  Two potentiometers permit the simulation of input signals for the controllers. The controlled variable, manipulating variable and reference variable data are delivered as standard signals at lab jacks, enabling the controllers to be integrated into real processes at any time.

  The well-structured instructional material sets out the fundamentals and provides a step-by-step guide through the experiments.

- function and structure of a process control system

  under Profibus DP 
  * Profibus DP field bus system
  * OPC server function
  * master / slave assignment
  * online controller parameter setting
  * reading control variables and displaying them

    online
  * configuring and displaying alarms