Seminar Report 2015 ABSTRACT Today in this digitized world, if the fuel indicator in the automobiles is also made digital it will help to know the exact amount of fuel available in the fuel tank. The above furnished fact is considered in our project and we found out a proper solution for indicating the exact availability of fuel in the tank digitally . Here, we are indicating the amount of fuel in the tank in litres . This value in litres will be in numerical digits (ex:1.2, 1.3, 1.4). This project mainly concentrates about the indication of fuel level in two- wheeler tanks . Various other features like the distance can be travelled to the corresponding fuel , is added with this arrangement which will explain the clear performance of the vehicle to the corresponding fuel. Dept of AU KMCT PTC 1
Today in this digitized world, if the fuel indicator in the automobiles is also made digital it will help to know the exact amount of fuel available in the fuel tank. The above furnished fact is considered in our project and we found out a proper solution for indicating the exact availability of fuel in the tank digitally . Here, we are indicating the amount of fuel in the tank in litres . This value in litres will be in numerical digits (ex:1.2, 1.3, 1.4). This project mainly concentrates about the indication of fuel level in two- wheeler tanks . Various other features like the distance can be travelled to the corresponding fuel , is added with this arrangement which will explain the clear performance of the vehicle to the corresponding fuel.
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Seminar Report 2015
ABSTRACT
Today in this digitized world, if the fuel indicator in the automobiles is also made digital it
will help to know the exact amount of fuel available in the fuel tank. The above furnished fact
is considered in our project and we found out a proper solution for indicating the exact
availability of fuel in the tank digitally . Here, we are indicating the amount of fuel in the tank
in litres . This value in litres will be in numerical digits (ex:1.2, 1.3, 1.4). This project mainly
concentrates about the indication of fuel level in two- wheeler tanks . Various other features
like the distance can be travelled to the corresponding fuel , is added with this arrangement
which will explain the clear performance of the vehicle to the corresponding fuel.
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 1
Seminar Report 2015
1. INTRODUCTION
The analog fuel gauge has two main units, namely the sending unit and the
gauge. Here, when the fuel tank is full, resistance values decreases, current value increases
and when the tank is empty, resistance values increases and current value decreases [1]. The
rear side of the analog fuel gauge has three terminals, namely B-battery, F-float, G-ground.
From these terminals, voltage values are taken from the terminals-FG and resistance value is
taken from the terminal -F from zero to 11 litres. So, for a particular volt value, the
corresponding litres value will be shown in digital. Along with this, fuel mileage is also
displayed in A/D Convertor to the corresponding fuel in the fuel tank. Fuel mileage in
vehicles refers to the relationship between the distances can be travelled by an automobile to
the amount of fuel in the fuel tank.
A fuel level detector (fuel gauge) is a device inside of a car or other vehicle
that measures the amount of fuel still in the vehicle. This type of system can be used to
measure the amount of gasoline or some other type of liquid. It will typically consist of a
sensing or sending unit that measures the amount of fuel actually left and a gauge or
indicator that relays this information outside the fuel container. A fuel gauge can be
designed in a number of different ways and many gauges have several flaws that can make
the readings less than accurate. The two parts of a fuel gauge are the sensing or sending unit
and the indicator or gauge. A sensing unit is the part of a fuel gauge found within or
connected to the actual fuel storage container on a vehicle. In a car these days, for example,
the sensing unit will consist of a float inside the fuel tank, which is connected to a metal rod
that runs to a small electrical circuit. The float raises or lowers depending on the amount of
gasoline in the fuel tank
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 2
Seminar Report 2015
ANALOG FUEL INDICATOR
A fuel gauge (or gas gauge) is an instrument used to indicate the level of fuel contained in
a tank. Commonly used in most motor vehicles, these may also be used for any tank
including underground storage tanks.
As used in vehicles, the gauge consists of two parts:
The sensing unit
The indicator
The sensing unit usually uses a float connected to a potentiometer, typically printed ink
design in a modern automobile. As the tank empties, the float drops and slides a moving
contact along the resistor, increasing its resistance.[2] In addition, when the resistance is at a
certain point, it will also turn on a "low fuel" light on some vehicles.
Meanwhile, the indicator unit (usually mounted on the dashboard) is measuring and
displaying the amount of electric current flowing through the sending unit. When the tank
level is high and maximum current is flowing, the needle points to "F" indicating a full tank.
When the tank is empty and the least current is flowing, the needle points to "E" indicating an
empty tank.
The system can be fail-safe. If an electrical fault opens, the electrical circuit causes the
indicator to show the tank as being empty (theoretically provoking the driver to refill the
tank) rather than full (which would allow the driver to run out of fuel with no prior
notification). Corrosion or wear of the potentiometer will provide erroneous readings of fuel
level. However, this system has a potential risk associated with it. An electric current is sent
through the variable resistor to which a float is connected, so that the value of resistance
depends on the fuel level. In most automotive fuel gauges such resistors are on the inward
side of the gauge, i.e., inside the fuel tank. Sending current through such a resistor has a fire
hazard and an explosion risk associated with it. These resistance sensors are also showing an
increased failure rate with the incremental additions of alcohol in automotive gasoline fuel.
Alcohol increases the corrosion rate at the potentiometer, as it is capable of carrying current
like water. Potentiometer applications for alcohol fuel use a pulse-and-hold methodology,
with a periodic signal being sent to determine fuel level decreasing the corrosion potential.
Therefore, demand for another safer, non-contact method for fuel level is desired.Dept of AU KMCT PTC 3
Seminar Report 2015
Magnetoresistance type fuel level sensors, now becoming common in small aircraft
applications, offer a potential alternative for automotive use. These fuel level sensors work
similar to the potentiometer example, however a sealed detector at the float pivot determines
the angular position of a magnet pair at the pivot end of the float arm. These are highly
accurate, and the electronics are completely outside the fuel. The non-contact nature of these
sensors address the fire and explosion hazard, and also the issues related to any fuel
combinations or additives to gasoline or to any alcohol fuel mixtures. Magneto resistive
sensors are suitable for all fuel or fluid combinations, including LPG and LNG. The fuel level
output for these senders can be ratiometric voltage or preferable CAN bus digital. These
sensors also fail-safe in that they either provide a level output or nothing.
Systems that measure large fuel tanks (including underground storage tanks) may use the
same electro-mechanical principle or may make use of a pressure sensor, sometimes
connected to a mercury manometer.
Many large transport aircraft use a different fuel gauge design principle. An aircraft may use
a number (around 30 on an A320) of low voltage tubular capacitor probes where the fuel
becomes the dielectric. At different fuel levels, different values of capacitance are measured
and therefore the level of fuel can be determined. In early designs, the profiles and values of
individual probes were chosen to compensate for fuel tank shape and aircraft pitch and roll
attitudes. In more modern aircraft, the probes tend to be linear (capacitance proportional to
fuel height) and the fuel computer works out how much fuel there is (slightly different on
different manufacturers). This has the advantage that a faulty probe may be identified and
eliminated from the fuel calculations. In total this system can be more than 99% accurate.
Since most commercial aircraft only take on board fuel necessary for the intended flight (with
appropriate safety margins), the system allows the fuel load to be preselected, causing the
fuel delivery to be shut off when the intended load has been taken on board.
2. PROPOSED SOLUTION
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 4
Seminar Report 2015
This project focuses on creating a device which can help to actively display
the exact amount of fuel and fuel mileage [4] of a motorbike in real time. It involves the
making of the system to provide a mileage indicator which is reliable, easy to read and of
dependable/compatible overall design. The system comprises of Fuel tank, Analog fuel
gauge, Battery, A/D Converter [5] with LCD display [6].
3. METHODOLOGY
In sense of the mileage of any vehicle is affected by some factors which we have consider in Dept of AU KMCT PTC 5
Seminar Report 2015
and also take most economical, useful, intelligent and quick responding sensors to calculate
the effect of the all the factors directly as well as indirectly too. All the sensors are situated on
their particular separate place to perform their operation. Sensors are very efficient quick
responding units. The sensors collect all the data in running vehicle and then the collected
information moves up to the E.C.U. E.C.U. is controlling unit which make command on all
the individual sensors give them power to run and forward the collected data to the C.P.U.
The E.C.U. is electronic control unit. Then the data moves up to the central processing unit
i.e. C.P.U. at this unit the data finally computed into the numeric form by the mean of
programming. All the data from the sensors is converted into the one form of mileage means
HOW MUCH VEHICLE CAN RUN? All the information is in coded form which moves
towards the modulator. Modulator is the unit to modulate the information and finally the data
in display on the digital fuel indicator in a numeric form. To maintain the accuracy level the
C.P.U. has designed. By providing the clearance in data computation there is 3% to 4% of
clearance for sensors errors and immeasurable factors so the information as given by system
as near as actual. Thus the modified type intelligent fuel indicator system operates.
4. COMPONENTS
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 6
Seminar Report 2015
Pic 16F877A Microcontroller
It is an 14-bit words microcontroller and has 8KB of Flash programmable and
erasable read only memory. It has an operating frequency of DC-20Mhz.
LCD
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen is an electronic display module and finds a wide
range of applications. A 16x2 LCD display is very basic module and is very commonly used
in various devices and circuits. These modules are preferred over seven segments.
Analog fuel gauge
It is a device which shows the amount of petrol in petrol tank .(EMPTY ,
HALF , FULL ) . It is used in most of the two-wheelers.
Petrol Tank with Float
It is used to store petrol in two-wheelers. Float is an object which sinks over the petrol
inside the petrol tank to measure the amount of petrol left in the tank.
A/D Converter
It is a device which converts analog value into digital value.
Battery
A 12 volt 7Ah battery is used to give supply to Analog fuel gauge , A/D converter
along with LCD.
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 7
Seminar Report 2015
5. EXPERIMENTATION METHOD
The rear side of the analog fuel gauge [7] has three terminals, namely F, G and
B. From these terminals, we had taken terminals-FG as constant and collected the voltage
values from those terminals to the corresponding litres in the petrol tank. By removing the
terminal-F separately from the setup, we had taken resistance values from that terminal, to the
corresponding litres in the petrol tank. The volt and resistance values was taken with the help
of multi-meter. The current is obtained by using the formula, I = V/R.
Rear view of analog fuel gauge connected with multi meter to measure potentials at
different fuel levels of tank as in figure
F - Float
G - Ground
B - Battery
Mileage obtained at various speed intervals
Here the mileage value is taken for 1 litre of petrol and the distance travelled [8]
corresponding to it is tabulated below at various speed intervals.
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 8
Seminar Report 2015
SPEED
MILEAGE OBTAINED
(km/lt)
(km/
hr)
SINGLE
PERSON
DOUBLE
PERSON
LOAD LOAD
10 51 48
20 54 51
30 56 53
40 60 57
50 58 55
60 56 53
70 50 46
80 44 41
90 28 25
So , the average mileage for both single person and double person load will be around
50 (km/ltr).
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 9
Seminar Report 2015
6. DESCRIPTION
In our project the main blocks are micro controller unit, fuel level sensor and LCD
display unit. The fuel level detection circuit is used to detect the level of the fuel in the tank;
here sensors are placed at certain place to find out the fuel level and the signal is sent to the
micro controller unit for further operations.
Here sensor is placed at fuel tank to sense the fuel level and the signal from that
sensor is sent to the micro controller unit to decide the exact level [9] information. When the
fuel level reaches the top level sensor which means that the tank is full and this will be
indicated to the user by means of maximum tank level and the level information is indicated
through LCD.
The LCD connected with vehicle which showing the present fuel level as 2.1 litres
and the distance can be travelled as 105 Kilometer.
Most of the basic display unit will indicate empty, half, full with analog display [9] but
the market available digital display units were displays the information in terms of percentage
but our proposed method will displayed in terms of exact fuel level and these information are
preprogrammed according to the sensor positional values(Resistance-Voltage). The proposed
technique can be improved by adding a buzzer to announce the user about the abnormal
conditions like low level, half level and full levels of the fuel tank.
In this project a float type sensor is placed within the fuel tank the variation of the fuel
can change the position of variable resistance which is connected with the float. The varied
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 10
Seminar Report 2015
resistance can change the voltage of the analog fuel level indicator to show the approximate
value. But the variable resistance from the fuel tank is connected with the analog to digital
converter unit to show the exact quantity of fuel in the fuel tank. The setup can show the
exact value of fuel in the connected LCD and the setup is programmed to show the distance
to zero by considering the rough mileage as 50kmpl. The distance to zero can also be an
accurate by programming the microcontroller by taking the input of present mileage with
respective speeds and tank levels.
Voltage, Resistance, Current and Distance to zero for various fuel levels is tabulated
below ,
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 11
Seminar Report 2015
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 12
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Dept of AU KMCT PTC 13
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Dept of AU KMCT PTC 14
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Dept of AU KMCT PTC 15
Seminar Report 2015
7. CONCLUSION
The A/D converter with LCD was fitted with the Analog fuel gauge of the two-
wheeler and the result was successfully obtained. The A/D converter shows the amount of
fuel in fuel tank in exact litres (EX : 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 ). The A/D converter shows the exact fuel
in litres only when the the fuel in the fuel tank is more then 1 litre. The accuracy level is
upto95 – 98% because the error was around ± 0.2 litres, because the fuel in the fuel tank
was measured on the basis of float level in the tank and we didn’t use any other sensors. It
displays the exact litres on plane roads and shows error value on slope surfaces.
Dept of AU KMCT PTC 16
Seminar Report 2015
7. FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS
In future the proposed technique can be improved by adding fuel cells at different
places of fuel tank to measure exact fuel levels at different conditions like day/night for
particular densities at different altitude conditions of vehicle and a buzzer to announce the
user about the abnormal conditions like low level, half level and full levels of the fuel tank
to refill or warn themselves. The accurate distance to zero can also be done by
programming the microcontroller by taking the input of present mileage with respective