Design and application of the Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation System for distillation columns

This paper proposes a method for taking Laboratory scale distillation columns as objects and Matlab as the main development tool to constitute the hardware-in-the-loop simulation system for distillation columns. The system achieves real-time data fetch and system data management by using the API interface and database toolbox of Matlab; the system simulation platform designed by taking advantage of the Matlab graphics user interface (GUI) environment is interactive and scalable. It has been proven as the way to establish a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation laboratory platform for a control system based on available process laboratory equipment and can be applied universally.