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Exercise Z - Manual control of pump speed
Objective
To manually control the temperature of the water exiting a coil inside a heated water
bath within a process vessel, by controlling the rate of flow through the coil or the
temperature of the water bath.
Overview
The temperatures within the process vessel and coil are monitored using
thermocouple type sensors. A continuous flow of water is passed through the coil
within the vessel using a gear pump. The water within the vessel is heated by a
heating element, and heat is transferred to the water within the coil. By manually
controlling the speed of the pump or the temperature of the water bath, the speed of
flow through the coil is controlled. The effect of adding a holding tube is also
investigated.
Equipment Required
PCT40 bench with small process vessel containing a heating coil.
Equipment set up
Ensure that the apparatus has been set up according to the Installation section. The
lid with heating coil should be in position on the small process vessel, with the coil
surrounding the heating element. The apparatus should be connected to a suitable
PC with the PCT40 software installed, using the grey USB cable supplied.
Fill the small process vessel with water:
Using a length of tubing with a quick release fitting at both ends, connect the valve
SOL 1 to one of the fittings on the side of the small process vessel. Ensure that the
other fitting on the side of the process vessel is not connected.
Close the drain valve on the process vessel.
Run the PCT40 software and select ‘Section 8: Temperature Control (indirect
heating)’.
In the software, switch on SOL 1 using the switch on the software display and watch
as the small process vessel fills with water.
Wait until the coil inside the vessel is fully covered with water, then switch off SOL 1.
Disconnect the tube from the small process vessel and SOL 1.
Take the long length of tube with a quick-release fitting at one end and a drain valve
at the other. Connect this end to the other side of the coil, and direct the opposite end
of the tube to drain. Fully open the drain valve.
Take a length of tubing with a quick release fitting at both ends. Connect SOL 1 to
the right hand connection on the gear pump.
Take a length of tubing with a quick release fitting on one end and a Guest push
fitting on the other. Connect the other gear pump connection to the coil.
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