A Heat Exchanger Simulator for Testing and Demonstrating Automation Algorithms

Abstract

— This offers a simulation model of a process heat exchanger, which can be used for testing and demonstration of automation algorithms such as: control techniques, controller tuning, data reconciliation, steady state detection, model adaption, noise filtering, constraint prediction, fault detection, NN or fuzzy modeling, etc. Based on a full-scale exchanger, the simulator is nonlinear, with variable transport delay, third-order lags, and subject to both unmeasurable and measurable disturbances. Although rich in the expression of process features, the simulator is relatively simple to code. A VBA version of the simulator and user guide are accessible to the public on www.r3eda.com. (Note to reviewers, this might not be posted, but other simulators are.)