This prototype was developed as the final project for the Computer Engineering program at the State University of Ponta Grossa, Brazil. The entire system was designed, programmed, and built by me and my peer and great friend Maikom André Pasqualotto da Silva under the supervision of Dra. Rosane Falate.
Overview
AquaMIX is an electronic water mixer that allows users to easily set the shower water temperature using a simple interface, ensuring a safe and comfortable bath. AquaMIX is designed to be used in houses with central heating systems (e.g. solar, electric, gas) and eliminates the painful task of manually adjusting the water taps when taking a shower.
If the user selects a temperature above the temperature of the hot water available (a common scenario in houses with solar heating systems), an auxiliary electrical heater is activated only with the power needed to reach the desired temperature. Thus, the user is still able to get water at desired temperature with minimal energy consumption.
User interface
Two buttons are used to increase/decrease the temperature, while a simple display shows the desired value:
Once the user selects a temperature, the electronic system starts to adjust the mixture between hot and cold water while two LEDs provide feedback:
a) Adjusting water temperature (wait): intermittent green LED
b) Adjusting water temperature with the auxiliary heater activated (wait): intermittent green and red LEDs
c) Water temperature was reached (ready): green LED on
d) Desired temperature was not possible: red LED on -> closest possible temperature is displayed -> green LED on
Central unit – mixer and electronic circuit
Central unit and auxiliary heater
