1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
The Water Level Controller System is an Electronic Equipment which when electrically connected to the starter of any given pump-set motor will control the operation of the pump-set depending upon the water level in the Source and Destination Storage Tanks. It Switches ON the Pump-set when Water level drops below pre-set level in Overhead Tank, Switches OFF the Pump-set when Water level in Overhead Tank becomes full ,Switches OFF the Pump-set when Water level is low in tank, and Switches ON the Pump-set when there is sufficient water in the tank.
Automatic water level controller circuit is an engineering project. It can automatically switch ON and OFF the domestic water pump set depending on the tank water level. You can implement this motor driver circuit at your home or college using less costly components. The main advantage of this water level controller circuit is that it automatically controls the water pump without any user interaction.
The automatic pump controller eliminates the need for any manual switching of pumps installed for the purpose of pumping water from a reservoir to an overhead tank. It automatically switches on the pump when the water level in the tank falls below a certain low level, provided the water level in the reservoir is above a certain level. Subsequently, as the water level in the tank rises to an upper level (M), the pump switched off automatically. The pump is turned on again only when the water level again falls below level in the tank, provided the level in the reservoir is above R. This automated action continues.
1.2 Statement of Problem
Due to high risk of floods in a compound, along a street, or low lying areas and the danger posed to pedestrians, commuter traffic, and infrastructure (including road damage and foundation damage), there is a present need for sensors which can detect and control liquid levels and pumping systems. The cost of replacing damaged properties, reconstructing a collapsed building, or dealing with human causalities could be very high.
In Nigeria today, as the pace of technology advances, the need for citizens and industries to make use of and purchase electronically controlled pump machines with indicators and automatic actuation control has grown.
Putting together a pump machine with bore hole is expensive. Possession of it alone requires both maintenance and protections against it causing flooding damage to the buildings and streets around it, not to mention the secondary costs and inconvenience of infrastructure damage to motorist, cyclist, and pedestrians.
In the construction of the electronic liquid level detector with indicator and automatic pump actuator described in this paper, the authors have attempted to construct a system that can not only control against spillage of liquids but also engineers safety for any surrounding building, street, and individuals at large.
Liquid level sensors are used to detect the presence, height, or volume of liquid in a system and the display unit gives numerical values in percentages on the level of liquid within a tank or container. Liquid level detection is critical to a wide variety of processes. There exists a wide variety of applications in which it is desirable to monitor to some degree the level of a liquid within a tank or a vessel.
Liquid level detectors have widely been used in various storage tanks, for example, in an automobile for detecting the changing level of fuel in a tank. A liquid's level is generally sensed by obtaining a discrete indication if a predetermined level has been reached or obtaining an analog representation of the level as it changes.
1.3 Objective of the Project
The objective of to design a microcontroller based water level controller device monitors and controls the level of water in the overhead or underground tank which composes of four indicating LEDs (red, orange, blue and yellow) for lower, medium , upper and full level. If it the level of water is full, the three LED goes OFF, then if it goes below high level, yellow is ON. Now, if it goes below medium level, blue would be turned ON, and it pumps automatically. This work was built using 89c52 microcontroller.
1.4 Significance of the Project
An Automatic Water Level Controller (AWLC) will automatically START the pump set as soon as the water level falls below the predetermined level (usually kept half or 2/3rd tank) and shall SWITCH OFF the pump set as soon as tank is full or water level in the lower tank is at below minimum level.
This system provides you the flexibility to decide for yourself the water levels for operations of pump set in upper/lower tanks.
Built in Indications for showing Full, Empty Levels in Upper Tank and Lower Tank Empty Indication.
Manual operation switch for special operations like watering the plants from pump set.
The system ensures no overflows or dry running of pump there by saves electricity and water.
Consume very little energy, ideal for continuous operation.
Suitability:
These water level controllers are ideally suited for normal water as well as for ultra low conductivity water with less than 1 micro/moh.
Easy to Operate:
This system come fitted with sensitivity setting which can be provided externally on a dial or with internal settings.
Settings:
It is equipped with technology which works on low or high sensitivity settings on the same machine and thereby saves costs of buying and using two different machines.
Materials of Construction:
This water control system is protected against the corrosion.
Safety:
This system is highly insulated, leakage proof and works without creating any noise.
1.5 Application of the Project
Water level controller is an application which detects the level water then triggers the pump and blows alarm and vice versa. They are useful devices and play an important role in various industries such as automobile, irrigation, and also at homes, or wherever water is pump either underground or overhead.
1.6 Scope of the Project
This water controller will give you a heads-up the instant over-head tank and underground tank is full or goes below the required level, hopefully giving you time to close windows and bring in possessions. The circuit draws virtually no current when the sensors are dry and the current consumption is low when the buzzer is activated. Alternately, a molded power supply with a simple voltage regulator to drop the voltage to 3 volts could be used. When the circuit is triggered, the buzzer is pulsed about once per second for a very short time.
1.7 Limitation of the Project
Sensors used are built with conductive material, which means that they are subject to rusting or corrosion. When rusting occur the sensors will stop conducting thereby causing this device will stop working.
1.8 Organisation of the Study
The various stages involved in the development of this project have been properly put into five chapters to enhance comprehensive and concise reading. In this project thesis, the project is organized sequentially as follows:
- Chapter one of this work is on the introduction to Water level controller. In this chapter, the background, significance, objective limitation and problem of Water level controller were discussed.
- Chapter two is on literature review of Water level controller. In this chapter, all the literature pertaining to this work was reviewed.
- Chapter three is on design methodology. In this chapter all the method involved during the design and construction were discussed.
- Chapter four is on testing analysis. All testing that result accurate functionality was analyzed.
- Chapter five is on conclusion, recommendation and references.
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