ไทย

Abstract

This research aims to design and develop an automated temperature control trainer for a solar dryer for PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) education in mechanical engineering. It also seeks to evaluate the quality of the trainer and assess student satisfaction. The trainer consists of a dryer structure made from acrylic and aluminum sheets, with a core control system utilizing a PLC (FX3U) to process data from temperature and humidity sensors.  

         The results of a chili drying experiment demonstrate the trainer's effective temperature control. A 6-hour drying period, mimicking natural solar drying, produced high-quality chilies. Reducing the drying time to 4 hours by increasing the temperature through PLC control also resulted in a similar level of dryness. However, a short, high-temperature drying period (2 hours) led to a decrease in chili quality. The satisfaction evaluation from 9 mechanical engineering students showed that the trainer was of the highest quality, with an average score of 4.74 out of 5. Students found the trainer's components to be clear and easy to understand, and believed it effectively helped them apply their PLC knowledge in a real-world context. This confirms that the trainer is an effective instructional tool for PLC education.