Design And Construction Of An Automatic Liquid Level Indicator With Alarm
The design and construction of an automatic liquid level indicator with alarm involve the integration of sensors, electronic components, and a signaling mechanism to monitor and alert users of fluid levels in a container or reservoir. Utilizing sensors such as float switches or ultrasonic sensors, the system detects changes in liquid levels. These sensors are connected to a microcontroller or a dedicated circuit that processes the input signals and triggers an alarm when the liquid reaches predetermined thresholds. The alarm system can employ audible signals, visual indicators, or both to alert users of low or high liquid levels, ensuring timely intervention to prevent overflows or depletion. Incorporating power sources and suitable enclosure designs, the indicator can be tailored for various applications, such as water tanks, fuel reservoirs, or chemical storage units, enhancing safety and operational efficiency. By implementing robust materials and reliable components, the automatic liquid level indicator with alarm guarantees accurate monitoring and timely notifications, contributing to seamless operations and risk mitigation in diverse industrial and domestic settings.
This project is titled the design and construction of a liquid level sensor and alarm system. It is designed to indicate the level of liquid such as water in an over-head tank. It not only indicates the amount of water present in the overhead tank but also gives an alarm when the tank is full.
When the liquid is empty the wires in the tank are open circuited and the 180K resistors pulls the switch low hence opening the switch and LEDs are OFF. As the water starts filling up, first the wire in the tank connected to S1 and the + supply are shorted by water. This closes the switch S1 and turns the LED1 ON. As the water continues to fill the tank, the LEDs2 , 3 and 4 light up gradually.
When the liquid is full, the base of the transistor BC148 is pulled high by the liquid and this saturates the transistor, turning the buzzer ON. The SPST switch has to be opened to turn the buzzer OFF.
TABLE OF CONTENT
TITLE PAGE
APPROVAL PAGE
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
1.3 AIM / OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
1.5 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 REVIEW OF RELATED THEORIES
2.2 REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES
2.3 RESEARCH GAP
2.4 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 CONSTRUCTIONS
3.1 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
3.2 CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
3.3 CIRCUIT OPERATION
3.4 COMPONENTS USED
3.5 THE WORKING PRINCIPLE
3.5 POWER SUPPLY UNIT
3.6 POWER SUPPLY UNIT
3.7 SPECIFICATION AND OPERATION OF SYSTEM COMPONENT
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 CONSTRUCTIONS
CIRCUIT OPERATION
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
COMPONENTS REQUIREMENT
WORKING OF AUTOMATIC WATER LEVEL CONTROLLER
COMPONENTS PIN-OUT
POWER SUPPLY UNIT
POWER SUPPLY COMPONENTS5.1 INSTALLATION OF THE COMPLETE DESIGN
CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE AND TESTING
CASING AND PACKAGING
ASSEMBLING OF SECTION
TESTING OF SYSTEM OPERATION
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
COST ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS USED
CHAPTER SIX
5.1 CONCLUSION
5.2 RECOMMENDATION
REFERENCES
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
The liquid level sensor is a device that measures the liquid level in a fixed container that is too high or too low. The level sensor is a device designed to monitor and measure liquid (and sometimes solid) levels. When the liquid level is detected, the sensor converts the sensed data into an electrical signal. Level sensors are mainly used for monitoring reservoirs, oil tanks or rivers (Henry, 2018).
According to the method of measuring the liquid level, it can be divided into two types: contact type and non-contact type. The input type water level transmitter we call is a contact measurement, which converts the height of the liquid level into an electrical signal for output. It is currently a widely used water level transmitter.
This device consists of 4 LED’s used to indicate ¼, ½, ¾, full levels. Basically the unit is made up of various sensors acting as a switch. This device came to mitigate problems such as poor water allocation, inefficient use, and lack of adequate and integrated water management. Automatic liquid level indicator system is designed to monitor liquid level in an overhead tank. This device helps the user to be aware of the water level in the tank through indicators. It is very useful because the user need not worry about the liquid such as water content during the peak hours of the day. It not only helps in the daily chores but also prevents water wastage. It reduces human labour, saves time and also keeps the user updated regarding the water content (Henry, 2018).
1.2 Statement of the problem
Nowadays, all the householders/owners are storing the water in overhead tanks by using the pumps. When the water is stored in the tank, no one can identify the level of water and also, no one can know when the water tank will fill. Hence there is an overflow of water in the tank, thus there is wastage of energy and water. To resolve this type of problems a water level indicator is built to indicate the level of liquid such as water in the overhead tanks.
1.3 Aim and objectives of the study
This work is aimed at building a liquid level indicator that will use four sensors to detect and indicate the four level of liquid in a container.
The objectives of the work are:
i. To build the system prototype at low cost
ii. To learn the working of a liquid indicator
iii. To automatically detect liquid level (1/4, ½, ¾ and full) with high precision.
iv. To control the supply of liquid thereby saving liquid.
1.4 Significance of the study
This study will bring solution to an overflowing of liquid from a container thereby preventing water wastage and saves electric energy. With this study, one can identify the level of liquid in a container. This study will also serve as a means of enlightening students on how to build simple electronics circuits.
1.5 Scope of the study
The scope of this work covers building a liquid level indicator using CD4066 CMOS IC as the heart of the circuit. The circuit consisting of 4 LED’s used to indicate ¼, ½, ¾ and full levels. When the liquid is full, the base of the transistor BC148 is pulled high by the liquid and this saturates the transistor, turning the buzzer ON thereby informing the user that the container is filled.
Automatic Liquid Level Indicator With Alarm:
Designing and constructing an automatic liquid level indicator with an alarm involves combining electronic components and programming to create a system that can sense the liquid level and trigger an alarm when it reaches a certain point. Below is a simple guide to help you get started. Note that this is a basic overview, and depending on your specific requirements, you may need to modify the design.
Components Needed:
- Microcontroller: Use a microcontroller like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or any other microcontroller of your choice.
- Ultrasonic Sensor: This sensor will be used to measure the distance between the sensor and the liquid surface.
- Alarm System: Choose a suitable alarm, such as a buzzer or LED, to indicate when the liquid level reaches a critical point.
- Power Supply: Ensure you have a stable power supply for your system.
- Display (Optional): You may want to add an LCD display to show the current liquid level.
Circuit Connection:
- Connect the ultrasonic sensor to the microcontroller. Ultrasonic sensors typically have VCC, GND, Trig, and Echo pins. Connect Trig to a digital pin on the microcontroller, Echo to another digital pin, VCC to 5V, and GND to GND.
- Connect the alarm system (buzzer, LED, etc.) to a digital pin on the microcontroller. Connect one end of the alarm to the digital pin and the other end to GND.
- If you’re using a display, connect it to the microcontroller as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Power the microcontroller using an appropriate power supply.
Programming:
Write a program for the microcontroller to perform the following steps:
- Read the distance from the ultrasonic sensor.
- Convert the distance to a liquid level based on the characteristics of your container.
- Check if the liquid level has reached a critical point.
- If the liquid level is critical, trigger the alarm.
Here’s a simple example using Arduino code:
const int trigPin = 9; // Trig pin of the ultrasonic sensor
const int echoPin = 10; // Echo pin of the ultrasonic sensor
const int alarmPin = 7; // Digital pin for the alarmvoid setup() {Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);
pinMode(alarmPin, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
// Trigger the ultrasonic sensor
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(2);
digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
// Read the distance
float duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);
float distance = (duration * 0.0343) / 2;
// Convert distance to liquid level (adjust based on your container)
float liquidLevel = 100 – (distance / containerHeight) * 100;
// Check if the liquid level is critical
if (liquidLevel < criticalLevel) {
// Trigger the alarm
digitalWrite(alarmPin, HIGH);
} else {
digitalWrite(alarmPin, LOW);
}
// Print the liquid level to the serial monitor
Serial.print(“Liquid Level: “);
Serial.print(liquidLevel);
Serial.println(“%”);
delay(1000); // Delay for stability
}
Note:
- Adjust
containerHeightandcriticalLevelbased on the characteristics of your container and the critical liquid level you want to set. - This is a basic example, and you may need to customize it based on your specific requirements and the features of your chosen microcontroller.
Ensure you understand the specifications of the components you are using, and take appropriate safety measures, especially when working with electricity