Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
The project Wireless micro controller based automatic liquid pump controlling system is
design to monitor the level of liquid in the tank or any other materials. The system basically operated
with micro controller and RF(Radio Frequency) transceiver modules. Wireless liquid level controller is
equipment used to control the liquid level in the tank. The level of the water is controlled by using a
probes used as a sensor which inserted inside a tank and microcontroller
.Key words:- sensor modules, RF transceiver, micro controller, power supply, and indicator etc.
The sensors sense the presence of liquid like water and give indication to RF transmitter. The
transmitter transferring data to RF receiver then to the micro controller. The microcontroller
produces the control signals to drive the motor. If there is liquid in sump (reservoir) then
microcontroller gives control signal to start the motor and if there is insufficient liquid/water in the
sump (reservoir) tank then the microcontroller gives control signal to stop the motor. And also the
microcontroller enables the indicator and indicated as blinking the LED when there is no liquid in the
sump tank and stop to blink when there is liquid in the sump tank. Hence the level of liquid in a sump
tank can be automatically controlled. The probes in the sump used us the sensor. These two
conductors checks the availability or in availability of liquid in the sump tank. If there is liquid then the
conduction occurs between the two conductors, which closes a circuit to the microcontroller and
microcontroller detects the intensity of liquid in the sump tank. If there is no conduction,
microcontroller detects absence of liquid/warer in the sump tank.

The PIC microcontroller obtaining signal from the receiver.The microcontroller produces controls
signal to the drive the motor according to the indication and enables the indicator. The motor is
controlled by a relay mechanism. Motor is controlled by the Microcontroller, the microcontroller
switching the power supply to motor by relay mechanism. The system has wireless an automatic
pumping system attached to it. so as to refill the tank once the liquid gets to the lower threshold,
while offing the motor once the liquid gets to the higher threshold.
This project is quietly solving for instance: poor water allocation, inefficient use of water and lack of
adequate and integrated water management. Water is commonly used for agriculture, industry, and
domestic consumption. Therefore, efficient use and water monitoring are potential constraint for
home or office water management system. Moreover, the common method of level control for home
appliance is simply to start the feed pump at a low level and allow it to run until a higher water level is
reached in the water tank. This liquid level controlling also control, monitor and maintain the water
level in the overhead tank and ensures the continuous flow of water round the clock without the
stress of going to switch the pump ON or OFF Thereby saving time, energy, water, and prevent the
pump from overworking. Besides this,

2007

Debre markos university(DMU)

controll
er

pump

Tank
where
level of
liquid is
to be
controlle
d

liquid level control systems are widely used for monitoring of liquid levels in reservoirs, What it needs
is for the transmitter to activate the receiver and hold it in the on position till the probes switch
interrupts the transmitter and releases the receiver.
Generally switch ON the pump when their taps go dry and switch OFF the pump when the tank reaching
at the final thresheshold level. This results in the unnecessary wastage and sometimes non availability
of water in case of emergency.

setpoint
Figure 1.1 A Typical liquid level control system

1.2 Aims and objectives

The goal or objectives of our project is to build Wireless micro controller based an automatic
liquid pump controlling system. In this project sensors are place at different level inside of the tank
and with the aid of this sensors, the micro-controller monitor the level of the liquid and activate or
deactivate the motor .some of the objectives are:1. To design Wireless microcontroller based an automatic water/liquid pump monitoring and
controlling system.
2. To control the water/liquid level in the tank by interfacing a RF module with microcontroller to build
a wireless remote control.
3. To solve the problem of water tank system users.
4. To reduce in appropriate loss of water caused by water tank system(To avoid wastage of water).
5. Since the demand of electricity is very high, automatic water level control saves energy.

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

1.3 Statement of the Problem

Today, most of the liquid/water tank users in industries have replaced conventional pump with
electrical pumps. But they find it very inconvenient for the condition of water or liquid pump because
there is no effective liquid level indication system. As a result, if mechanical sensor fails, there are a
plenty of water waste as well as wastage of power consumed by motor pump. Solution of this problem
is wireless liquid tank level controller using water level sensor and microcontroller.
1.4 Significance of the project
Wireless automatic liquid level monitor came into existence because of human error and
inconsistence that is associated with manually operated water pumping machine. This is because it
takes time for individual who is manually operating the water pump to turn off the pumping machine
and this may cause water spillage and at times the individual might not know that the water level has
drop so low until the tank is completely empty. This was the problem that leads to the development of
the ideal of an automatic liquid level control and automatic pump short down.

1.5 Scope of the project

In this paper we are discussing about design and implementation of liquid level control system which
is wireless, automatic, cost effective and reliable by using Radio frequency transmitter and receiver
with a micro controller installed at the tank and sump. Radio Frequency transceivers are used for
wireless communication.
In our project we will be able to do simulation part. The project was design to Wireless automatically
control the pump which ensures constant reserve of water in the reservoir. The scope of the design
was keep concise and simple.in other way this project mostly concerned with not to introduce
unnecessary complexities and render it generally uncomfortable.

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

CHAPTER ONE
LITERATURE REVIEW OF PROJECT

Out of the liquids which are involved in this contenent is Water which is commonly used for
agriculture, industry, and domestic consumption.this feature inforce us to cncentrate on it.
Therefore, efficient use and water monitoring are potential constraint for home or office water
management system. In the last few decades several monitoring systems integrated with water level
detection have been accepted. Measuring water level is an essential task for government and
residence perspective. It would be possible to track the actual implementation of such initiatives with
integration of various controlling activities.
The level measurement consist of determining the distance from the upper surface of a liquid in a
reservoir or vessel or any arbitrarily chosen mark located above or below this surface by itself the
level is not an independent physical quantities describing the state of a substance through direct and
indirect level, some examples of direct level measurement are dipstick, the bubbler, immersion
electrode, capacitor type ,liquid level radiation type liquid level measurement for instance the dipstick,
it is very simple, the stick being dipped periodically through a hole and the hole and the immersion
mark is being read off with the aid of the calibration on the stick. Then, the direct level measurement
are sight glass ,depending on the manometer principle, the transparent tube is place in a convenient
and its being connected to the lower part of tank and graduated for safety reasons, the top the bright
glass is vented into the tank and the sight has isolation valve top and bottom while the micro base;
water level controller has the ability to switch on the pumping machine when the water in the tank has
gone below gauge level automatically switches theOFF the pumping machine when the water in the
tank has reach its maximum level.
An automatic water level control detects the water level in the tank and also ensures continuous
water flow round the clock because of its automatic, this automatic water control is made up of
microcontroller written in C programming language this program is burn into a PIC called 16F877A
With 40 pins. In this paper we discuss about automatic water level sensing and controlling with
wireless communication between controllers placed at the tank and the sump. So the system basically
operated with controllers and RF transceiver modules.
The paper introduces the notion of water level monitoring and management within the context of
electrical conductivity of the water. More specifically, it explains about the microcontroller based
water level sensing and communicates with in a wireless environment. Water Level management
approach would help in reducing the home power consumption and as well as water overflow. Finally,
they have proposed a web and cellular based monitoring service protocol that would determine and
sense water level globally. It discusses about the monitoring system to monitor the changes of water

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

level from time to time. The traditional irrigation area automatic system mostly uses the wire to
connect the water level, rainfall and gate position sensors and the data acquisition to transmit the
hydrographic information. But in the wireless system there is no complex wiring, wire damage, and
the cost in installment and maintenance is less. So it enhances the systems reliability and extension.
A range of level control systems and methods are used in industry. Systems may be based on the use
of floats, probes or sensor. Level control is one of continuous process that can be treated as an
integrating process. The level controller can be applying on temperature control, pressure control,
and water control. The level controller is used with electrical probes or sensors. The electrical probes
are used with power supply and motor. The probes will put inside the tank and the motor will pump as
the water goesdown. The probes will detect the level of the water and on/off the motor.
The level controller which are using water sensor will sense the low and high level of water in water
tank. If the water was low, the motor will pump the water and will stop to pump water after the high
level reached.
Automatic Water level Controller can be used in Hotels, Factories, Homes Apartments, Commercial
Complexes, Drainage, etc. It can be fixed for single phase motor, Single Phase Submersibles, Three
Phase motors. We can control two motor and two sumps and two overhead tanks by single unit.
Automatic water level controller will automatically START the pump set as soon as the water level falls
below the predetermined level (usually 1/2 tank) and shall SWITCH OFF the pump set as soon as tank is
full.
Electronics circuit has undergone tremendous changes since the invention of a triode by Lee De
Forest in 1907. In those days the active component likes resistors, inductors and capacitors etc. Of
the circuit were separated and distinct unite connected by soldered lead with the invention of a
transistor in 1984 by W.H Brattain and I.barden, the electronic circuit became considerably reduced in
size. It was due to the fact that transistors were not only cheaper, more reliable and less power
consumption but was much smaller in size than an electronic tube. To take advantage of small
transistors size, the passive component too were reduce in size there by making the entire circuit
very small development of printed circuit board(PCB) further reduce the size of electronics
equipment by eliminating bulky wiring and tie point. In the early 1960s a new field of micro-electronics
was born primarily to meet the requirement of the military which was to reduce the size of it
electronics equipment to approximately one tenth of it then existing volume. The drive extreme
reduction in the size of electronic circuit has lead to the development of micro-electronics circuit
called integrated circuit (ICS) which are so small than their actual construction is done by technicians
Using high powered microscopes. An integrated circuit is a complete circuit inwhich both the active
and passive component are fabricated in on a tiny single chip of silicon, Active component are those
which have the ability to produce gain example are transistors and field effect transistors (FET). An
integrated circuit sometimes called a chip or microchip is a semi-conductor wafer on which
thousands of millions of tiny transistors, capacitors are fabricated, An IC can be either analog digital
depending on its intended application.

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

Many earlier works dealt with various techniques of monitoring and controlling of liquid levels in
industrial and domestic applications. Broadly this automatic control problem can be achieved under
two means: mechanical methods and electrical methods. Float ball type liquid level control is a popular
method of control still used in practice for normal applications such as overhead tank overflow
restrictors etc. The electrical methods of control include a micro controller -based circuits which
automatically predict the cndition of liquid levels and accordingly active the circuit to operate motors.
In spite of several such available methods, still there are new techniques in this application so as
avoid dangerous operating conditions in industrial boilers.
Tan: - proposed a water level control system for nuclear steam generator. The control system
consisted of a feedback controller and a feed forward controller. The robustness and performance of
both the controllers are analyzed and tuning of the parameter of the controllers. It is shown that the
proposed gain scheduled controller can achieve good performance at high and low power levels.
Safarzadeh: -presented a water level control system for horizontal steam generators using the
quantitative feedback theory.
Moradi: - proposed a control strategy to achieve desired tracking of drum water level. Sliding mode &
H- control schemes are employed. Transfer function between drum water level (Output) and feed
water vs. steam mass rate were considered.
Maffezoni:-highlighted the principal dynamic phenomena which determine the structuring of boilerturbine control systems, clarifying the essential connections of such phenomena with the physical
nature of the process. Zhang and Hu:-proposed the water level control system using PI controllers.
Zhang: - analyzed the water level control of pressurized water reactor nuclear power station using
PID and fuzzy controllers. Ansarifar:-proposed an adaptive estimator based dynamic sliding mode
control method for water level control. Liu: - presented a proportional controller with partial feed
forward compensation and decoupling control for the steam generator water level.

Debre markos university(DMU)

CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY

2007

There are many methods of designing an automatic water level control with switching device but all
these methodologies require human assistance. In this project an automatic water level control for
both overhead and underground tank with switching device is designed using electronic control to
refill the water without human intervention.
The system design was carefully arranged to refill the water tank when the water is get low to a
certain level. Also the system automatically shut down the water pump by putting the electric pump
OFF when the tank is full. The approach used in this work is the modular design approach the overall
design was broken into function block diagrams. Where each block in the diagram represents a
section of the circuit that carries out a specific function.
The system was designed using functional blocks as shown in the block diagram bellow in this method
the circuit is designed to display four different level using four sensors that inserted inside the tank in
different places to monitor the inflow and outflow of water in the tank.
This project designed for automatic water level controller for both overhead and underground tank
with switching device. The major component used in the project designs are level detection sensors,
micro-controller IC16F877A, the power supply unit, relays switch, indicator (LED) and RF transmitter
and receiver.
3.1 Flow chart for project development
The process involved in the development of the project is very important so that the process is
smooth without any difficulties. The processes involved are under constant changes due to
unexpected changes or complications.
Flow of the development of the project is divided into two that are the hardware and software. The
hardware part is divided into two parts that are the water sensor part and the output alarm part

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

Figure 3.1: Flow Chart for Project Development

The project begins with literature reviews of the project. The literature reviews will investigate and
comment about the current water alarm detector in the market. The literature reviews will help to
produce a project that is not yet available in the market.
After the literature review, the project will continue with the circuit design of the water alarm. With
the information gotten from the literature review, the circuit can be design from various parts of
projects done. The combinations of all these circuitry from the literature review, a new circuit can be
produced.
A circuit simulation using software is done after the circuit design to ensure that the circuit can
work according to the required specifications. It is also to ensure that the current and voltage in the
circuit is not to large so that it will not spoil the circuit. If the simulation is successful, the project
continues with hardware and software development.

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

If not the circuit simulation is continued until it is successful. After the hardware is built and the
program is written, the hardware and program undergoes testing. If the testing is successful, the
project is demonstrated to the panel. However, if the testing fails, the hardware built and the program
written will be re-tested again until it is successful.

3.2 System block diagram

Figure 3.2 total block diagram representation of the project

3.2.1 Block diagram description

3.2.1.1 Microcontroller (pic16877A)

Micro controller plays a vital role in our project. Microcontroller controls each and every peripheral
device connected to it. The microcontroller that we are using is reliable and best suited for our
project. many times we forget to switch off the motor pushing Water into the overhead tank in our
households. As a result, water keeps overflowing until we notice the overflow and switch the pump off.
As the overhead tank is usually kept on the topmost floor, it is cumbersome to go up frequently to

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

check the water level in the overhead tank. Heres a wireless microcontroller-based water level
controller to solve this Problem. It controls on and off conditions of the motor depending upon
the level of water in the tank. The status is displayed on a LED. The circuit also protects the motor
from high voltages, low voltages, fluctuations of mains power and dry running.
The microcontroller majorly has 5 ports, namely A, B, C, D, and E. The ports A and E are generally used
for analog to digital data conversion. The port D is generally used for data and control functions of
LED and relay. The port B has internal pull up resistors and hence there is no need to connect any
more resistors with it. This port is used as the input port for the four level transistors switching
sensing system. This port is by default high, and hence is activated by ground signals.
The port C has eight pins, of which pin 6 and 7 are used indication of water in the reservoir tank. The
port D of the pin 6 is used as the pump driver (relay).
The controller is programmed to check the dry-run condition of the motor. If water reaches water
indicator sensor in the sump tank, the microcontroller comes out of the dry-run condition and allows
the motor to keep pushing water in the tank.
When water in the tank is below sensor 1, the motor will switch on to fill water in the tank. The LED will
show motor on. The motor will remain on until water reaches sensor 4.Then it will stop
automatically and the microcontroller will go into the standby mode.
The 16F877A is one of the most popular PIC microcontrollers and it's easy to see why - it comes in a
40 pin out and it has many internal peripherals. The 40 pins make it easier to use the peripherals as
the functions are spread out over the pins. One of the main advantages is that each pin is only shared
between two or three functions so its easier to decide what the pin function (other devices have up to
5 functions for a pin).

Note: A disadvantage of the device is that it has no internal oscillator so you will need an external
crystal of other clock source.

Debre markos university(DMU)

Figure 3.3 microcontroller PIC16F877A with pin configuration

2007

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

This makes it easier to decide what external devices to attach without worrying too much if there
enough pins to do the job. One of the main advantages is that each pin is only shared between two or
three functions so its easier to decide what The 16F877A has 8k of code space, 368 bytes of RAM and
256 bytes of EEPROM.This device is pin-out and functionality compatible with the standard 16F877A.
For 40MHz use, we can use an external 10MHz crystal with the Phased Locked Loop (PLL) option
enabled. You can set this when programming your microcontroller. The PLL option multiplies the
external clock frequency by four, giving an effective internal MCU speed of 40MH.

Figure 3.4 real outlook of microcontroller PIC16F877A

Input/output Ports of PIC 16F877A

PIC 16F877A series normally has five input/output ports. They are used for the input/output
interfacing with other devices/circuits. Most of these port pins are multiplexed for handling alternate
function for peripheral features on the devices. All ports in a PIC chip are bi-directional. When the
peripheral action is enabled in a pin, it may not be used as its general input/output functions. The PIC
16F877 chip basically has 5 input/output ports. The five input/output ports and its functions are given
below.
PORT A and the TRIS A Registers

PORT A is a 6-bit wide bi-directional port, the direction of this port is controlled by TRIS A data
direction register. Setting a TRIS A (=1) makes corresponding PORT A pin as an input, clearing the TRIS
A (=0) making the corresponding PORT A pin as an output
Pin RA4 is multiplexed with the Timer0 module clock input to become the RA4/T0CKI pin and
functioning either input/output operation or Timer 0 clock functioning module. The RA4/T0CKI pin is a
Schmitt Trigger input and an open-drain output. All other PORT A pins has TTL input levels and full
CMOS output drivers.
Other PORT pins in this microcontroller multiplexed with analog inputs and the analog VREF input for
both the A/D converters and the comparators. The operation of each pin is selected by
clearing/setting the appropriate control bits in the ADCON1 and/or CMCON registers. The TRIS A

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

register controls the direction of the PORT pins even when they are being used as analog inputs. The
user must ensure the bits in the TRISA register are maintained set when using them as analog inputs.
PORT B and the TRIS Registers

PORT B is also an 8 bit bi-directional PORT. Its direction controlled and maintained by TRIS B data
direction register. Setting the TRIS B into logic 1 makes the corresponding PORT B pin as an
input. Clearing the TRIS B bit make PORT B as an output. Three pins of PORT B are multiplexed with the
In-Circuit Debugger and Low-Voltage Programming function: RB3/PGM, RB6/PGC and RB7/PGD for
performing its alternate functions.
PORT C and the TRIS C Registers

PORT C is an 8-bit wide, bidirectional PORT which controlled and maintained by TRIS C data direction
register. Setting a TRIS C bit (= 1) will make the corresponding PORT C pin an input (i.e., put the
corresponding output driver in a High-Impedance mode). Clearing a TRIS C bit (= 0) willmake the
corresponding PORT C pin an output PORT C is also multiplexed with several peripheral functions.
PORT C pins have Schmitt Trigger input buffers.
When enabling peripheral functions, more care should be taken in defining TRIS bits for each PORT C
pin as compared to other. Some peripherals override the TRIS bit to make a pin an output, while other
peripherals override the TRIS bit to make a pin an input. Since the TRIS bit override is in effect while
the peripheral is enabled, read-modify write instructions (BSF, BCF, and XORWF) with TRISC as the
destination, should be avoided. The user should refer to the corresponding peripheral section for the
correct TRIS bit settings.
PORT D and TRIS D Registers

PORT D is an 8-bit PORT with bi-directional nature. This port also with Schmitt Trigger input buffers,
each pin in this PORT D individually configurable as either input or output. PORT D can be configured
as an 8-bit wide microprocessor PORT (functioning as Parallel Slave PORT) by setting control bit,
PSPMODE ((TRISE<4>). In this mode, the input buffers are TTL.
PORT E and TRIS E Registers

PORT E has only three pins (RE0/RD/AN5, RE1/WR/AN6 and RE2/CS/AN7) which are individually
configurable as inputs or outputs. These pins controllable by using its corresponding data direction
register TRIS E. These pins also have Schmitt Trigger input buffers. The PORT E pins become the
I/O control inputs for the microprocessor PORT when bit PSPMODE is set. In this mode, the user must
make certain that the TRIS E bits are set and that the pins are configured as digital inputs. Also,
ensure that ADCON1 is configured for digital I/O. In this mode, the input buffers are TTL.
TRISE register which also controls the Parallel Slave PORT operation. PORT E pins are multiplexed with
analog inputs. When selected for analog input, these pins will read as 0s. TRIS E controls the

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

direction of the RE pins, even when they are being used as analog inputs. The user must make sure to
keep the pins configured as inputs when using them as analog inputs.
3.2.1.2 Water tank

Overhead and sump tank

This is the tank inside which the level of the liquid has to be controlled. Water is pumped to the tank
from the reservoir using water pump motor, water coming down into the tank. The probes used as a
sensor inserted inside the tank at different levels used to determine liquid level to measures the
height of the water in the tank. The microcontroller controls the pump so that the water is stopped at
the desired level. The tank used in this project is a plastic container.
3.2.1.3 Motor pump

The pump is a small 120V water pump which draws around 16A current when it operates at the fullscale voltage. The pump control segment consists of a 10k resistor diode, an NPN transistor and 12Vdc
relay. The 220Vac is attached to the common of the relay while the pump is attached to the normally
open pin of the relay. A diode is connected across the energizing coil of the relay to bias the relay
while the microcontroller controls the biasing of the relay by sending logic 1 or logic 0 to the base of
the NPN transistor, which in turn biases the relay.

Figure 3.5 motor driving relay circuit

3.2.1.4 Level sensors

The level is sensed with a conducting metal strip. It works on the principle of electrical conducting
property of water. The sensing system used is based on transistor switching principle. The base of a
transistor, connected to a resistor, is given at a certain level inside the tank and the base of the tank
has 5V Vcc.

Debre markos university(DMU)

2007

The RF transmitter Vcc part is connected to the collector of the transistor. The emitterof the
transistor is grounded which is the ground of the transmitter. When the water level has not reached
the level at which the transistor base line is attached, the circuit is open and hence, there is no
current to the base. The transistor is now in cut off condition with no collector current and the entire
voltage is across the transistor. When the water comes in contact with the base line of the transistor,
the switch is closed and collector to emitter voltage becomes negligible and there is a collector
current. This change in voltage is considered by the RF transmitter and the current level is sensed. In
order to detect the various levels across the tank, four such circuits are present to detect four
different levels. It should be noted that the number of levels can be increased or decreased as and if
required. Fig. shows the circuit diagram for sensing one level. The same circuit has been developed
four times for four levels