Using SIR Epidemic Modeling and Control to Teach Process Dynamics and Control to Chemical Engineers

Process control is a cornerstone of chemical engineering education; it is an essential topic in undergraduate curricula that is expanded with advanced topics like model predictive control (MPC) at the graduate level. It is the “hidden technology” that allows chemical and other types of engineers to maintain stable operations, ensure safety, and deliver consistent product quality in real-world processes. In this webinar, Professor Daniel Rivera (Arizona State University) demonstrates how to teach key concepts—open-loop modeling, IMC-based PID tuning, and MPC—using an epidemic modeling case study.