SOLAR-POWERED DIGITAL WATER METER WITH WIRELESS

CAPABILITY

TAN CHAIN NI

This Report Is Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of Requirements For The Bachelor

Degree Of Electronic Engineering (Telecommunication Electronic)

Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Computer Engineering

University Technical Malaysia Malacca

JUNE 2014

ii

DECLARATION

“I hereby declare that the work in this dissertation is my own except for quotations

and summaries which have been duly acknowledged.”

Signature : ………………..………………….... Author : TAN CHAIN NI Date : ………………………..……………

iii

SUPERVISOR DECLARETION

“I hereby declare that I have read this thesis and in my opinion this report is sufficient in terms of scope and quality for the award of the degree of Bachelor of

Electronic (Telecommunication Electronic)”

Signature : …………………………… Supervisor : Dr. KOK SWEE LEONG Date : …..………………………

iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This thesis has benefited greatly from the support of many people, some of whom I

would sincerely like to thank here.

To begin with, I offer my sincerest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr Kok Swee Leong,

who has supported me throughout my thesis with his patience and knowledge. I

attribute the level of my bachelor degree to his encouragement and effort and without

him this thesis, too, would not have been finished or written. One simply could not

wish for a better or friendlier supervisor.

I am thankful to Foo Zh Shem who has had very positive influence on me from the

very beginning of my studies. His encouragement and full support in making me has

confidence in my abilities to not only complete a degree but to complete it with

excellence.

Furthermore, I would like to thank to my fellow friends for offering helpful

guidance. I offer my regards and blessings to them who supported me in any respect

during the completion of the project.

Finally, but first in my heart, I thank my family for supporting me throughout all my

studies at University. They taught me the importance of education and always

encouraged me to work harder and to take every opportunity in life to finally live my

dreams. The education that I was able to enjoy while growing up has proven

invaluable.

v

ABSTRACT

The current analogue water meter is commonly used in most of the residential area

for water usage amount reading. However, the water meter are installed in the house

is a problematic such that the staff cannot take the water usage reading when there is

nobody home. In addition, it has accuracy problem due to incorrect reading taken by

staff. To solve this problem, this thesis presents the solar-powered digital water

meter with wireless capability to provide wireless access to user water consumption

A solar photovoltaic is used to provide sufficient power source to activate the

function of this system. The water flow sensor detects the water consumption. An

Arduino Uno microcontroller is used for processing the data and the radio frequency

433MHz module acts as data transmission medium. Rechargeable batteries are used

to store the energy and power up the system during night time. To validate the

system design, the prototype is tested for operations such as water meter sensor

accuracy, the charging type time of the rechargeable batteries, the durability of

rechargeable batteries and the bit error rate of data transmission. Test results

conducted within 15 meters distance between the RF transceiver to send and receive

data from micro controlled-digital water meter. As the results, the average accuracy

of water meter is 1.58% that has proven the water flow sensor accuracy is within the

range of ±3%. The reliability and durability of the rechargeable batteries are proven

can support the system for 16 hours without sunlight present. The package loss has

increased when the distance becomes longer.

vi

ABSTRAK

Meter air analog biasanya digunakan di kawasan kediaman penduduk untuk

mengambil bacaan jumlah air yang digunakan. Walau bagaimanapun, meter air

analog dipasangkan di rumah menyebabkan kesusahan petugas syarikat air untuk

mengambil bacaan jumlah air yang digunakan apabila tiada orang di rumah dan

meter air analog muncul masalah kurang ketepatan oleh sebab kesilapan petugas

apabila mengambil bacaan. Jadi, Projek ini memperkenalkan meter air berdigit yang

dikendalikan oleh tenaga suria dengan kemampuan wayarles yang berupaya

membaca jumlah air yang digunakan. Fotovoltan suria digunakan untuk

membekalkan tenaga yang cukup untuk mengaktifkan fungsi sistem ini air melalui

sensor yang mengesan kealiran air dan ini akan dijadikan sebagai isyarat input

kepada Arduino Uno. Arduino Uno berfungsi sebagai pegawalmikro akan

memproseskan isyarat ini dan mengubah kepada jumlah air yang diguna. Modul

radio frekueansi 433MHz bertugas sebagai medium penghantaran. Bateri setruman

digunakan untuk menyimpan tenaga dan membekalkan tenaga kepada system ini

semasa waktu malam. Prototaip ini telah disahkan dengan beberapa unjian seperti

ketepatan sensor kealiran air, masa untk mengecas bateri, keutuhan bateri dan kadar

ralat bit. Uji kaji dijalankan dalam jarak 15 meters di antara pemancar RF dan

penerima untuk menghantar data dari pegawalmikro. Hasilnya, purata nilai ketepatan

meter air ialah 1.58% yang dapat membuktikan ketepatan sensor kealiaran air di

dalam jangka ±3%. Keutuhan bateri telah disahkan mampu menyumbang kendalian

system ini selama 16 jam apabila tiada cahaya matahari.

vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER

TITLE PAGES

PROJECT TITLE i

DECLARATION ii

SUPERVISOR DECLARATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

ABSTRACT v

ABSTRAK vi

TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

LIST OF TABLES x

LIST OF FIGURES xi

LIST OF APPENDICES xiii

ABBREVIATION LIST xiv

I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGOUND OF STUDY 1 1.2 OBJECTIVES 3 1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT 4 1.4 SCOPE 6 1.5 SIGNIFICANT OF THE PROJECT 6 1.6 THESIS STRUCTURE 7

II

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 BACKGROUND OF PROJECT 8 2.2 PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR 9 2.3 SOLAR CHARGER CIRCUIT THEORY 10 2.4 TYPES OF RECHARGEABLE

BATTERIES 12

2.5 BATTERY CHARGING RATE 15 2.6 ARDUINO UNO 18 2.7 FUNDAMENTAL OF DIGITAL FLOW

METER 19

2.8 WATER VOLUME CALCULATION 22 2.9 WATER FLOW SENSOR 23 2.10 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM 23 2.11 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES 24 2.12 RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM 25

viii

2.13 TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER 27 2.14 RADIO FREQUENCY 433MHz MODULE 28 2.15 LCD DISPLAY 30 2.16 CONCLUSION 31

III

METHODOLOGY

3.1 PROJECT OVERVIEW 32 3.2 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION 33 3.2.1 Block Diagram 33 3.2.2 Flowchart 34 3.3 HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT 36 3.3.1 Solar Charger Circuit 38 3.3.2 Transmitter Circuit 40 3.3.3 Receiver Circuit 41 3.3.4 LCD Display 42 3.4 CODING CONFIGURATION

DEVELOPMENT 44

3.4.1 Transmitter Coding Flowchart 47 3.4.2 Receiver Coding Flowchart 48 3.5 SYSTEM PERFORMANCE TEST 49 3.5.1 Determine the Accuracy of the Water

Flow Sensor 49

3.5.2 Determine the Charging Time for Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries

50

3.5.3 Determine the Durability of the Rechargeable Batteries

50

3.5.4 Determine Package Loss over Varied Working Distance

51

3.6 CONCLUSION 51

IV

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1 MULTISIM RESULT 52 4.2 EXPECTED WATER FLOW SENSOR

ACCURACY 53

4.3 EXPECTED CHARGEING TIME OF THE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

54

4.4 EXPECTED RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES DURABILITY

55

4.5 EXPECTED RESULT OF PACKAGE LOSS WITH VARIOUS WORKING DISTANCE

57

4.6 CONCLUSION 58

V

CONCLUSION

ix

5.1 CONCLUSION 59 5.2 RECOMMENDATION 60

REFERENCES

62

APPENDIX A

65 APPENDIX B 66 APPENDIX C 70 APPENDIX D 71 APPENDIX E 75 APPENDIX F 78 APPENDIX G 81

x

LIST OF TABLES

TABLE TITLE

PAGE

3.1 Pin description of 16x2 LCD display 42 4.1 The water flow sensor accuracy 53 4.2 The total current (A) per hour consumed by the components 55

xi

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURES TITLE

PAGES

1.1 A typical water meter register showing a meter reading of 8.3 gallons. Notice the black ‘1’ on the odometer has not fully turned over so the red hand is read in its place.

4

2.1 Typical solar charger circuit 10 2.2 A solar cell produces current in proportion to the

amount of sunlight falling on it 11

2.3 The typical nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries

13

2.4 Typical charge characteristic for Lead-Acid and Lithium-Ion

15

2.5 Typical charge characteristic for nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride

16

2.6 The Arduino Uno 19 2.7 280W-D ultrasonic water meter from Spire metering

technology 21

2.8 Volume of fluid is the multiplication of water flow rate per unit times flowing past a point through the area A

22

2.9 The wavelength and antenna length must be compatible for perfect performance

24

2.10 The simplest transmitter is consisting of an oscillator and an antenna

27

3.1 The block diagram of the whole system 33 3.2 Flow chart of procedure to carry out the development

of the project 34

3.3 Transmitter side prototype 36 3.4 Transmitter side prototype including water flow

sensor, photovoltaic solar, solar charger circuit, and transmitter circuit integrated with Arduino Uno

37

3.5 Receiver prototype 37 3.6 Receiver side prototype includes the receiver circuit

integrated with Arduino Uno, and LCD display. 38

3.7 The solar charger circuit block diagram is constructed and verified by using Multisim software

38

3.8 Solar charger circuit prototype. 39

xii

3.9 Transmitter circuit integrated with Arduino Uno 40 3.10 Receiver circuit integrated with Arduino Uno 41 3.11 Pin diagram of 16 x 2 LCD display 42 3.12 Arduino software workspace environment 44 3.13 The coding is being compiled and verified 45 3.14 The coding is done compiled. No error is detected. 45 3.15 The serial monitor shows the result 46 3.16 Flowchart of transmitter coding. 47 3.17 Flowchart of receiver coding. 48 4.1 The simulation result of the solar charger circuit by

using Multisim software 52

4.2 The graph of known water amount versus the measured water amount

53

4.3 The graph of voltage versus time for conditions of with load, without load and without transmission

55

4.4 The graph of package loss with varied working distance

57

xiii

LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX TITLE

PAGE

APPENDIX A WATER FLOW SENSOR MODEL YF-S201 65 APPENDIX B ARDUINO UNO 66 APPENDIX C RADIO FREQUENCY 433MHz MODULE

SPECIFICATION 70

APPENDIX D CODING OF ARDUINO UNO IN TRANSMITTER 71 APPENDIX E CODING OF ARDUINO UNO IN RECEIVER 75 APPENDIX F PACKAGE REMAINED RESULT IN SERIAL

MONITOR 78

APPENDIX G §15.231 PERIODIC OPERATION IN THE BAND 40.66-40.70 MHZ AND ABOVE 70 MHZ.

81

xiv

ABBREVIATION LIST

mcu Microcontroller unit RF Radio Frequency PCB Printed Circuit Board LCD Liquid Crystal Display PV Photovoltaic IV Current Voltage Ni-CD Nickel Cadmium Ni-MH Nickel Metal Hydride DC Direct Current CAD Computer-Aided Design dB Decibels LOS Line-of-sight dBm Decibel in milliwatts AF Audio frequency FCC Federal Communications Commision USA United States of America ISM Industrial, Scientific and Medical ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange TX Transmitter RX Receiver I/O Input/output USB Universal Serial Bus GND Ground VCC Voltage at the Common Collector VEE Voltage at the Emitter RS Register select R/W Read/write EN Enable DB Data byte LED Light emitting Diode L Liters IC Integrated circuit PIC Programmable Interface Controller ASK Amplitude Shift Keying

1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Today, sustaining the power demand for microelectronics is a vital issue. The energy

storage growth has not been able to keep up with the development of

microprocessors, memory storage, and wireless technology applications. Supplying

sufficient electrical power is one of the major bottlenecks preventing the further

miniaturization of microelectronics such as wireless devices. A continuous source of

electrical energy to replace existing powering methods without battery recharging

periodically would be highly desirable. One method of supplying the required power

for small electronic devices is by harvesting the energy available in its operational

environment.

Energy harvesting, or energy scavenging as the process is sometimes referred to, is

associated with capturing residual energy as a by-product of a natural environmental

phenomenon or industrial process and is therefore considered free-energy.

Harvesting energy power from environment energy sources is an attractive and

progressively more practicable option for several batteries-less micro-scale electronic

systems such as microcontroller units (mcu) and wireless sensor nodes that need to

operate autonomously for a long periods of times without needed batteries

replacement and maintenance. Example of common target energy harvesting source

include energy resulting from solar power source[1-2].

2

Energy harvested from the water flow inside the piping system has the potential to be

developed. But the complexity and cost expenditure are more than the solar power.

Solar power has the advantages of isolated unit structure and it is easier to obtain as

Malaysia is richly endowed by nature, where the mean daily sunshine hours in

Malaysia ranges between 4 to 8 hours per day. Thus, Malaysia receives between

4,000 to 5,000Wh per square meter per day. This means, in one day, Malaysia

receives enough energy from the Sun to generate 11 years worth of electricity [3].

This is an incredible potential amount of energy into which Malaysia can tap. This

high scale power generated by the sun has proven that the workability of the

photovoltaic used in smaller power scale device such as digital water meter.

The metering is essential for our modern life. It uses a small scale of power to

perform its daily function. The metering system includes water supply, electricity

and domestic fuel etc. The charges incurred by a user can be calculated by using a

metering system. For current typical metering system, four steps are usually involved.

In the first step, a meter records the amount of water and power is consumed by the

customer. Then, a worker records the reading of meter for each user. After that, the

recorded readings input to a computer system to calculate the charge for each

customer. Finally, a bill is generated and mailed to each customer.

Visiting every customer to collect the reading of meter is the current majority

approach for metering. These utility staffers come to home by home to read the

installed analogue water meter that shows the cubic meters consumed, and this

reading is used to compile a bill to send to users. Although the current approach has

been used for very long time, this system is problematic in such a way that meter

reading is often complicated by the absence of tenants who are working during the

day and lock their gates or doors so that utility staff cannot get access to the water-

meters. Hence, it obtains room to improve. First, more manpower is required for

current systems because all customers are visited regularly to collect the readings.

Secondly, the process is time consuming because the data collection may not be

completed in first visit. Finally, accuracy cannot be assured due to human error of

incorrect readings [3].

3

This project presents a solar-powered digital water meter with wireless capability.

The solar power does not require wiring installation and is isolated unit that is easy to

use and implement. Such convenient power source could eliminate the need for

maintenance. Hence, the solar-powered digital water meter has high potential to

replace the current battery based digital water meter where the batteries required.

The system design consists of a photovoltaic solar with rechargeable battery, water

flow sensor, Arduino Uno and 433MHz radio frequency module. The sunlight is

converted into useful electric energy which is stored in battery to power up the

Arduino Uno. The water usage reading will be transmitted to the water meter reading

by using the 433MHz RF transceiver. During the night, the recharged battery

replaces the function of photovoltaic solar to continue powering up the Arduino Uno

to function. This project is to improvise the analogue water meter towards intelligent

wireless digital water meter by using photovoltaic solar as power source.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the projects are:

1. To fabricate the PCB for the solar charger circuit and the microcontroller

based digital water meter with wireless capability system.

2. To improve the accuracy of water meter by replacing the analogue water

meter with digital water meter.

3. To test the complete system as a lab based scale experiment.

4. To analysis the result obtained.

4

1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Figure 1.1: A typical water meter register showing a meter reading of 8.3 gallons.

Notice the black "1" on the odometer has not yet fully turned over, so the red hand is

read in its place.

Flow meters typically contain multiple components that introduce error into the flow

measurement system. A simple flow measurement system may be comprised of a

primary flow element and a transmitter that processes signals from the primary flow

element. Sometimes the primary flow element and transmitter are physically

integrated together as one piece, such as in potable water meters. More complicated

flow measurement systems may include multiple components such as a flow

computer or other electronic components for processing pressure, temperature, or

others parameters.

It should not be forgotten that flow measurement systems are “systems” that measure

flow. As an example, consider a hypothetical primary flow element that exhibits no

error while the transmitter exhibits 5 percent accuracy. In this exaggerated example,

the accuracy of the flow measurement system will be 5 percent. Assuming the flow

measurement error is that of the primary flow element only is an error of omission.

Users should constantly be on guard to identify this type of error.

In most flow meters, the primary flow element and transmitter are integrated

electronically. For example, the wetted primary flow elements of mass flow meters,

thermal flow meters, and magnetic flow meters are virtually useless without

5

transmitters that contain their respective flow measurement algorithms and drivers.

Therefore, flow meter performance typically includes the combination of a primary

flow element and a transmitter. Further, the performance of most flow meters is

predicated on the calibrated output that is usually the pulse/frequency output of the

transmitter.

However, most process control applications of flow meters involve the use of an

analogue output such as 4-20mA to represent 0-100 percent of the desired flow rate.

The analogue signal is typically generated using circuits that convert the pulse or

frequency signal to an analogue signal. This conversion introduces a measurement

error that is constant throughout the signal range, so it can usually be expressed as a

percent of full scale. The error introduced is typically between 0.03 and 0.10 percent

of full scale, depending on the quality of the converter. To obtain the measurement

accuracy of the analogue output, this error is mathematically added to the accuracy

of the flow meter.

The analogue output error may seem small, but at low flow rates, this error can

become significant and actually dominate measurement accuracy. For example,

consider a vortex shedding flow meter that can operate from 10 to 100 units per

minute with 0.75 percent of rate accuracy but has an analogue output accuracy of

0.10 percent of full scale. At 10 units per minute, the pulse/frequency output has an

accuracy of 0.75 percent of rate, whereas the analogue output contributes an

additional (0.1*100/10) or 1.00 percent rate error, so the measurement accuracy of

the analogue output is 1.75 percent of rate [4].

6

1.4 SCOPE

The scope of the project are to;

Fabricate a solar-powered digital water meter based on photovoltaic cell to

produce 5Vdc to supply electricity to the water flow sensor and 5V Arduino Uno

microcontroller;

Off-the shelf Water flow sensor model YF-S201 from Sea water company is used;

Use off-the shelf 433MHz model FS1000A radio frequency transmitter and

receiver module.

Use four AA 1.2v nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries with capacity og

1800mAh.

Multisim is used to simulate the circuit and Proteus is used for PCB design;

Conduct the test within a range of 5 meters;

Assume test is under the ideal condition where the sunlight is shining during day

light;

The prototype is tested on the lab based scale;

Flow rate of the water will not be covered.

1.5 SIGNIFICANT OF THE PROJECT

The solar-powered digital water meter with photovoltaic cell based is an eco friendly

device and could be identified as an add-on value to the residential households. The

utility staff shall compile the bill to the unit easily with a portable meter reading. The

advantages are:

• Customers can get rid of the accumulated reading due to incorrect reading;

• Improve the efficiency and accuracy of metering; and

• Wireless capability enables the staff to access the water usage reading in

anytime.

• Integration of wireless and costless radio frequency where wireless to use to

transmit the data and costless is the wireless transmission requiring no cost.

7

1.6 THESIS STRUCTURE

This thesis consists of five chapters, which are Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Chapter 1

includes the background of study, problem statements, objectives, scope and

significant of the project.

Chapter 2 is about literature review of this project. This chapter studies the

background and the fundamental knowledge of photovoltaic solar and solar charger

circuit. The types of rechargeable batteries and the charging rate of different types of

rechargeable batteries are briefly introduced. This is followed by introducing to the

fundamental of digital water meter, Arduino Uno, radio frequency communication,

radio frequency 433MHz module and lastly the LCD display introduction.

For Chapter 3, it is about to explain the process of undergoing this project. This

chapter consists of two parts, which are hardware development and software

implement. The solar charger circuit and the coding configuration are developed with

the aid of flowchart. The system test performance process also discussed and

procedures are carried out in this chapter.

Chapter 4 describes about the observation results and discussions on these results. the

test of determination on the accuracy of water flow sensor are measured and

discussed. The durability of rechargeable batteries is characterized for with load,

without load and without transmission, total of three conditions. The packages loss of

the data transmission is discussed in the end of this chapter.

Chapter 5 concludes this thesis project followed by recommending some suggestions

for the future works.

8

CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 BACKGROUND OF PROJECT

Current water meter system in Malaysia is based the collecting water amount used

shown on the analogue water meter by water supply corporation of each state. The

price of each cubic metre (m3) is according to the price set by the water corporation

of each state as well. Water meters are an important component of a local drinking

water utility for a number of reasons. They allow the utility to:

a) charge customers for the volume of water used;

b) monitor the total amount of water produced and sent to the distribution

system, and;

c) detect and fix leaks in the distribution system.

They allow the customer to:

a) monitor the volume of water they are using;

b) have some control over their water bill;

c) detect and fix leaks at their location, and;

d) take measurement to conserve water.

9

Accurate metering is also required for effective accounting and rate making, to

identify and study peak and non-peak water use, verification of water and cost

savings, the implementation of water efficiency and conservation measures, to allow

the utility to make informed decisions on operations, maintenance, capital investment,

and customer service, and to facilitate and improve management of the water utility.

Water meters are not perfect instruments, and do not always provides accurate

measurements. Over time, as the meter ages, wear and tear on the components and

the accumulation of sediment, lime scale, and impurities reduces the accuracy of the

meter [5]. The accuracy vulnerabilities of the analogue water reading taken as

resulted. Hence, the potential development of wireless digital water meter with solar-

powered has the capability to provide accuracy, precise and efficient water meter

reading and capacity for innovation in Green Technology development with the use

of photovoltaic solar to power up the system.

2.1 PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR

Solar energy is produced from sunlight shining on photovoltaic solar panels. Solar

panel is always referring to photovoltaic solar, or PV cell. Individual solar cells

typically only generate tiny amounts of electricity energy. To make useful amounts

of electricity, these cells are connected together to make a solar module, otherwise

known as a solar panel or, to be more precise, a photovoltaic module.

Photovoltaic is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation

into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic

effect. Solar cells generate most of their electricity directly from sunlight. However,

they also generate electricity on cloudy days and some systems can even generate

very small amount of electricity on bright moonlit nights.

A solar photovoltaic is a low-carbon electricity generator: the sunlight is free and the

system maintenance is extremely low. Solar cells work as light-dependent current

generators. While the open-circuit output voltage depends only relatively slightly on

illumination over decades, the short-circuit current varies directly proportional to

10

light intensity and solar cell area. The delivered power is however not quite linear. It

is slightly reduced due to its voltage dependence and internal peripheral leakage

currents. These effects become more considerable the smaller the cell area and lower

the light intensity. Brightness is the term that describes how intense a light source is

perceived by the human eye and is measured in lux (lx) [7].

2.2 SOLAR CHRGER CIRCUIT THEORY

Figure 2.1: Typical solar charger circuit.

In energy harvesting systems, an energy buffer is used to store the intermittently

energy available from the energy harvester. The stored energy is then used to power

the system. The commonly used energy buffers include rechargeable batteries of

different chemistries, as well as super capacitors.

Solar cells are inherently inefficient devices, but they do have a point of maximum

power output, so operating at that point seems an obvious design goal. The problem

is that the IV characteristic of maximum output power changes with illumination. A

monocrystalline solar cell’s output current is proportional to light intensity, while its

voltage at maximum power output is relatively constant , as can be seen from Figure

2.1.