Simulation of a heat treatment furnace introduces industrial reality into an EET undergraduate control course

Abstract

Control system simulation software for use in the classroom and for student assignments is described. The simulation, written in Microsoft QuickBASIC, permits the open- and closed-loop behavior of a heat treatment furnace to be displayed as an aid to teaching response testing and controller selection and tuning. Typical response plots are given along with details of the model of the furnace and the structure of the software.<>