This project introduces undergraduate chemical engineering students to a multi-purpose process control environemnt. Modern process control hardware and supporting equipment (including a microcomputer-based data acquisition and control system) significantly improves the undergraduate laboratory experience by: allowing students to compare conventional control strategies (single analog loops) with examples of modern computer control; exposing students to modern process control hardware (self-tuning controllers) and permitting them to compare equipment provided by several vendors; acquaints students with state-of-the-art computer control and data logging equipment and techniques. This award is being matched by an equal sum from the grantee.
