Title : Liquid Level Measurement

Aim
To check the level of liquid in a container. and the accuracy of the system
Prerequisites:
1. Basic knowledge of Arduino.
2. Basic understanding of sensors, signal conditioning.
Objectives:
1. To understand the interface of sensor, Arduino UNO and LCD
2. To measure the liquid level
3. Display the liquid levels on the LCD
Hardware/Software Required
1. i. Arduino UNO R3 Board, Ultrasonic sensor HC-SR04, 16 x 2 LCD,
Breadboard, Jumpers, DC power supply.
2. i. Arduino IDE
Diagram 1.

Theory:

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 1. The arduino board is interfaced with the LCD, the ultrasonic sensor has 4 pins, vcc,
Gnd, trigger and echo. The circuit ensures contactless method to measure distance
between transceiver and fluid. We transmit short ultrasonic pulse of 10microseconds
using HCSR-04 ultrasonic sensor. The travel time of that pulse from transceiver to
liquid and back to transceiver is measured. Ultrasonic pulse will bounce from liquid
level since because change of density of ultrasonic pulse travel medium (ultrasonic
pulse first travel through air and bounce of liquid with higher density than air).
Because water has higher density, majority of pulse will bounce off.
The container is marked and the level of water in the container is noted as actual
value. The reading of the distance calculated using arduino program is noted as
measured value. The level of water 5 to 7 cm away from sensor is marked as 100%
full tank, similarly (7 to 10cm - 75% tank),(10-12cm- 50% tank) and (12-15cm- 25%
tank)
The difference between actual and measured value gives error, the percentage
Procedure: accuracy can be calculated from these readings.
1. Interface the arduino board with the sensor and the LCD.
Upload the program on arduino.
2. Note the level of water in the container.
Measure the level using ultrasonic sensor
Find the error and percentage accuracy
Observation:
Readings noted are put forth in the observation table
Two disadvantages exist with ultrasonic method:
There is small window in which we cannot receive pulse with transceiver .This
problem can be solved by placing our sensor higher from maximum water level for
few centimeters allowing receiver to start receiving.
If tank diameter is too small, signal could bounce of tanks walls and could cause
false readings.

Result/Conclusion :
The ultrasonic sensor transmits wave at 340m/s , the distance calculation in
cm and inches can be obtained using simple formula of
distance = speed* Time
The programming of Arduino to find the distance and send commands to
sensor and display on LCD, is easy.
The system gives 80% accuracy approximately.
References :
[1] Datasheet of Ultrasonic sensor HCSR-04
[2] Datasheet of Arduino UNO board

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Observation Table

Measured Value of
Actual Value of Percentage
distance using Error
Sr.no Distance(cm) Level of liquid
sensor (cm) (cm)
(Scale value) level
(LCD Display)
1. 14.3 14.22 0.08 25%
2. 13.4 13.13 0.27 25%
3. 10.4 10.86 -0.46 50%
4. 10.2 10.38 -0.18 50%
5. 8.5 9.14 -0.67 75%
6. 7.5 7.95 -0.45 75%
7. 6.5 6.48 0.02 100%
8. 5.3 5.62 -0.32 100%

Calculate % Accuracy
Average error is -1.71/8 = -0.21375
% error =21.375
% Accuracy=78.625 = 79

Actual implemented circuit with container

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