This compact experimental unit offers every opportunity to learn the fundamentals of control engineering through experimentation on a flow control system. The experimental set-up is mounted in a housing which accommodates all the electronics.

  A piping system with two flowmeters is supplied with flow by a speed-controlled pump from the transparent storage tank. The rotameter offers the advantage that the flow rate can be observed directly at any time. The flow rate is measured by a turbine wheel flow sensor. The sensor output signal is sent to the software controller. The output signal from the controller influences the setting of an electromagnetic proportional valve. To investigate the influence of disturbance variables, the pump speed can be altered by way of the software.

  The powerful state-of-the-art software is an integral part of the training system, embodying the principle of hardware/software integration (HSI). It enables the experiments to be conducted and evaluated in a user-friendly manner. The software has network capability. The link between the experimental unit and the PC is made via a USB port.

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

- fundamentals of control engineering based on the

  example of a rapid flow control system
- open loop control response

- effects of different controller parameters and

  methods on the response of the closed loop

  system 
- recording of step responses 
  * reference variable
  * disturbance variable
- controller optimisation
- software-based controlled system simulation
  * comparison of different controlled system

    parameters