Control Loop Simulator v3.0
The OptiControls Control Loop Simulator is an interactive PID simulation and tuning application designed for realistic process modeling, controller analysis, and operator-level visualization.
Control Loop Simulator v3.0
The Control Loop Simulator provides an environment to interact with and tune simulated process control loops. It brings process dynamics and PID control to life and lets you experiment with different process types, controller settings, disturbances, and valve problems. It’s a powerful way to build your understanding of PID controllers, practice loop tuning, and troubleshoot control performance.
This real-time simulator clearly and effectively demonstrates the essentials of process dynamics, PID controllers, control loop tuning, and more. It is supplemented with a comprehensive set of step-by-step practical exercises to guide you through many aspects of controller tuning and loop performance, while you gain first-hand experience on life-like control loop simulations.
Features
Simulation
- Run simulations in real time to get that plant-like experience, or in accelerated mode to minimize simulation time and quickly evaluate control behavior.
- Pause execution to analyze steady-state and transient response.
- Reset process values only or restore the entire model to its initial conditions. (Restoring is useful for doing several tests starting with the same process values or overall conditions.)
Trending and Charting
- View real-time trends of the process variable (PV), controller output (CO), setpoint (SP), filtered setpoint and control valve position feedback.
- Analyze individual P, I, and D contributions to controller output on a dedicated, second trend chart.
- Use one or two time cursors to measure differences in time and process values.
- Adjust X- and Y-axis scaling to narrow in on areas of interest for detailed response analysis.
- Export simulation data to CSV for offline analysis (e.g. Excel).
Process Modeling
- Choose from 15 built-in process models, including liquid and gas flow, liquid and gas pressure, various temperature and level processes, and more.
- Simulate real-world control valve defects such as deadband, stiction, positioner overshoot, and nonlinear flow characteristic.
- Add measurement noise and process disturbances to test tuning robustness.
Controller
- Monitor real-time operation using an operator-style faceplate with bar graphs and numeric indicators.
- Change setpoints via slider or precise numeric entry.
- Simulate P, PI, and PID controllers to view their dynamic responses and apply multiple tuning methods.
- Select standard, series, or parallel controller forms to simulate real DCS and PLC controllers.
- Configure proportional and derivative action on Error or PV, with optional setpoint filtering to discover control improvements available from these options.
- Apply a PV filter to deal with measurement noise and see its effects on control loop response.
System Requirements
- Microsoft Windows 10 or higher
- Adobe PDF Reader to view user documentation
- Internet connection to request a trial license and/or activate licenses
Licensing
The OptiControls Loop Simulator is licensed per computer (one license is good for installing and using the software on one computer). See the End User License Agreement for details.
Pricing
Price: US$119. Buy Now or Download Trial
Includes one computer-bound license and the first year of product support.
Click here for more details in the End User License Agreement.