This teaching and training system provides a comprehensive experimental introduction to the fundamentals of process control using an example of pressure control. The air pressure control system is a 2^nd order system. It comprises two in-line pressure vessels interconnected by a restrictor valve. An additional valve on the second tank makes air tapping possible and so can be used to simulate a disturbance variable. A pressure transducer mesaures the pressure in the second vessel. The controller used is a state-of-the-art digital industrial controller. The actuator in the loop is a pneumatically operated control valve with a standardised current signal input.
The controlled variable X and the manipulating variable Y are plotted directly on an integrated 2-channel line recorder. Alternatively, the variables can be tapped as analogue signals at lab jacks on the switch cabinet. This enables external recording equipment, such as an oscilloscope or a flatbed plotter, to be connected. 
A process control software (RT 650.50) is optionally available. The software permits the construction of a complete networked system comprising multiple trainers from the RT 512 - RT 552 series. The key process variables can also be represented, and control functions executed.
The well-structured instructional material outlines the technological fundamentals and provides a step-by-step guide through the experiments.

- Introduction to the fundamentals of process control
- Familiarisation with real industrial process control

  components: controllers, transducers, actuators
- Operation and parameter setting of the local

  industrial controller 
  + manually (by keyboard)
  + using the RT 650.50 process control software
- Control response to:
  + 1^st order controlled system
  + 2^nd order controlled system
- Disturbance feedforward control
- Controller optimisation
- Investigation of the properties of the open and

  closed control loops
- Processing of process variables using external

  equipment, e.g. oscilloscope or plotter
- In conjunction with accessory RT 650.50 and other

  trainers (RT 512, RT 522, RT 542, RT 552):

  Familiarisation with and use of process control

  software (SCADA)