Title: Development of virtual-labs based on complex Modelica models using VirtualLabBuilder

Authors: Carla Martin-Villalba, Felix Martinez, Alfonso Urquia, Sebastian Dormido

Addresses: Departamento de Informatica y Automatica, UNED, Juan del Rosal 16, 28040, Madrid, Spain. ' Area de Ingenieria Mecanica, IKERLAN, P.J.M. Arizmendiarrieta 2, 20500, Gipuzkoa, Spain. ' Departamento de Informatica y Automatica, UNED, Juan del Rosal 16, 28040, Madrid, Spain. ' Departamento de Informatica y Automatica, UNED, Juan del Rosal 16, 28040, Madrid, Spain

Abstract: The feasibility of implementing virtual-labs based on complex Modelica models is demonstrated. To this end, the design and implementation of the following three virtual-labs is discussed: 1) a virtual-lab of a double-pipe heat exchanger, which is a useful tool for control education; 2) a virtual-lab describing the thermodynamic behaviour of the solar house, which is based on a complex Modelica model developed by other authors; 3) the virtual-lab of a drum-type washing machine, which is an industrial application useful as design aid. The graphical user interface has been implemented by using the VirtualLabBuilder library, which can be freely downloaded from http:/ /www.euclides.dia.uned.es.

Keywords: interactive simulation; object-oriented modelling; hybrid models; industrial processes; virtual laboratories; double-pipe heat exchangers; control education; thermodynamics; solar houses; solar energy; solar power; drum-type washing machines; design aids.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIC.2010.032366

International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control, 2010 Vol.9 No.1/2, pp.98 - 107

Published online: 01 Apr 2010 *

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