An application for the efficient use of potable water

Fahri Ayberk Bağcı, Mürvet Kırcı, Ece Olcay Güneş

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

ITU Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey

bagcif@itu.edu.tr, ucerm@itu.edu.tr, ece.gunes@itu.edu.tr

Abstract— An automatic water distribution system has been

developed to take the best usage from a spring water resource.

The automation problem is solved by defining all mechanical and

electrical constraints. The problem also consists the default

characteristics of situation and needs. This system consists of

water source (spring), water distribution pipelines, two water

tanks belongs to separate villages and automatic control unit.

Keywords— Embedded system design; water resource planning;

System modelling component;

I. INTRODUCTION

To find potable water which is the first indispensable need of man, is an indisputable fact. A growing population and industrialization cause environment and water pollution. Therefore, the problem of finding clean and drinkable water is one of the most important and emerging problems in the World. Therefore potable water obtained from the water source most efficient, clean, less energy expenditure (consumption) and also supplied to the user is very important. In Turkey, as in the whole world, proper evaluation work of drinking water resources is done. In Turkey, underground water potential is 14 billion m3. Aboveground and underground water potential is 112 billion m3 per year, and 44 billion m3 of this are used. Turkey is not a rich country in terms of potable water, each source of water is important to evaluate correctly. The springs, the sources of potable water constitute 28 billion m3 of surface waters in Turkey. This spring water, to ensure the proper use of systems development work has attracted the attention of researchers in recent times. Water researchers as well as design and system engineers to do work on this issue has led to new research possibilities.

The problem of control of water resources has been the part of environmental, agricultural, economy and health subjects. After the obtained water from source, there are also some problems such as distribution, wasting and control. Tavares has studied theoretically about water distribution network. He has developed nonlinear dynamical models and controllers to monitor the level of the water in the canal system of NuHCC in Portugal [1]. Lemos et. al. have developed an application of LQG centralized and distributed fault tolerant control to a water delivery canal in the presence of actuator faults [2]. Palkar et. al. have improved a control system based on SCADA (supervisory control and acquisition) for water supply system of urban. This system is a large scale water delivery system including pumping station, filtering units, storage tanks, piping distribution network and central dispatch unit [3]. Baume et.al. have developed models and

controllers for irrigation canal systems characterizing by time delays, non-linear features and interactions among subsystems [4]. Corriga et. al. have used structural Petri nets for modelling of irrigation canal networks [5]. Because of diverse and comprehensive literature, it was examined only the water channel networks and control of water levels and pressure.

In this study, a virtual water resources automation problem is solved by defining all mechanical and electrical constraints. The problem also consists the default characteristics of situation and needs. This system consists of water source (spring), water distribution pipelines (transfer water to a factory for use in the production of drinking water), two water tanks belongs to separate villages (to the accumulation of excess water) and automatic control unit.

Choice machine algorithm is used for solving the problem. Electronic platform on which to run the algorithm, the system features expected, considering that the unit is divided into different tasks. The characteristics of each unit, tasks, and equipment planned to be used is determined. Defined as functional elements of the system with electronic equipment separately tested and where necessary proposing equivalent circuits are designed and manufactured.

Hardware platform and all the units brought together in an experimental manner equivalent circuit of the system can be monitored in real-time and transferred to the computer to be observed by the user.

II. MATERIAL AND METHODS

A. Problem

Intended embodiment is a remote monitoring and automatic control system of a water supply. Virtual water supply gives the water to be used in a factory complexes. Water supply shows a huge difference flow rates over the years under many seasonal effects. A certain amount of water generated in the total should be primarily forwarded to the factory so that source can be used efficiently in all conditions. Once this condition is met, the water will be stored at equal levels in two separate tanks to use as potable water in residential near the source. After the deployment process, increasing water will be released into the nature again. The problem mentioned above is solved by an automation system controlled by a choice machine algorithm.

B. Modelling of Water Supply Autamation System

Two village store, due to geographical conditions, the main source facility is unable to connect with wired communication is assumed. Therefore "Storage Nodes" placed in the store has to communicate wirelessly by the central control unit. The waterways system, two outgoing "Hotlines" for each store, two "Conveyance Lines" for the plant and one "Flood Hotline" to protect the facilities from very high spring flow is made. These five different lines from the water onto the arriving points will be redirected by using the choice machine algorithm. The algorithm will generate commands to control opening and closing of each valve. It is considered that there is a flow meter to measure the water flow rate on each line. A chart of the mechanical structure of the system is shown in Fig.1.

Fig.1 Mechanical structure of the system

C. States and Conditions of the System

Choice machine algorithm is based on the following system states and conditions. ..

To ensure the flow of water as a minimum total 10lt/h flow rate in factory line is a priority.

The level of water to be transferred to the tank has to be observed continuously.

The difference of two-tank water level should not be more than 30% of the total volume.

A flood line must be available in the system.

The water level of each tank rises above 95%, the corresponding tank is necessary to disconnect the water supply.

If it cannot be got any recent data from any tank, will not be supply

System operations and all measured values will be transmitted to a computer or a mobile device.

Mobile device does not receive data for a certain period to date should try to reconnect.

D. Iimits of the System

The water supply can provide maximum 100 l/s

flow rate

Facility is assumed to be strength to sudden

changes in water flow, resistance from inertia

and surface effects.

Each of the water channel has equal diameter so

that the water from the source is divided into

equal flow is assumed.

The maximum flow rate in each line used in the

system allows 40lt / h.

Valves regulating water flow can be opened and

closed quickly enough.

E. Choice Machine Algorithm

In order to solve the problems described above, operation

of the system is simply explained by a flow diagram. Basic

inputs and outputs of the system are the flow rate of water

supply, water level information of both stores, and the output

of all valves open / closed position knowledge respectively.

Operation of the system will be provided with the choice

machine algorithm. A simple block diagram for this algorithm

is shown in Fig.2.

Fig.2 Block diagram of choice machine algorithm for the system

III. DESIGN AND IMPLEMANTATION OF THE SYSTEM

For solving the above-mentioned problem, an electronic microcontroller-based system has been implemented to collect and interpret the data taken from industrial sensors which are scheduled water level and flow rates. The aim of the hardware is to interpret sensor inputs, to run the choice machine algorithm, to ensure control of the valves and to feed the user interface about the functioning of all process. The elements constituting the hardware platform, content and their tasks are detailed below.

Central Control Unit: The main task of the central control unit is to rush the choice machine algorithm. The main task of the central control unit, the choice is to rush machine algorithm. In order to handle inputs and outputs of this flow, is run DN033-based "Control Card Code" on MSP430F1611 microcontroller located on the SA Control Card.

Fig.3 Central Control Unit.

Drain Control Unit: Drain Control Unit of the system as a bridge between wired and wireless connections are assumed. It controls all the data being transferred by RF and RS232 protocols. Drain Control Unit consists of TEDAS Node RF V2.1 and TEDAS Sink Card.

Fig.4 Sluice Control Unit.

Tank Nodes: There are two storage nodes in the hardware platform. These nodes controls the level of occupancy of each water tank and the readings obtained with the RF link transfers to the Sluice Control Unit. Tank Nodes consists of TEDAS No. RF V2.1 and Prosonic T FMU30 Ultrasonic Level Meter.

Fig.5 Tank Nodes

User Interface Unit: UIU transmits the knowledge of tank water levels, flow rates of transmission, tank and flood flow lines, and the status of valves to PC, tablet PC or mobile phone.

UIU consists of TEDAS Node RF V2.1, TEDAS Sink Card and RF232.

Fig.6 User Interface Unit.

The entire system is electromechanical property. Therefore, for the realization of system flow, electronic hardware platform has to be positioned on the water supply mechanical system according to their duties and to be ensured integration. Electronic control of line valves and flow rate meters will be provided by the Central Control Unit, so this unit is also located in the same building where is water supply. Sluice Control Unit communicates with Central Control Unit via RS232 connection, so it will have to be found close to this unit. Tank nodes which they are attached will be found on the tank.

All electronic hardware units in the system were individually designed and implemented. After passing test, the units were integrated with the mechanical system. The integrated electromechanical system is shown in Fig.7

Fig.7 The integrated electromechanical system

Design tests of flowmeter control circuit, ultrasonic measuring circuit and the relay control circuit were conducted using the equivalent circuit of them. Flow meter control circuit, subscribe to flowmeter analog outputs, connected to the Central Control Unit, enables the interpretation of the measurements and verification.

The relationship between Central Control Unit and the flow-meter shows with current-ADC (analog digital converter)-flow-rate value transforms. The accuracy of working has been tested mathematically calculation of the current-flow rate equation and with the values of active working. Eq. (1-3) shows this relation.

[mA] (1)

[12bit ADC] (2)

[lt/s] (3)

SA Control Card is used for this purpose. Results via PC connection using Hyper Terminal program was recorded. Comparative graphics of ADC and flow rate is shown in Fig.8.

Fig.8 Comparative Graphics of ADC and Flow rate

IV. CONCLUSION

Special products such as electronically controlled valve, electromagnetic flow-meter and ultrasonic level meter have been functionally tested for working together with the control units, and recorded measurements.

The equivalent circuits belonging to industrial sensors and electronically controlled valves have been designed and manufactured experimentally. Also these circuits have been audited for compliance with the system.

Choice machine algorithm is embedded a micro-controller based system contains many control units.

REFERENCES

[1] I. da Veiga Tavares, “Decentralized and reconfigurable control for water

delivery multipurpose canal systems”, Dissertac¸ Novembro – 2011

[2] J. M. Lemos, I. Sampaio, M. Rijo and L. M. Rato “Actuator Fault Tolerant LQG Control of a Water Delivery Canal”, 2013 Conference on Control and Fault-Tolerant Systems (SysTol) October 9-11, 2013. Nice, France

[3] P. Palkar , S. Patil, P. Belagali and A. Chougule, “Automation in drinking water supply distributed system and testing of water” IOSR Journal of Electronics & Communication Engineering (IOSR-JECE) ISSN : 2278-2834, ISBN : 2278-8735, PP : 36-38 www.iosrjournals.org

[4] J.P.Baume, J. Sau and P.O. Malaterre, “ Modelling of irrigation channel dynamics for controller design”. In Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 1998. 1998 IEEE International Conference on, Volume 4, oct, pp. 3856–3861. 1998.

[5] G. Corriga, , A. Giua and G. Usai (1997). “Petri net modeling of irrigation canal networks”, Intemational Workshop on the Regulation of Irrigation Canals: State of the Art of Researchand Applications, RIC97, Marrakech (Morocco), pp. 39–48.

[6] Texas Instruments, 2008, Design Note DN007 2.4GHz Inverted F Antenna, http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/swrs070a/swrs070a.pdf, last acces December 2013

[7] Texas Instruments, 2004, Application Note DN033 Porting of RF Blinking LED Software Example to CC2420-MSP430, http://www.ti.com/lit/an/swra059a/swra059a.pdf, last acces December 2013

[8] Endress+Hauser, 2007, Technical Information Proline Promag 50H, 53H, https://portal.endress.com/wa001/dla/5000319/0453/000/06/ TI00048DEN_1312.pdf, last acces December 2013

Flow rate