Development and Use of an Adaptable Arduino-Based Control System for Bench-Top Process Control Experiments

Stacy K. Firth; Anthony Butterfield; Mason John

Download Paper | Permalink

Conference: 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Baltimore , Maryland
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
Start Date: June 25, 2023
End Date: June 28, 2023
Conference Session: Chemical Engineering Division (ChED) Technical Session 8: Lab Module Development
Tagged Division: Chemical Engineering Division (ChED)
Page Count: 19
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--43103
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/43103
Download Count: 176

Request a correction

Paper Authors

biography

Stacy K. Firth University of Utah

visit author page

Stacy K. Firth is an Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah. In her role, she focuses on Engineering education in grades K-12 and undergraduate education. She has developed an inclusive curriculum for a year-long Engineering exploration and projects course that is now taught in 57 Utah high schools. She also developed and provides professional development workshops for Elementary and Secondary science educators to support their teaching of Engineering within K-12 classrooms. She has developed and implemented a senior-level projects laboratory course in the Chemical Engineering curriculum at the University of Utah, giving students hands-on experience with the concepts she is teaching in their Process Control theory course.
Stacy received a BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Utah. She then earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research was focused on algorithms used in the processing of semiconductor wafers and resulted in two patents.

visit author page

biography

Anthony Butterfield University of Utah

visit author page

Anthony Butterfield is an Assistant Professor (Lecturing) in the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Utah. He received his B. S. and Ph. D. from the University of Utah and a M. S. from the University of California, San Diego. His teachin

visit author page

author page

Mason John

Download Paper | Permalink

Abstract

Students’ chemical engineering laboratory experiences are challenging to approximate flexibly, and at low-cost and small-scale. As a result of this challenge and the COVID-19 quarantines, many students were left without adequate experimental experience.

In this paper we present the framework for an Arduino-based system that can be used in varied bench-top process control experiments. These hands-on experiments are used within the context of a lab course taught concurrently with a Process Dynamics and Control theory course and provide an opportunity for students to apply the classroom theory to real systems to enhance their learning. Students gain experience with system identification, digital PID implementation, and PID tuning. Since students are programming their own controller, they gain skills in coding of the microcontroller and practical implementation issues, such as modifications for anti-reset windup and bumpless transfer, as well as control loop troubleshooting. Data acquisition is performed via a Python script that collects Arduino output data for later analysis by the students.

The controller system is adaptable to multiple experiments by utilizing inexpensive and easily available sensors and actuators appropriate to the process to be controlled. Experiments performed include a liquid level controller, a ball-in-tube apparatus position controller, a CSTR concentration controller, a resistive heater temperature controller. Training exercises using a simple LED and light sensor system for controlling light intensity were utilized to quickly get all students comfortable with programming, system identification, and PID implementation. In addition, the controller system is extensible to more than the basic PID algorithm. The programmable nature of the microcontroller allows for the use of alternate controller algorithms, such as feedforward control and nonlinear control. The electronic instrumentation used allows for the use of two sensors and two actuators, allowing for extensions into cascade or MIMO control.

Students were surveyed regarding their experience with these experiments and the overall effect they believe the lab work had on their learning. These survey results are also presented.

Citation
Format

Firth, S. K., & Butterfield, A., & John, M. (2023, June), Development and Use of an Adaptable Arduino-Based Control System for Bench-Top Process Control Experiments Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43103

TY - CPAPER
AB - Students’ chemical engineering laboratory experiences are challenging to approximate flexibly, and at low-cost and small-scale. As a result of this challenge and the COVID-19 quarantines, many students were left without adequate experimental experience.

In this paper we present the framework for an Arduino-based system that can be used in varied bench-top process control experiments. These hands-on experiments are used within the context of a lab course taught concurrently with a Process Dynamics and Control theory course and provide an opportunity for students to apply the classroom theory to real systems to enhance their learning. Students gain experience with system identification, digital PID implementation, and PID tuning. Since students are programming their own controller, they gain skills in coding of the microcontroller and practical implementation issues, such as modifications for anti-reset windup and bumpless transfer, as well as control loop troubleshooting. Data acquisition is performed via a Python script that collects Arduino output data for later analysis by the students.

The controller system is adaptable to multiple experiments by utilizing inexpensive and easily available sensors and actuators appropriate to the process to be controlled. Experiments performed include a liquid level controller, a ball-in-tube apparatus position controller, a CSTR concentration controller, a resistive heater temperature controller. Training exercises using a simple LED and light sensor system for controlling light intensity were utilized to quickly get all students comfortable with programming, system identification, and PID implementation. In addition, the controller system is extensible to more than the basic PID algorithm. The programmable nature of the microcontroller allows for the use of alternate controller algorithms, such as feedforward control and nonlinear control. The electronic instrumentation used allows for the use of two sensors and two actuators, allowing for extensions into cascade or MIMO control.

Students were surveyed regarding their experience with these experiments and the overall effect they believe the lab work had on their learning. These survey results are also presented.
AU - Stacy K. Firth
AU - Anthony Butterfield
AU - Mason John
CY - Baltimore , Maryland
DA - 2023/06/25
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Development and Use of an Adaptable Arduino-Based Control System for Bench-Top Process Control Experiments
UR - https://peer.asee.org/43103
DO - 10.18260/1-2--43103
ER -