Measure Flow and Water Consumption with Flow Meter Sensor and Arduino

Introduction

Welcome to the world of water flow measurement with Arduino! In this guide, we’ll explore how to Measure Flow and Water Consumption with Flow Meter Sensor and Arduino. The YF-S201 sensor offers a precise and reliable way to measure the flow rate of water, making it suitable for applications such as water conservation, irrigation control, and industrial process monitoring. Let’s dive into the details of the YF-S201 water flow sensor and learn how to integrate it with Arduino for accurate flow measurements.

Hardware Required

You will require the following Hardware Components for How to Interface YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor with Arduino.

What is Water Flow Sensor?

The YF-S201 water flow sensor is a Hall effect-based flow sensor designed for measuring the flow rate of liquids, particularly water. It consists of a plastic body with a turbine inside, which rotates in response to the flow of water. The YF-S201 sensor generates electrical pulses proportional to the flow rate, allowing for accurate measurement of water flow. With its compact size, high sensitivity, and low cost, the YF-S201 water flow sensor is ideal for various applications requiring flow rate measurement.

Pinout

Pin Configuration

Features

1. Hall-Effect Sensing: Utilizes a hall-effect sensor to detect the rotation of the rotor, providing accurate flow rate measurements.
2. Compact Design: Compact and lightweight design for easy installation in water pipes or systems.
3. Low Power Consumption: Designed for low power operation, making it suitable for battery-powered applications.
4. Easy Integration: Interfaces with Arduino via digital input/output pins, simplifying the integration process into Arduino projects.
5. Reliability: Provides reliable and consistent flow rate measurements over time, ensuring accurate water consumption monitoring.

Specifications

1. Flow Rate Range:
   • Wide range of flow rates suitable for different water flow applications.
2. Operating Voltage:
   • Wide operating voltage range compatible with Arduino and other microcontroller platforms.
3. Pulse Output:
   • Digital pulse output with a frequency proportional to the flow rate.
4. Accuracy:
   • High accuracy for precise flow measurement.
5. Material:
   • Durable plastic valve body suitable for water applications.

Circuit Diagram

The following circuit shows you the connection of the How to Measure Flow and Water Consumption with Flow Meter Sensor and Arduino. Please make the connection carefully

Circuit Connections

Installing Arduino IDE Software

First, you will require to Download the updated version of Arduino IDE Software and Install it on your PC or laptop. if you Learn How to install the Arduino step-by-step guide then click on how to install Arduino Button given Blow

Code Examples

Calculate Flow

To read the flowmeter, we need to calculate the frequency of the sensor output signal. This involves using an interrupt to count pulses within a specific interval. By dividing the number of pulses by the interval duration in seconds, we can determine the frequency.

Once we have the frequency, we can convert it to a flow rate using the K factor, which varies depending on the model of flowmeter being used.

//For more Projects: www.arduinocircuit.com

const int sensorPin = 2;
const int measureInterval = 2500;
volatile int pulseConter;

// YF-S201
const float Kfactor = 7.5;

// FS300A
//const float Kfactor = 5.5;

// FS400A
//const float Kfactor = 3.5;

void ISRCountPulse()
{
  pulseConter++;
}

float GetFrequency()
{
  pulseConter = 0;

  interrupts();
  delay(measureInterval);
  noInterrupts();

  return (float)pulseConter * 1000 / measureInterval;
}

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(sensorPin), ISRCountPulse, RISING);
}

void loop()
{
  // get frequency in Hz
  float frequency = GetFrequency();

  // calculate flow rate L/min
  float flow_Lmin = frequency / factorK;

  Serial.print("Frequency: ");
  Serial.print(frequency, 0);
  Serial.print(" (Hz)\tFlow: ");
  Serial.print(flow_Lmin, 3);
  Serial.println(" (L/min)");
}

Calculate Consumption

If we wish to calculate the volume of water consumed, we can achieve this by performing integration over time.

//For more Projects: www.arduinocircuit.com

const int sensorPin = 2;
const int measureInterval = 2500;
volatile int pulseConter;

// YF-S201
const float Kfactor = 7.5;

// FS300A
//const float Kfactor = 5.5;

// FS400A
//const float Kfactor = 3.5;

float volume = 0;
long t0 = 0;

void ISRCountPulse()
{
  pulseConter++;
}

float GetFrequency()
{
  pulseConter = 0;

  interrupts();
  delay(measureInterval);
  noInterrupts();

  return (float)pulseConter * 1000 / measureInterval;
}

void SumVolume(float dV)
{
  volume += dV / 60 * (millis() - t0) / 1000.0;
  t0 = millis();
}

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(sensorPin), ISRCountPulse, RISING);
  t0 = millis();
}

void loop()
{
  // get frequency in Hz
  float frequency = GetFrequency();

  // calculate flow rate L/min
  float flow_Lmin = frequency / factorK;
  SumVolume(flow_Lmin);

  Serial.print(" Flow rate: ");
  Serial.print(flow_Lmin, 3);
  Serial.print(" (L/min)\tConsumption:");
  Serial.print(volume, 1);
  Serial.println(" (L)");
}

Applications

1. Water Management: Use the YF-S201 sensor for water management applications to monitor and control water flow in residential, commercial, and industrial settings.
2. Irrigation Systems: Integrate the YF-S201 sensor into irrigation systems for measuring water flow rates in agricultural fields, gardens, and landscaping projects.
3. Leak Detection: Utilize the YF-S201 sensor for leak detection in water pipes or systems by monitoring abnormal flow rates and detecting deviations from normal flow patterns.
4. Water Consumption Monitoring: Incorporate the YF-S201 sensor into water consumption monitoring systems for tracking water usage in households, buildings, and utilities.
5. Fluid Dispensing: Integrate the YF-S201 sensor into fluid dispensing systems for controlling the flow rate of liquids in applications such as beverage dispensers, chemical dosing systems, and fuel pumps.

Conclusion

With its advanced features and versatile applications, the YF-S201 water flow sensor offers endless possibilities for flow measurement in Arduino projects. Whether you’re managing water, irrigating crops, detecting leaks, monitoring water consumption, or dispensing fluids, the YF-S201 provides accurate and reliable flow rate measurements for enhanced functionality and performance. Let’s embark on the journey of measuring flow and water consumption with Arduino and unlock the potential of water flow sensing technology!