PID control simulator supports temperature tracking
Omega Engineering
The Platinum Series controller demonstration and training kit provides a PID control simulator (photo) that is a fully integrated temperature-control system. It is suitable for use in both closed-loop (PID) and simple on-off temperature control, in both heating and cooling applications. This unit has a thermoelectric heating and cooling element that is capable of 5–50°C setpoint, and a Type K thermocouple for temperature readings. The unit comes with panel-mounted USB and Ethernet connectivity, an alarm indicator, a 4–20-mA remote setpoint potentiometer, a push-button digital input, and more. Its 32-bit, 120-MHz ARM processor provides full PID control process with auto-tuning and a fuzzy-logic-based, adaptive control algorithm. According to the company, the unit automatically adjusts and optimizes the control-loop parameters based on external environmental or control-system deviations. A comprehensive set of alarm functions may be used to trigger output signals, or modify the display colors for conditions that are above or below a threshold value, or in or out of the acceptable range. Setup is easy, says the company, thanks to an integrated four-button keypad and a structured menu system that eases navigation to only those parameters applicable to the selected configuration step. — Omega Engineering, Inc., Stamford, Conn.