Design of virtual process control laboratory (VPCL) using first principle method and interactive PID control toolkit using Labview

First principle method of modelling is relatively easy to implement and analyze a process because of its simple equations. If the process is properly modelled, the model can be used effectively to understand the process behavior. In this paper, it is aimed to design a virtual level process control system to understand the working of the process with PID control. Interactive Graphical User Interface (GUI) is developed using Labview. This GUI can be used as a training toolkit to understand the effect of PID action in a level process system. The toolkit made in the form of an .exe file so as to make it platform independent. The GUI has added features than a real-time single loop PID level process control system. User can perform experiments to understand the features such as Auto / Manual operations, Direct / Reverse settings, Constant / Non-Constant outflow & PV, dead time, anti-reset windup, bump less transfer and load disturbances. The simulated results are compared with a real-time level control system with Yokogawa PID controller and the results are found to be closely matching.