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Abstract: OPC, originally the object linking and embedding (OLE) for process control, brings a broad communication opportunity between different kinds of control systems. This paper investigates the use of OPC technology for the study of distributed control systems (DCS) as a cost-effective and flexible research tool for the development and testing of advanced process control (APC) techniques in university research centers. Co-simulation environment based on Matlab, LabVIEW and TCP/IP network is presented here. Several implementation issues and OPC based client/server control application have been addressed for TCP/IP network. A nonlinear boiler model is simulated as OPC server and OPC client is used for closed loop model identification, and to design a model predictive controller. The MPC is able to control the NOx emissions in addition to drum water level and steam pressure.

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