Implementation of a cyber-physical cooling storage station in a learning factory

Learning factories are established means for learning production and process-engineering relevant topics and improving holistic system understanding. Learning factories integrate real-world applications into small-scaled factories to teach students, employees or researchers. Connecting the physical world with virtual (cyber) models to develop cyber-physical systems has become attractive due to low cost, high performance IT infrastructure. However, learning factories and cyber-physical systems have been rarely combined. In this paper, a cyber-physical cooling storage station is presented, which is integrated into an existing learning factory and its potential for engineering education is analysed. In addition, an innovative visualisation enables user interaction for learners. This system allows learners to experience the interaction of thermodynamic processes, industrial sensors and industrial automation to deepen their knowledge in laboratory exercises.