International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 7, July 2012)

100

A Novel Water Level Monitoring and Control of a Large
Building Using NI LabVIEW
Rajat Thakral
1
, Dr. S. Chatterji
2
, Shimi S.L
3

1
M.E Student,
2
Professor and Head,
3
Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering Department, NITTTR, Chandigarh, India
Abstract This paper presents a novel concept of water
level monitoring and control. The investigator has developed
highly powerful water level controlling software by using NI
LabVIEW, which is capable of controlling water level of
multistory buildings, large public building or even water
supply and demand of large building complex. This software
will also give direction regarding water storage, water level in
each tank, automatic switching on of water pump on low level
of water in the tank, storage value, protection of pump set,
alarming system on under level or full tank etc .
Keywords NI LabVIEW, Water level monitoring, level
control, automatic water management, building water control
system.
I. INTRODUCTION
With the fast development of smart buildings, it is
observed by the researchers that it is difficult to establish
mathematical model when the problem that energy-
efficiency in water supply system of an smart building tank
is focused, because that the outflow of the tank volume is
volatile when the water is daily living water. In this paper,
a graphical model is developed using PID controller tuning
to maintain a fluid level at setpoint in any small or large
building complex. NI LabVIEW software is used to
develop this powerful controlling system [1].
Traditional Proportional Integral Derivative (PID)
control is frequently used in current industrial field. As the
control parameters are fixed, the tuning results are hard to
meet up the demands and the system is unstable or even out
of control [2]. In order to solve these problems, investigator
has developed graphical programming based PID controller
to control the level of tank. This is working excellent and
its efficiency is very high.
II. BASIC AND ADVANCE MODEL
The investigator has developed two different models.
First model is basic model which can be used in small
buildings.




The advance model contains many other functionality
and suitable for large buildings or system.
III. BASIC MODEL
The basic model of water level monitoring and
controlling system is shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 2
shows the output section which contains one water tank,
which will be filled with water by using pipes, from the
storage.

Fig. 1: Output section of front panel of basic model
Fig. 2 is the front panel of control and monitoring
section of basic model which contains on/off control,
setpoint, water level indicator, meters etc.

International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 7, July 2012)
101


Fig. 2: Front panel of control and monitoring section of basic model
Components of basic model: The main components of this
model are on/off control, different indicators etc. which are
discussed below.
On/Off control: This makes the flow of water inside the
tank on or off.
Filling and drainage of water: Filling makes the flow of
water inside the tank and drainage makes draining of water
from the water tank.
Tank water level indicator: It indicates the real time water
level inside the tank.
Storage water level indicator: In all water supply systems ,
there are main storage from where water is pumped to the
tank. This indicator indicates the real time storage level.
Setpoint : Setpoint is used to decide the level of water
inside the water tank. By changing the setpoint the water
level inside the water can be changed.
Water level : This shows the real time water level inside the
tank and also the change in level will be visible in real
time.
Water level chart : This chart shows following three
different parameters :
Water level inside the tank
Setpoint
Storage level
Water tank: Water tank is shown in the output section of
front panel. It will show the real time tank feeling in
graphical presentation.
Water storage: Water storage is also shown in the output
section of front panel. [3,4]
IV. ADVANCE MODEL
Advance model of water level monitoring and control
system is very much suitable for very large building. It
contains additional control, monitoring, alarming and
protection system. The front panel of advance model is
given in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.
Components of advance model: Advance model include all
the components of basic model. But it has many other
advance controls and features which basic model does not
have. These extra advance components and features are
described below.
Pump voltage: This component shows the real time pump
voltage and its wave shape.









International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 7, July 2012)
102

Fig. 3: Operation of basic model
Under level tank alarm: This alarm gets activated when
the water level inside the tank goes below predefined value.
Not only this but also there is a system which will make the
water pump on automatically when the water level inside
the tank goes below certain value.
Water full tank: When the water inside the tank becomes
full, an indicator will indicate it by green light. When the
tank is not full, the indicator will glow red. In addition to
that when the tank will become full or is equal to setpoint,
the water pump will get off automatically.
Under level storage level: This alarm gets activated when
the water level inside the storage goes below predefined
value. Not only this but also there is a system which will
make the water pump off automatically when the water
level inside the storage goes below certain value.




Fig. 4: Output section of front panel of advance model [11]


International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 7, July 2012)
103

Over voltage water pump alarm: This alarming feature
makes it safe against any over voltage. If there is over
voltage in the main supply, then the water pump can
damage. But this alarming feature will not only give alarm
on over voltage, but also disconnects the pump from the
mains.
Under voltage water pump alarm: This component makes
it safe against any under voltage. If there is under voltage
in the main supply, then the water pump can damage. But
this alarming feature will not only give alarm on under
voltage, but also disconnects the pump from the mains.
[5,6,7,8,9,10]

Fig. 5: Front panel of control and monitoring section of advance
model
V. OPERATION OF BASIC MODEL
The operation of basic model of water level monitoring
and controlling system is shown in Fig. 3. First of all the
program is executed. Then setpoint is fixed according to
the requirement. Then it is found that the controller starts
controlling the system and water starts to go in the tank. At
the same time the level of water inside the storage starts
decreasing. As soon as the tank level reaches setpoint, the
filling of water inside the tank stops. When it required to
drain out the water, draining of water button is pushed
down.
VI. OPERATION OF ADVANCE MODEL
The operation of basic model of water level monitoring
and controlling system is shown in Fig. 6. First of all the
program is executed. Then setpoint is fixed according to
the requirement. The system checks different under voltage
and over voltage condition. If everything is normal, then
water pump starts filling water inside the tanks. At the
same time the level of water inside the storage starts
decreasing. As soon as the tank level reaches setpoint, the
filling of water inside the tank stops. When it is required to
drain out the water, draining of water button is pushed
down. All the alarming and protection circuit insures the
proper functioning of this virtual instrument.
VII. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE INTERFACING
The investigator has used NI ELVIS and NI DAQ card.
But any compatible DAQ card can be used with this virtual
instrument.
VIII. CONCLUSION
The introduction of this virtual instrument is a
revolutionary step in the development of efficient water
level monitoring and control system. It is a complete
integrated system which contains monitoring portion,
controlling portion, alarming and protection portion. It is
very advance system and can be used in small or very large
building successfully. The system is fully automatic and
very easy to use.


International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 7, July 2012)
104

Fig. 6: Operation of advance model
REFERENCES
[1] Jiang Wei Intelligent Building Control of Water Tank Based on
Fuzzy Theory IEEE Conference Publications, 11-12 May 2010
[2] Zhuo Wang , Application of fuzzy controller in drum water-level
control IEEE Mechatronic Science, Electric Engineering and
Computer (MEC), 2011 International Conference, Jilin, 19-22 Aug.
2011
[3] www.ni.com
[4] www.wikipaedia.com
[5] Johnson, Gray W., LabVIEW Power Programming, McGraw-Hill
Professional Publication, 1998










[6] Riccardo de Asmundis, LabVIEW- Modeling, Programming and
Simulations ,InTech Publication, 2011
[7] National Instruments, Data Acquisition Basic Manual,
www.ni.com
[8] National Instruments, LabVIEW Analysis Concept, www.ni.com
[9] National Instruments, LabVIEW user Manual, www.ni.com
[10] Rick Bitter, Taqi Mohuddin, Matt Nawrocki, LabVIEW Advanced
Programming Techniques CRC Press, New york
[11] bdtownship.com