The Missing Link In Process Control Education Incorporating Plc's Into The Che's Control Course

For decades, practicing ChE’s have encountered programmed-logic controllers (PLC’s) in their work. Such originated as controllers based on mechanical relays and keyed cylinders but have now been replaced by computer-based units. Since PLC’s are used primarily in discrete and batch manufacturing, they have been ignored traditionally in the academic circles of automatic process control, the latter focusing primarily on large-scale, continuous processing. Only a minority of today’s ChE students are finding employment in the traditional chemical and petroleum industries. Many more are entering the job market in pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, biotechnology, and microelectronics. The programmed-logic controller predominates in these sectors. Yet the typical process control course today still reflects continuous processing and PLC’s are largely ignored. This situation calls for change.