Water level Controller using CD4001

Abstract
It illustrates the construction and working of
a liquid/water level indicator.
Such an indicator is used in tanks to indicate the
level of liquids and alert us when the tank is full.
So by this circuit we can monitor the various levels
of the tank and can avoid spillage of water and also
we can configure our supplies according to the
various levels of tank.
Such module or circuit can be installed in big
buildings where manual monitor of tanks is difficult
and its indicator can be placed at some centralised
place.

ABSTRACT

On our planet earth, 71% of part is occupied by water. Only 2% of

water source is usable and rest of 98% of water is salty water
which has no use for human and all living beings except in sea.
Water, the main source of life. It is the most required, important
and individual part of all living beings. We can not imagine life
without water. Our country India such a populated one is facing
such a big problem of water minimization. If proper precautions
are not taken for preserving the most valuable natural resource
then it may lead to an disastrous situation. This project is based
on the theme that water should be controlled to such a level that
it can be utilized with proper use. Due to implementation of this
project, water level can be controlled automatically and hence
large amount of water is saved. In future, India
will have not face such problems and there will be a vast progress
in the development of country.

SAVE WATER, SAVE LIFE ..!!!!!!

LITERATURE SURVEY

BRIEF HISTORY

DIFFERENT METHODS OF LEVEL MEASUREMENT

The various methods employed for liquid measurement are broadly classified
as shown below.
1)Mechanical Methods.
2) Pneumatic Method.
3) Electrical Method.
4) Ultrasonic Method.
Mechanical System :-
Float Gauge :-
This device consist of a float, a counter weight and linkage between them. The
counter weight keeps the linkage i.e. the chain in tension. Depending on the liquid
level, the float rises or falls and this movement of float is displayed on a dial by means
of a pointer and scale.
Electrical Methods for Level Measurement :-
Capacitance Level Indicator :-
The capacitance of parallel plate capacitor is proportional to the dielectric
strength of the insulting medium between the plates. If the area of plates and the
distance between them is kept constant.
When the liquid level rises and covers more area between the two fixed plates,
the capacitance between the plates increases. When the liquid level falls, the
capacitance decreases. The measurement of the capacitance is the measure or liquid
level in the tank. These types of level indicators are useful for small systems and it is
very sensitive. It is suitable for continuous control or indication of level. The
disadvantages of this type of level indicators are :-
1) The reading is affected by dirt or other contaminants.
2) The sensitivity gets affected by temperature variations.
3) Calibration is often required if the liquid composition or moisture content varies.
Ultrasonic Level Indicator :-
This device consists of an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver. The ultrasonic
wave is transmitted towards the liquid surface, from where it is reflected back. The
receiver detects the signal. The time duration between the transmissions of the signal
up to its reception is a measure of the liquid level in the tank.

Working details :
1. Motor operates only if, Reservoir tank is not empty. If it empty while running motor
pump, it is switched off

2. When water level at Low level indicated, Motor starts ( If also, reservoir is not empty)

3. When water level reaches High level, Motor stops.

Additional Features:
1. Circuit is compensated for, false switching due to ripples in water tank.

2. Only DC, small voltage is used in circuit and sensing leads.

3. Low current (Serried through 1M ohm to 100 M ohm resistance) sensing

4. Sensing by grounding method is used, so no charge accumulation any where

5. LED indication of Hi, Low, Reservoir Low, Motor status.

6. Manual Operation of Motor using parallel switch.

Circuit Diagram

Truth Table
Hi Level Low Level Low level (R) Motor

False True False ON

After Motor starts, it continue to be ON

False False False ON

Motor continue to run, till the situation as below

True False False OFF

Or in a situation, if the Reservoir is go empty

False False True OFF

Relay
The input section has a coil which generates magnetic field when a small voltage
from an electronic circuit is applied to it. This voltage is called the operating
voltage. Commonly used relays are available in different configuration of operating
voltages like 6V, 9V, 12V, 24V etc. The output section consists of contactors which
connect or disconnect mechanically. In a basic relay there are three contactors:
normally open (NO), normally closed (NC) and common (COM). At no input state, the
COM is connected to NC. When the operating voltage is applied the relay coil gets
energized and the COM changes contact to NO.
Resistor

Resistor is a passive component used to control current in a circuit.

Its resistance is given by the ratio of voltage applied across its

terminals to the current passing through it.

Thus a particular value of resistor, for fixed voltage, limits the current
through it.

They are omnipresent in electronic circuits.

The different value of resistances are used to limit the currents or get the
desired voltage drop according to the current-voltage rating of the device to
be connected in the circuit.

Buzzer
 The piezo buzzer produces sound based on reverse of the piezoelectric
effect.

The generation of pressure variation or strain by the application of electric

potential across a piezoelectric material is the underlying principle.

These buzzers can be used alert a user of an event corresponding to a

switching action, counter signal or sensor input.

They are also used in alarm circuits.

The buzzer produces a same noisy sound irrespective of the voltage

variation applied to it.

It consists of piezo crystals between two conductors.

When a potential is applied across these crystals, they push on one

conductor and pull on the other.

This, push and pull action, results in a sound wave. Most buzzers produce
sound in the range of 2 to 4 kHz.

The Red lead is connected to the Input and the Black lead is connected to
Ground.

Capacitor
Capacitor is a widely used electronic component. It stores electric charge and
then discharges it into the circuit.

It blocks the direct current and allows the alternating current to pass
through it.

A capacitor contains two conductor plates which are generally made of

metal and an insulator between them.

The two plates are electrically connected to the external circuit with the help
of two thin metal rods also known as the legs of the capacitor.

One is connected with positive voltage and other one with negative

voltage.

A capacitor is characterized by the parameter capacitance. Capacitance is

measured as ratio of difference of charges between
the plates and total voltage drop between the plates.

Transformer :-

Specifications of transformer
Type Centre-tapped step down transformer
Primary Voltage 230 VAC
Secondary Voltage 12 VAC
Current Rating 1 A

The circuit is build using the following components:

CMOS IC CD4001: It is a versatile 14 pin IC which contains 4 NOR gates.

Each NOR gate has two inputs and one output. Thus the IC has 8 input pins and 4
output pins, one Vcc pin (connected to positive voltage supply) and one Vss
(connected to negative supply). Its basic features include Maximum supply
voltage: 15V, Minimum supply voltage: 3V, Maximum speed of operation: 4MHz.
It can be used in tone generators, metal detectors etc.
Transistor BC547: It is a NPN bipolar junction transistor and it is used
mainly for amplification and switching purpose. Its features include maximum
current gain of 800.It is used in CE configuration when used as an amplifier.
Battery: A DC supply of 9V is given through a battery to power up the
circuit.
The circuit uses a CMOS IC CD 4001 / 4011 to drive the relay. Its input gate 1 is used to
connect the probe to detect the water level. One probe is connected to the gate 1 of the
IC and the other probe to the ground. When the probe A connected to the gate 1 of IC is
floating, the input of gate 1 remains high and the output pin 4 goes high and the relay
driver transistor conducts. The relay will be activated. The power supply of the water
pump is connected through the common and the NO contacts of the relay so that when
the relay turns on, water pump works. LED indicates the working of the relay. When the
water level rises and makes contact with the probes A and B, output of IC turns low and
the relay de-energizes to stop the pumping.

Initially when A and B are not connected, i.e. water level is low, the input pin1 of the IC
is at logic high and according to NOR gate truth table, the output at pin3 will be at logic
low. Since pin3 is shorted to pins 5 and 6, hence the input to other NOR gate will be
logic low signals. This gives a logic high signal to the corresponding output pin 4. As
current flows through the resistor to the base of transistor, it starts conducting and acts
as a closed switch. The relay connected to the collector of the transistor gets energized
and the NO contacts get connected to the common contact and the water pump gets
power supply from the mains and starts working.
Now when water level rises in the tank rises such that probes A and B are connected
through water, current flows through them (As water is a conductor) and the pins 1 and
2 are connected through A and B to the negative supply of the battery.

The output pin3 is thus, at logic high level, causing the input pins of the other NOR gate
to be at logic high level and thus the corresponding output pin4 is at logic low level. The
transistor gets cutoff due to lack of bias current and the relay gets correspondingly de-
energized and the power supply to the water tank gets cut off.

How the Water level controller circuit works?

For the correct operation of the level control, the pump is activated when the lower
level sensor no longer touches the water and is disabled when the upper level sensor
touches the water.

This water level controller circuit also controls the flow of water from the tank,
keeping the liquid level above the lower sensor and prevent the tank runs out of
water. Water entering the tank may be due to rain, river, etc .. This case
becomes necessary when, for example, this tank serves to fill another tank.

It is also necessary to disconnect the pump, if the water level is low. A water pump that
has no water can be damaged. To prevent this, the water pump is deactivated when the
lower level sensor no longer touches the water and activated when the upper level
sensor touches the water. The switch I connected to the base of Q1 through R3,
choose the desired option.

On the A position the system fill the tank with water.

On the B position the system drain water from the tank.

The relay must be able to directly activate an AC load (water pump) or alternatively
activate a contactor which in turn activate the load.
List of components for the water level controller circuit
1 CD4001B two-input NOR gates (IC1)
1 BC338 NPN bipolar transistor (Q1)
1 1N4001 diode (D1)
1 Red LED (D2)
2 47K resistors (R1,R2)
2 1K resistors (R3,R4)
1 12VDC relay with the adequate current capacity to control the contactor that
turn on the pump. (RL1).
2 metal rods are used as sensors. Activation of the sensors is given when these
are set to 0 volts through the water. We must remember that water
is electrically conductive.

Notes:

The tank or sensor in the tank wall (touching the water) must be grounded.
The circuit is powered by a 12VDC voltage source.

APPLICATIONS:
1. It is used for all household purposes.

2. It can be used in commercial centers.

3. It will be very much useful to farmers to store large amount of water.

4. It can be used in all places to control water level.

ADVANTAGES:
1. Low maintenance .

2. Compact and good design .

3. Fully Automatic .
4. Saves water, energy .

5. Increases Pump Life

DISADVANTAGES:
1. This project may not be able to handle high power.

2. The components used in this are sensitive and may damage easily.

3. we need to insert the wire in accordance with the level of water.