Virtual Laboratory for Control Education Using a Solar Collector Field System

New educational tools have emerged as innovative approaches that boost student engagement and facilitate a deeper understanding of complex subjects. Focusing on progressing in control engineering education, this study presents the development of a Virtual Lab (VL) designed to teach foundational and advanced concepts in process control. The VL uses a Solar Collector Field (SCF) system as a case study to integrate key topics in control engineering subjects, such as system modeling, Proportional, Integral, and Derivative (PID) control, predictive control, feedforward strategies, and nonlinear control approaches. The proposed system is versatile, which enriches the student experience through widely customizable and realistic simulations. The simulated system, characterized by nonlinear dynamics, time delays, and solar irradiance disturbances, offers students a hands-on learning environment for control system design and analysis. Built using the Easy JavaScript Simulation platform, the SCF VL features an intuitive interface that enhances student engagement. The SCF VL, freely accessible online and on any device (computer, tablet, or smartphone), is a versatile resource for promoting deep understanding and practical skills in control engineering education.