POSEIDON POOL CARECalvin College Senior Design Team 11

Aaron Maley Jeff Overweg

Simeon Eisen Jacob VanderWall

A NICHE IN THE MARKET

There are current pool care systems, but they are not created and marketed to the average residential pool owner.

Current systems range in price from $1200-$7000 for just the controller alone

A product with the features of the high end systems, at a price that residential pool owners can afford would be a very viable real world product

THE PROJECT

To create an affordable chemical control system for the residential pool market.

What Does it Do? Sample pool water at regular intervals

Microprocessor controlled system Dispense chemicals into the pool pump system

Granule feed system Broadcast pool data via website

Wireless module

MICROCONTROLLER SYSTEM

Goal: Use an embedded microcontroller to

control water testing, chemical dispersal, local display, and data being sent to web server.

Major Components and Interfaces: Sensors and Related Circuits Chemical Dispersal Control Local Display/User Interface Analog Data to Web Server

MICROCONTROLLER SYSTEM

Full System Diagram

MICROCONTROLLER SYSTEM

Sensors and Related Circuits Four main sensor inputs

Temp, pH, ORP, Chemical Level

How are the amounts of Chemicals Needed Calculated? Tested regularly (user defined) and dispersed down

to 0.7 oz precision Based on Free Chlorine Calculation and pH readings

FREE CHLORINE CALCULATION

550 600 650 700 750 800 850 9000

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

f(x) = 1.4818570105462E-42 x^14.878438602951R² = 0.999134032453171

f(x) = 3.45301367750068E-58 x^20.0989712494529R² = 0.998415565197075

f(x) = 3.32883049618097E-69 x^23.734034345008R² = 0.999538310985709f(x) = 1.11089362419312E-82 x^28.2095631061152

R² = 0.998221894253147f(x) = 2.96330528734154E-103 x^35.0724486795012R² = 0.997884032039689

Free Chlorine as a Function of pH and ORP6.5

Power (6.5)

7

Power (7)

7.5

Power (7.5)

8

Power (8)

8.5

Power (8.5)

ORP (mV)

Fre

e C

hlo

rine (

ppm

)

MICROCONTROLLER SYSTEM

Local Display/User Interface Graphic LCD Touch Screen Interface

What does this allow the user to do? Directly view relevant information Calibrate probes and sensors Define parameters such as:

Pool Volume Pump Cycle Time pH/ Free Chlorine Thresholds Chlorine “Shock” frequency

MICROCONTROLLER SYSTEM

Data to Web Server Analog Level Created with:

PWM signals passed through a low pass filter

How does the Web Server Interpret Values? Varying Duty Cycles Form Different Voltage

Levels Communication Specification for Analog

Interpretation Defines Relationships

MICROCONTROLLER SYSTEM

Chemical Dispersal Control Digital Control Logic (Stepper Motor Control) Solenoid Valve Channel Control

How the System Disperses the Chemicals

INSTRUMENTATION SETUP

Sensor Chamber Design

DISPENSER

Goal: To create an interface that would utilize the

existing pool pump and filter system to dispense and mix chemicals into the pool water.

Two distinct elements Auger Based Dispenser Diverted Mixing Chamber

MECHANICAL SETUP

Final Mechanical Implementation

Pool

FilterPumpMixing Chamber

Dispenser

MECHANICAL SETUP Dispenser System Design

MECHANICAL SETUP

Actual Dispenser

DISPENSING CALIBRATION

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 500

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

f(x) = 19.5622497998399 xR² = 0.999998095952494

Dispenser Output Mass vs. Auger Rotation

Mass (g)Linear (Mass (g))

Rotations

Outp

ut

Mass (

gra

ms)

STEPPER MOTOR AND SOLENOID CONTROL

WIRELESS WEB SERVER

Goal: To create a basic web server in order to

wirelessly broadcast system readings to the consumer.

Main Components 802.11b Chip/Security Settings Analog Input/Calculations Website Design

WIRELESS WEB SERVER

802.11b Chip/Security Settings Chip/Development Board Selection

Arduino Development Kit Wishield

Security Capabilities Compatible with modern 802.11b/g routers Can utilize 64bit WEP, WPA, WPA2 encryption

WIRELESS WEB SERVER

Analog Input Calculations Varying Duty Cycles + Low Pass Filter Analog Voltage 0V – 5V Communication Specification Determines pH,

ORP, Chemical Status, Temperature

Calculation of Free Chlorine

PWM

+ 0-5 Volts Analog=

Low-Pass Filter

WIRELESS WEB SERVER

Website Design Theoretical Design

WIRELESS WEB SERVER

Actual Page Design

WIRELESS WEB SERVER

System Block Diagram

BUDGET

Total Project Budget Originally given $300 for budget Granted additional money at start of 2nd

Semester

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

Main Competitors: Chemtrol CAT Aquasol

Competitor’s System

Features Price

Chemtrol 250 pH and ORP Controller $1995.00

CAT 4000 pH and ORP Controller + Web Monitoring

$3650.00

Aquasol SPC Controller

pH and ORP Controller $2130.00

Chemtrol PC2000 pH, free Chlorine, Remote interface

$3150.00

SALES & MARKETING

Customer Base Existing( US alone)

5.1 million in-ground pools 3.7 million above-ground pools

Growth( Based on 2007) 131,000 new in-ground pools 233,000 new above-ground pools

Target Demographic Work with BUS 397 Advanced Marketing Class Middle-aged to Elderly in Average Middle to

Upper Middle Class Homes

GOING BEYOND

Different ways project could be enhanced or developed further. Expand Wireless Capability and Complexity Add Online Data Logging Add Wireless System Control Use Precision Designed Mechanical Parts Integrate onto single PCB Develop Business Plan as a Distributer and/or a

Supplier

QUESTIONS