Sensor-Based Water Control System

Sensor-Based Water Control System for Household Purposes

Group 16

INSTR F312: Transducers and Measurement

Instructor: Dr. Alivelu Manga Parimi

Prof. Karumbaiah N Chappanda

Due: 03-12-2022

By:
Uddhav Thakore (2019B5A80750H)
Anant Kumar(2019B4A81046H)

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Abstract

We aim to create an automated water control system for underground and overhead tanks in

household usage based on the water level in both tanks. This will eliminate the need to

manually turn on the water pump when the water runs out. In addition, we intend not to have

anyone in the house worry about the water supply by using touch sensors to turn on the pump

when the water in the underground tank exceeds a certain level and the water in the overhead

tank is below a certain level.

The combination of two water level controllers is used to monitor the water level in both tanks.

When the required criteria are met, the right internal connections are made in both the

controllers, and the circuit is closed. Electricity flows through the controllers into the water pump/

motor, causing water to be pumped to the overhead tank. A different set of criteria is established

to cut off the supply to the motor, depending on water levels in both tanks.

Apparatus:

In order to build a prototype of the mentioned system, we will need the following

apparatus:

● WLC D1 water level controller - 2

● Submersible water pump - 1

● Containers for water - 3

● Sensor Wires/ Electrodes - 6

● 240V AC source

● Insulated Copper Wire, Plugs and Sockets as necessary

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The WLC D1 controller and its components

The WLC D1 controller has 9 ports, numbered 1, 2, 3 ; 7, 8, 9; 13, 14, 15. Port 9 is a

dummy and has no connecting pin. The three groups have different purposes. 1, 2, and 3 are

connected to the electrodes/ sensors, which are submerged in the tank. The electrode connected

to 1 goes the deepest, 2 in the middle, and 3 at the top. 7 and 8 are connected to the AC voltage

source and provide current to the device. Ports 13, 14, and 15 are the most important. The

internal wiring of the controller is such that Pin 13 is either in connection with Pin 14 or 15 at a

given time. The connection that is present depends on the electrodes connected to 1, 2, and 3,

which are submerged in the tank. This will be explained in detail in further sections.

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Working of the Device (Single Controller)

The WLC D1 can act as a liquid-level sensor for conducting fluids. The electrodes connected to

ports 1, 2, and 3 are placed at different depths, and as they get submerged in the fluid, it acts as

an electrolyte, completing the circuit and triggering the Relay.

When the Relay is triggered, the internal connection between ports 13 and 15 is opened and

switched to 13 and 14.

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Implementation of Two Controllers for the Two Tanks

The general household water network consists of two tanks, an underground tank, and an

overhead tank. In order to efficiently use the water level controllers to turn on the water pump at

the required time, we need to monitor the water levels of both tanks. The condition to turn on the

water pump/motor is the water level in the overhead tank is below the desired level, and the

water in the underground tank is above the minimum required limit.

In order to do this, we need to use two controllers, one for each tank. Since the

requirement of the overhead tank to turn on the motor is that it should have less water, we make

use of the fact that ports 13 and 15 are in connection when the electrodes are not submerged.

Further connections can be seen in the diagram below.

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Building the Prototype

First, we make the necessary connections between the two controllers and use a male two-pin

plug to connect pins 7 and 8 to AC source. Use a female two-pin plug, in connection with pin 8

and U15, so the pump can be plugged into it. (Left-Lower tank, Right-Upper Tank)

Pins 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the sockets, to make the connection with the sensors easily

detachable by means of a three-pin plug.

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We use 3 containers stacked on one another, one for the overhead tank, one for the underground

tank and one in between to act as the house that continuously drains the overhead tank. The

middle container can also store the water which we will reuse once the underground tank is

empty, by means of a lever.

Sensors are placed at the appropriate levels in the tanks and connected to a three-pin plug, which

can plug into the control box.

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Video Link To Fully Working Prototype:

Transducers Project Video.mp4

Results

(NOTE: Numbering for ports and sensors will be given will be given as ‘U’ for upper and ‘L’ for lower)

We can observe that the pins in ports L7, L8, L13, U7, and U8 have a constant supply of

electricity. The supply to pin L14, L15, U14, and U15 depends on the mode of the controllers.

L14 is connected to the supply when the lower tank controller is in relay mode, i.e., when

the water level is high enough to submerge the P3 sensor of the lower tank.

U13 is connected to supply simultaneously with L14. When the water level in the upper

tank is sufficiently high, then its controller is in relay mode, U13 and U14 are connected, U13

and U15 are disconnected, and the motor does not turn on. On the other hand, when the water

level in the overhead tank is below the P2 sensor, then the Relay on the upper tank’s controller is

off, i.e., U13 and U15 are connected; hence current flows from L13-L14-U13-U15 and finally

the motor, which turns it on and pumps water into the overhead tank.

Once the overhead tank is filled or the lower tank’s level falls, the circuit is broken by a

change of mode of Relay in either controller.

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Contributions

Uddhav Thakore: Topic, Abstract, Midsem Report, Purchasing Materials, Midsem Presentation,

Building Prototype, Final Demo, Fixes to prototype after the demo, Final presentation at Expo,

Final Report Writing.

Anant Kumar: Learnt the working, final presentation at expo

Dhiraj Varma (2019 Single Degree Eco) & Kanti Sonnathi (2019 Single Degree CS), helped in

arrangement of materials, the building of prototype and in the final presentation at expo

References

● https://autocon.biz/image/catalog/specpdf/23.pdf