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Wireless Sensor Based Energy Saving System

Naveed Akbar, Tahir Maqsood Department of Computer Science, CUST University Abbottabad nam_065@yahoo.com tahir_maqsood@ciit.net.pk

Abstract One of the biggest threats to modern life is energy crisis. But we can not hide this fact that energy is most importance for the survival of modern life and is needed in every sector of life. In Pakistan, the energy crisis is at on its peak especially electric energy. All major industries, businesses, institutions, organizations, factories and mills rely on electricity. We know that Prosperity of a country is directly linked with the supply of energy. (Shahzadi, I. 2011). If the deficiency of electricity will not be solved than economically it will harm our country. Yet our production is far less than our growing needs as a result we have suffering with load shedding. The problem can be overcome by efficient use of electricity. The paper describes the way how we can control the energy crisis through the use of wireless sensor at homes, offices, banks etc. The energy is allowed to utilize only when it is needed. This is done by using an IR sensors and temperature sensor. The paper emphasizes on utilization and throughput of energy from the maximum availability.

Keywords : Infrared (IR) Sensor, Wireless Sensors, Energy Saving, Switching, Temperature Sensors

Introduction
Wireless sensor based energy system is a system which saves energy through the use of wireless sensors. We are familiar with the importance of wireless sensors in daily use appliances. Wireless Sensors based Energy Saving system can be used within the houses, Schools, Colleges, Banks and even in all institute in order to save power by performing automatic switching

2 ON/OFF lights, fans and other electric instrument. The system especially in term of usage very important that it can be used where disabled persons and small children are living who cannot manual perform switching. System can be applied wherever we want to save the power. This system can provide an efficient and effective use of energy, save power, make electrical connections automatic. The switching of light is performed by detecting motion via IR sensor and temperature is controlled via temperature sensor. The temperature and other necessary information displayed on liquid crystal display (LCD) for security purpose. Hence system provides security as well. The components used in the system are cheaper in prices so that the system would be in reach of every person.

Existing Work
In past, lots of work had been done on the energy saving techniques. Different researchers and scientists applied their own thinking capability to design different type of systems. One of the system based on energy saving is Intelligent Energy Saving System. Intelligent Energy Saving System can be used in places like where lighting is very important. The libraries will be well illuminated with many lamps. When people are not present at a reading place the lighting can be made OFF and when they are present, the lighting made ON. All these can be done through by Dimming circuit and PIR sensor. Another closely related system is temperature control system, temperature sensor detects the current temperature and display the value on the LCD. Microcontroller will read data from temperature sensor which is in output voltage. The system operates in three different conditions depending on the range of temperature. If the current value of temperature is higher than desired value, the fan will start functioning and LED indicator for high temperature will on. Then, if the current temperature is equal to desired value, the fan stop functioning and LED indicator for normal state temperature will on. Finally, if the current temperature is lower than desired

3 value, fan will not functioning and LED indicator for cold temperature will on. Any changes in the room are continuously displayed on the LCD. In addition the LEDs are used to indicate the current state and range of temperature in the server room. (Faris bin Zulkifl, A. 2009). Another system that is related with current work is automatic door. Automatic door opening systems using IR sensors plays a very important role in domestic applications. The elimination of manual supervision adds up as an additional advantage for its usage. Its significance can be proved by considering the following specialties of kit designed. Another related project was designed to save the energy named as electronic card lock system. This project titled Microcontroller based Bidirectional Visitor counter is designed and presented in order to count the visitors of an auditorium, hall, offices, malls, sports venue, etc. The system counts both the entering and exiting visitor of the auditorium or hall or other place, where it is placed and then perform switching of Electrical appliances. This system can be economically implemented in all the places where the visitors have to be counted and controlled. Since counting the visitors helps to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of Employees, floor area and sales potential of an organization, etc. Although lots of work has found but still it is needed to design a system that is enough in every aspect whether it is cost, efficiency, speed, modularity, security and scalability.

Discussion
The project is named as "Wireless Sensor based Energy saving system" as it saves energy through the use of wireless sensors including IR sensor, temperature sensor and light depending resistor ( LDR). The project is provided with two functionalities, First it detects the motion of body and the lights switch ON. The detection is done very intelligently, the placement of sensor is placed in such

4 away that it detects only human body, the distance between sensors are also important in this constraint. The distance is kept in such away that motion of person can easily be detected by a required IR sensor. Two IR sensors are fitted at entrance of room with almost 2 meter distance from each other named as A and B, if sensor A is interrupted and then sensor B is interrupted it means someone enter the room but if sensor B is interrupted and then sensor A is interrupted then someone leaving the room. The number of people entering the room is also counted for accuracy and security purposes. And on the basis of whether the person enters the room, the lights switch ON only if light is insufficient in the room. The entrance of person is sensed in this way if sensor A ray is cut followed by the sensor B ray is cut then it means someone enter the room similarly if sensor B is firstly sensed and then sensor A , it means someone leaving the room.

Fig. 1: Energy Saving System (Naveed, unpub. )

Another important functionality that increase the importance and make this system is unique in a sense before switching ON the lights after motion detection first it checked whether there is sufficient light or not, if there is sufficient light then do not Switch ON light. The intensity of light is checked by LDR. Secondly via temperature sensor, the temperature of the room is sensed and fan is ON in accord to keep freshness in the room. The spin of fan is controlled by the code implemented on the basis of ambient temperature. The speed of fan is directly proportional to the room temperature. Greater the temperature greater will be the speed of fan and vice versa. The temperature is

5 sensed and displayed on the LCD. All the above functionality is done via C language programming in MikroC. Logically system is designed in proteus and microcontroller used is PIC18F452 due to its capacity, more number of pins and easily availability of tools.

Conclusion
The cause to save the energy is very important aspect now a days especially in Pakistan. The problem can be overcome by efficient use of electricity or to develop advanced methods to make the environment intelligent to save the energy through advanced systems. Its very important to provide an opportunity to the people, so that they can efficiently and effectively utilize the energy. By keeping in mind these things we have decided to provide an ultimate solution in order to reduce wastage of energy. The system covered all aspects that are necessary to reduced wastage of energy and it is in reach of every person by cost. The people can easily implement it into their homes, offices, shops, institutes, mosques or everywhere there people are irresponsible in performing manual switching. As we know that with modernizing the world how important is Automation.

References Faris bin Zulkifl, A. (2009), Automatic Room Temperature Control with Security System, Malaysia [online] available at: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/397/1/3315.pdf [accessed 27 May
2011]

Birt, B. & Newsham, G. R. (2009), Energy savings from photosensors and occupant sensors/wall switches on a college campus, Istanbul, Turkey. Millman, J. & Christos C. (2003), Electronic Devices And Circuits, Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd, London. Shahzadi, I. (2011), Energy crisis: load shedding, The DawnNews, 05 March 2011: p 5. Yang, E.S. (1978), Fundamentals of Semiconductor Devices, chap.1, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York.