Measuring Water Flow Rate and Volume using Arduino & YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor

SDM COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,

Dharwad-580002
(An autonomous Institution affiliated to
Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi – 590018)

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

A Synopsis on Mini Project-1

“Measuring Water Flow Rate & Volume using

Arduino & YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor”

Submitted by
Mr. Itte Samarpan – USN:2SD22EC401
Mr. Laxman T Hiremani – USN:2SD22EC403
Mr. Nilesh M Kadolkar – USN:2SD22EC406

Students of 5th Semester

Under the guidance of

Dr. Kalmeshwar N Hosur
Department of ECE, SDMCET, Dharwad-02

Academic Year 2023-24

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Measuring Water Flow Rate and Volume using Arduino & YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sl. No. Contents Page No.

1. Introduction 3
2. Objectives 3
3. Block Diagram / Circuit Diagram / Flowchart 4
4. Hardware / Software Tools Used 4
5. Advantages, Disadvantages & Applications 6
6. Expected Outcomes 7

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Measuring Water Flow Rate and Volume using Arduino & YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor

1. Introduction:-
There are a variety of small projects that can be made by interfacing different types
of sensors with Arduino boards. For instance, if we want to measure temperature of
any specific area or in other words make a thermometer using Arduino a temperature
sensor is to be interfaced with Arduino. This course explains how we can measure
the water flow rate & volume using the Arduino.

Measuring flow rate and volume using an Arduino and a flow sensor is a common
application in various fields such as industrial automation, agriculture, and
environmental monitoring. Flow sensors are used to quantify the movement of
liquids or gases through a pipeline, and Arduino microcontrollers provide a cost-
effective and versatile platform for collecting and processing this data. In this
introduction, we'll outline the basic steps to get you started with measuring flow rate
and volume using these components.

In this project, we are going to build a water flow sensor using Arduino. We will
interface the water flow sensor with Arduino and LCD, and program it to display the
volume of water, which has passed through the valve. For this particular project, we
are going to use the YF-S201 water flow sensor, which uses a hall effect to sense the
flow rate of the liquid.

The goal of measuring flow rate and volume using Arduino and a flow sensor,
with data displayed on a 16x2 LCD, is to create a monitoring system that provides
real-time information about the flow of a fluid, such as liquid or gas. This project is
useful in scenarios where precise control or observation of fluid flow is crucial, such
as industrial processes, home automation, or environmental monitoring.

2. Objectives:-
 Real-time monitoring of fluid flow.
 The primary goal is to continuously measure the flow rate and volume of a
fluid (liquid or gas) and display this information in real time.
 Ensure that the system provides accurate and precise measurements of flow
rate and volume.
 Depending on the application, you may incorporate LED indicators to display
alerts or warnings when certain flow conditions are met or exceeded.
 User-friendly design for ease of use.
 Provide a cost-effective solution.
 Display flow rate and volume on an LED display.

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Measuring Water Flow Rate and Volume using Arduino & YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor

3. Circuit Diagram:-
PROPOSED SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE AND IMPLEMENTATION:-

The water flow sensor circuit diagram is shown below to interface a water flow
sensor and LCD (16x2) with Arduino. The connection of the water flow sensor and
LCD (16x2) with the Arduino is given below in table format. Note that the pot is
connected in between 5V and GND and pot’s pin 2 is connected with the V0 pin of
the LCD.

Figure 1. Circuit Diagram

4. Hardware Tools Used:-

1. Arduino Uno:-
Arduino is a new open-source hardware and software system. It has to take attention
of a large technology design and community at affordable cost, which increases its
use with advanced technology. Arduino hardware is a motherboard for making
interaction between objects and suitable computer programming IDE. It is an open-
source electronics platform and a popular choice for creating interactive and
programmable electronic projects. It consists of both hardware and software
components that make it easy for hobbyists, students, and professionals to design
and develop a wide range of projects, from simple LED blinking experiments to
complex robotics and IoT applications.

Figure 2. Arduino Uno

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Measuring Water Flow Rate and Volume using Arduino & YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor

2. 16x2 LCD Display:-

The I2C 16×2 Arduino LCD Screen is using an I2C communication interface. It is
able to display 16×2 characters on 2 lines, white characters on blue background. This
display overcomes the drawback of LCD 1602 Parallel LCD Display in which you'll
waste about 8 Pins on your Arduino for the display to get working.

Figure 3. 16x2 liquid Crystal Display

Connecter and internal threading

Connectors are components that facilitate the electrical and mechanical connection
between different parts of the flow measurement system. In the context of Arduino-
based flow measurement, connectors serve several purposes such as Electrical
Connection, Modularity, Extension, and Ease of Maintenance. Internal threading,
often associated with threaded connectors, plays a specific role in ensuring a secure
and leak-proof connection in fluid-carrying components like pipes, fittings, and
sensors.

3. YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor:-

The sensor has 3 wires RED, YELLOW, and BLACK as shown in the figure below.
The red wire is used for supply voltage which ranges from 5V to 18V and the black
wire is connected to GND. The yellow wire is used for output(pulses), which can be
read by an MCU. The water flow sensor consists of a pinwheel sensor that measures
the quantity of liquid that has passed through it.

The working of the YF-S201 water flow sensor is simple to understand. The water
flow sensor works on the principle of hall effect. Hall effect is the production of the
potential difference across an electric conductor when a magnetic field is applied in
the direction perpendicular to that of the flow of current. The water flow sensor is
integrated with a magnetic hall effect sensor, which generates an electric pulse with

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Measuring Water Flow Rate and Volume using Arduino & YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor

every revolution. Its design is in such a way that the hall effect sensor is sealed off
from the water, and allows the sensor to stay safe and dry.

Figure 4. YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor

5. i. Advantages:-
 Cost-Effective: Arduino boards and components are relatively inexpensive,
making it an affordable solution for measuring water flow compared to
proprietary or specialized equipment.
 Accessibility: Arduino is open-source, and there is a wealth of educational
resources available. This accessibility allows beginners and hobbyists to
learn and apply this technology.
 Ease of Use: Arduino's user-friendly IDE and libraries simplify the
programming and interfacing process. It's suitable for both beginners and
experienced developers.
 Versatility: Arduino can be used with various types of water flow sensors
and can adapt to different flow rate measurement requirements, from low
flow in lab experiments to high flow rates in industrial applications.
 Customizability: Arduino is highly customizable. You can adapt the code
and hardware to your specific needs, add features, and integrate the flow
measurement system into larger projects.

ii. Disadvantages:-
 Limited Accuracy: Arduino-based flow measurement systems may have
limitations in terms of accuracy, especially when compared to specialized,

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Measuring Water Flow Rate and Volume using Arduino & YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor

high-precision flow meters. Calibration and sensor accuracy can impact

measurement precision.
 Limited Flow Range: The range of flow rates that Arduino-compatible
sensors can accurately measure may be limited. High-flow or very low-flow
applications may require specialized sensors.

iii. Applications:-

 Smart Irrigation Systems: Arduino-based flow measurement systems are

used in agriculture for efficient irrigation. By monitoring water flow rates
and volumes, farmers can ensure that crops receive the right amount of water,
reducing waste and conserving resources.
 Water Quality Monitoring: Flow rate & volume measurements are important
in water quality monitoring systems. By tracking the flow of water through
treatment plants or distribution networks, authorities can detect changes in
water quality & respond quickly to ensure safe drinking water.
 Industrial Processes: In manufacturing and industrial processes, it's crucial to
measure and control water flow rates accurately. Arduino-based systems can
monitor flow rates in cooling systems, chemical processes, and other
industrial applications.
 Leak Detection: Flow sensors connected to Arduino can be used to detect
leaks in plumbing systems. Unusual flow rates or unexpected changes can
trigger alerts, helping prevent water damage and conserve water resources.

6. Expected Outcomes:-
 Real-Time Monitoring: With the Arduino and LCD 16x2 display, you can
observe the current water flow rate and volume in real time. This information
is crucial for understanding how water is being used or distributed in a system.
 Flow Rate Display: The LCD display will show the current flow rate in units
like litres per minute (L/min) or gallons per minute (GPM). This allows you
to instantly assess the rate at which water is moving through the system.
 Volume Accumulation: The LCD display will also indicate the cumulative
volume of water that has passed through the sensor since the monitoring
started. This information is helpful for tracking water usage or flow over a
specified period.
 Threshold Alerts: You can program the Arduino to set threshold values for
flow rate or volume. When these thresholds are exceeded, the system can
trigger alerts on the LCD display. This is especially useful for detecting leaks
or abnormal flow rates.
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