Experiment No: 03

FLOW CONTROL TRAINER

Objective:
To understand the working principle of
flow control system.
Apparatus:
• Flow Control Training System
• Flow Control Process Control
• Multimeter
• Connecting Wires
Flow Control Training System:
The Flow Process Training System is a
compact
and mobile unit for a wide range of
experiments in
Flow control systems. It gives students a greater
understanding of the stability of simple control
systems.
The main parts of the Flow Process Training
system are:
▪ Industrial controller with auto-tune feature
▪ Two-channel chart recorder
▪ Current-to-Flow (thermo-electric)
converter
▪ control valve
▪ Graduated Water accumulator
▪ Variable speed pump
▪ Reservoir
To perform experiments, students fill the reservoir with clean water
and prime the system. They then set the controller to regulate the flow
of water using a valve. This alters the Flow in the accumulator. A
Flow transmitter measures the accumulator Flow and gives feedback
to the controller.
Description:
This compact experimental unit offers every opportunity to learn the fundamentals of control
engineering through experimentation on a Flow control system.
The experimental setup is mounted on a housing which accommodates all the electronics. The
Flow tank is charged with compressed air by a diaphragm gas pump. The advantage of the dial-
gauge manometer is that the Flow in the tank can be observed directly at any time. The Flow
is measured using a Flow sensor. The sensor output signal is sent to the software controller.
The output signal from the controller influences the speed of the diaphragm gas pump and
hence the flow rate. An air consumer is simulated by way of a flow control valve. A solenoid
valve through which air can escape can be activated by the software to investigate the influence
of disturbance variables.
Procedure:
1. First, we complete the circuit of the Flow sensor interface by connecting wires on the
Flow control training system.
2. Then we connect the water pump by completing the circuit of water pump driver.
3. Then we give positive voltage to water pump driver by connecting wires.
4. We connect the output of Flow sensor to the digital multimeter for voltage
measurement.
5. Also connect the Flow control training system to the common of digital multimeter.
6. Turn ON the main power supply to the apparatus, also increase the voltage of water
pump to fill the water tank.
7. When the Flow in the water tank reaches to 2 lpm, turn OFF the water pump.
8. Now take the reading of Flow and the corresponding voltage at the interval of 0.2 lpm
Flow.
9. After taking the readings turn OFF the main power supply to the apparatus.
10. Arrange the data of Flow and voltage in tabulated form, and plot it on graph.
Data Table:

Flow Voltage
(lpm) (v)
0 0.02
0.2 0.8
0.4 2
0.6 3.1
0.8 4
1 5
1.2 6.2
1.4 7.3
1.6 8.3
1.8 9.3
2 10.23