EXPERIMENTAL PROCESS CONTROL EDUCATION

The use of educational technology in a process control course for chemical engineering students at ITESM is shown. The topics of the course are determined by the automation needs in the chemical industry. The instructional style is intended to satisfy ABET criteria by active learning activities and the use of software and commercial equipment. The experimental education in this course complements lecture sessions. Experimentation with processes prepares students with valuable experience to handle industrial systems and apply theoretical concepts to real processes. Tests and open questions to start a problem solving process or a cooperative project about different control strategies in experimental stations are suggested. Experimental process control education is based on the premiss that practical experience favors the development of knowledge and professional abilities.