9th International Conference PROCESS CONTROL 2010

June 7 – 10, 2010, Kouty nad Desnou, Czech Republic

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

VIRTUAL LABORATORY

ČIRKA ĽUBOŠ, KALÚZ MARTIN, KVASNICA MICHAL, FIKAR MIROSLAV

Institute of Information Engineering, Automation, and Mathematics, FCFT STU in Bratislava
Radlinského 9, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
fax: +421 2 52496469, e-mail: lubos.cirka@stuba.sk, url:www.kirp.chtf.stuba.sk/~cirka

Abstract: This paper describes development of a virtual laboratory, which allows on-line
simulations of selected problems from the field of the dynamics of processes in chemical
technology. These comprise liquid storage tanks, heat exchangers, distillation plate columns,
chemical reactors, etc. Virtual laboratory is a library of mathematical models (also called
presentations) of selected chemical processes implemented using Adobe Flash and employed in
Moodle Learning Management System. All models are described in state-space and are either
linear or nonlinear. They are derived using mass and energy balances of modelled processes.
According to the parameter settings, one animation can represent a single variable or a multi
variable system. Interactive presentations in Adobe Flash can be used for dynamic simulations of
models with a large degree of interactivity.

Keywords: Adobe Flash, ActionScript, Virtual laboratory, Moodle LMS

1 INTRODUCTION
Recently, most of schools in Slovakia, but also abroad have only a limited number of
laboratory processes available. It is caused by the fact, that acquisition of new laboratory processes
can be financially inaccessible. The only one method how to fill this gap is creation the new virtual
laboratory.
At the Institute of Information Engineering, Automation, and Mathematics, Faculty of
Chemical and Food Technology SUT in Bratislava, the situation is similar that above described. The
number of students is much higher than the number of available laboratory processes. That was a
reason why we decided to create a virtual laboratory for the control and monitoring of processes of
chemical biochemical and food technology.
The service area of the new laboratory is intended for teaching of dynamic properties of
processes ([Bakošová, 2008]), modelling of processes ([Bakošová, 2007, 2009], [Bakošová et al.,
2006b]) and also for experimental identification of processes ([Čirka et al., 2007, 2009]).
Attractiveness and high quality of education of selected specialised subjects is allowed by the creation
of new virtual laboratory where students will gain practical skills and knowledge useful in real
laboratories.
The result of the creation will be easy access to study materials and laboratory experiments for
handicapped or attended students, and for general public. By using Internet the accessibility of study
materials and laboratory experiments will increase to value 24/7.

2 VIRTUAL LABORATORY OVERVIEW

Virtual laboratory is created as a course in Moodle LMS1. Course is divided to topics. Every
topic represents one model of a process (Figure 1). Each topic consists of basic information connected
to process (process description, mathematical model ...) and presentation made by Adobe Flash. The
course will be gradually supplemented by further information in order to qualify as e-learning courses
suitable for distance learning. In the future, this course will simplify the transition from the current
full-time education in the distance form of education.
As we mentioned above, the main aim of the course is learning of dynamic properties of
processes. The following types of processes ([Bakošová et al., 2006a]) are currently available (Figure
2):

1
http://www.kirp.chtf.stuba.sk/moodle/course/view.php?id=312

C029a - 1
 9th International Conference PROCESS CONTROL 2010
June 7 – 10, 2010, Kouty nad Desnou, Czech Republic
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Liquid holding tanks

• Chemical reactors
• Tubular heat exchangers
Virtual laboratory will be gradually supplemented by other processes.

Figure 1 – LMS Moodle in the course Virtual Laboratory

Figure 2 – Library of models processes in the course Virtual Laboratory

3 SOFTWARE SUPPORT
All presentations in course “Virtual Laboratory” are made by application Adobe Flash. Adobe
Flash is a multimedia platform that is popular for adding animation and interactivity to web pages.
Object-oriented language ActionScript is used in presentations. All models are described in state-space
and are either linear or nonlinear. They are derived using mass and energy balances of modelled
processes. System of differential equations of a mathematical model is solved by the well-known
Runge-Kutta method. The fourth order Runge-Kutta method is one of the standard algorithms to solve
differential equations.

C029a - 2
 9th International Conference PROCESS CONTROL 2010
June 7 – 10, 2010, Kouty nad Desnou, Czech Republic
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why have we decided for presentations in Adobe Flash? So far we have used application
MATLAB Web Server for simulation of dynamic properties of processes. The development of
application has been stopped and from the version 2006b it is not supported. Successors of MATLAB
Web Server, MATLAB builder JA or MATLAB builder NE are also unsuitable because of following
reason. Disability of all applications mentioned above is working „off-line“. It means that after
sending of information for simulations in MATLAB processes are running on server. After finishing
of treatment (simulation), the server returns result in a form of data or figures. There is no possibility
to enter into running simulation. Also monitoring of changing processing value, either in a form of
trends or 2D animation “on-line” is impossible. It affects for example observation of changes in liquid
level in the tank, temperatures in the exchanger represented by changed colour, etc.

4 FLASH PRESENTATIONS
In general, presentations consist from following steps2:
• Presentations start by definition of basic parameters of process model. Users who only want to
try a simulation of processing model have a possibility to fill parameters by pre- defined data
by clicking the green button (Figure 3 – left). In a case of heat exchanger (Figure 3 – top) are
selection elements with the most using media (water, petroleum, cooper, aluminium, iron, etc.)
also available; in that case users by selection fill the basic parameters of media (for example:
ρ, cp, α).

Figure 3 – Definition of the basic parameters of processing model

• Next step of presentation is calculating of steady state for chosen enter data. Process of steady
states (equilibrium) can be displayed in the form of trends (Figure 4), or in the form of 2D
cutting process model (Figure 5).

2
Data in presentations are defined by formula elements, for example “text”, “select”, “radio” or “checkbox”.

C029a - 3
 9th International Conference PROCESS CONTROL 2010
June 7 – 10, 2010, Kouty nad Desnou, Czech Republic
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Figure 4 – Steady state (equilibrium) of processing model (graph)

• Parameters of simulation (moment of simulation and changes of input variables) are defined in
the third step of presentation (Figure 6).

Figure 5 – Steady state (equilibrium) of processing model - 2D cut

C029a - 4
 9th International Conference PROCESS CONTROL 2010
June 7 – 10, 2010, Kouty nad Desnou, Czech Republic
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Figure 6 – Definition of parameters of simulation

• Monitoring of changing of processing values is available on the left side after running of
simulation. On the right side is displayed 2D cutting section of processing model (Figure 7),
or running of observed value in one of the selected sections (Figure 8).

Figure 7 – Simulation - 2D cutting section

C029a - 5
 9th International Conference PROCESS CONTROL 2010
June 7 – 10, 2010, Kouty nad Desnou, Czech Republic
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Figure 8 – Simulation – graph in 2. section

• After finishing of simulation (Figure 9) it is possible to export data in the following format
(Figure 10):
1. Text array
2. XML structure
3. Data matrix (for MATLAB)

Figure 9 – Data export in format text array

C029a - 6
 9th International Conference PROCESS CONTROL 2010
June 7 – 10, 2010, Kouty nad Desnou, Czech Republic
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Figure 10 – Data export in several format

CONCLUSION
This paper presents creation and realization of the interactive www course “Virtual
laboratory“. The course is accessible on the free self-educational portal. This portal uses learning
management system Moodle. Interactive flash presentations in presented course are a result of the
students’ semester projects and students’ diploma theses. Course “Virtual laboratory” can be used in
course “Modelling in the Process Industry”. Students can take full advantage of our virtual laboratory
of processes which allows them to better understand complexity of process modelling.

Acknowledgements
The authors are pleased to acknowledge the financial support of the Scientific Grant Agency
of the Slovak Republic under grants No. 1/0071/09, 1/0537/10 and of the Cultural and Educational
Grant Agency of the Slovak Republic under the grant No. 3/7245/09.

References
BAKOŠOVÁ, M. 2007. LMS Moodle in the Course Control of Technological Processes. In
Proceedings of the 8th International Conference Virtual University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic,
pp. 171–175.
BAKOŠOVÁ, M. 2008. Using the LMS Moodle in the Course Modelling in the Process Industry. In
Proceedings of the 9th International Conference Virtual University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic,
pp. fid000891.pdf.
BAKOŠOVÁ, M. 2009. E-learning in the Course Integrated Control in the Process Industry. In
Proceedings of the 10th International Conference Virtual University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic,
pp. paper_70.pdf.
BAKOŠOVÁ, M.; BALEJA, J.; VASIČKANINOVÁ, A. 2006a. MODELTOOL 1.0 - a Model
Toolbox for MATLAB/Simulink. In Proceedings 5th MATHMOD Vienna - 5th Vienna Symposium
on Mathematical Modelling, Vienna, Austria, vol. 1, pp. 347.
BAKOŠOVÁ, M.; ČIRKA, Ľ.; FIKAR, M.; HIRMAJER, T. 2006b. Automatic Control Fundamentals
- an Interactive Online Course. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference Virtual
University, Slovak Republic, pp. 47–52.
ČIRKA, Ľ., FIKAR, M. 2009. E-learning on System Identification. In Proceedings of the 10th
International Conference Virtual University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic, pp. paper_84.pdf.

C029a - 7
 9th International Conference PROCESS CONTROL 2010
June 7 – 10, 2010, Kouty nad Desnou, Czech Republic
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

ČIRKA, Ľ., FIKAR, M.; KVASNICA, M.; HERCEG, M. 2007. New Features in Course on
Experimental Identification. In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference Virtual University,
Bratislava, Slovak Republic, pp. 182–187.

C029a - 8