The present work describes the development and experimental evaluation of a computational system used to operate chemical units based on digital control algorithms. The software performance is analyzed and illustrated via experimental tests on a pilot batch distillation column interfaced to a PC-based direct digital control system. Since different algorithms are easily incorporated from source programs, the developed software has been used in undergraduate and graduate levels of control process courses. The students are invited to develop their own codes. As a result, several control algorithms has been implemented (such as adaptive and fuzzy control) and the students are successfully exposed to a real-time modern technology of control.