ABSTRACT
This project is designed to monitor the smoke and activate the speaker by using the light dependent
resistor based on PIC microcontroller. Fire alarms are used in the event of a fire or fire drill. They are
activated either manually or automatically. After the fire protection goals are established–usually by
referencing the minimum levels of protection mandated by the appropriate model building code,
insurance agencies, and other authorities–the fire alarm designer undertakes to detail specific
components, arrangements, and interfaces necessary to accomplish these goals. Fire alarms are prime
necessities in modern buildings and architectures, especially in banks, data centers gas stations. They
detects the fire in ambiance at very early stage by sensing smoke or/and heat and raise an alarm which
warns people about the fire and furnish sufficient time to take preventive measures. It not only
prevents a big losses caused by deadly fire but sometimes proves to be save life.
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACK GROUND
A key aspect of fire protection is to identify a developing fire emergency in a timely manner, and to
alert the building's occupants and fire emergency organizations. This is the role of fire detection and
alarm systems. This project is entitled smoke detector fire alarm. The main aim of the project is to
provide best security from fire asserts by using new technology. A smoke detector is strictly a sensing
device, which senses the products of combustion or smoke and sends a signal to a buildings fire alarm
system to activate an audible and sometimes visual warning or alarm. It operates by using light
dependent resistor which can be used as a sensor to create a smoke detection alarm systems and can be
used in industries, residential, universities, offices and different companies to protect the goods,
security ware houses etc.
A fire alarm circuit is very useful for security reasons. Equipment specifically manufactured for these
purposes are selected and standardized installation methods are anticipated during the design. The key
advantage of smoke detectors is their ability to identify a fire while it is still in its incipient. As such,
they provide added opportunity for emergency personnel to respond and control the developing fire
before severe damage occurs. They are usually the preferred detection method in life safety and high
content value applications.
The disadvantage of smoke detectors is that they are usually more expensive to install, when compared
to thermal sensors, and are more resistant to inadvertent alarms. However, when properly selected and
designed, they can be highly reliable with a very low probability of false alarm. A smoke detector is a
device that senses Smoke typically as an indicator of fire or nonsmoking Zone. Commercial and
Residential security devices issue a signal to a fire alarm control as part of fire alarm system, while
household detectors, known as smoke alarms, generally issue a local audible or visual alarm from the
detector itself. Smoke detectors are typically housed in a disk-shaped plastic enclosure about 150
millimeters (6 in) in diameter and 25 millimeters (1 in) thick, Most smoke detectors work either by
optical detection or by physical process, while others use both detection methods to increase
sensitivity to smoke
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Our proposed fire alarm system is designed and simulated to solve the problems. This section will
describe the basic aspects of fire detection and alarm systems. A key aspect of fire protection is to
identify a developing fire emergency in a timely manner, and to alert the building's occupants and fire
emergency organizations. This is the role of fire detection and alarm systems which can provide
several main functions. First they provide a means to identify a developing fire through either manual
or automatic methods and second, they alert building occupants to a fire condition and the need to
evacuate after the fire is broken out the water pipe controlling motor pump the water to the fire to.
1.3 OBJECTIVE
1.3.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this project is to design and simulate smoke detecting fire alarm
system.
1.3.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
To study how to develop smoke detector fire alarm systems.
To sense smoke using light dependent resistor.
To know about smoke detector fire alarm theory.
To facilitate a device that can detect smoke.
To sound the alarm if the smoke occurs.
The smoke fire alarm detector systems should be flexible enough to be easily modified and provide the
flexibility to adjust the smoke sensitivity levels as per the operating environment without any
ambiguous state or as normal state in order to avoid any confusion.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
In order to achieve the objective of the project, there are several scope had been outlined. The scope of
this project includes using PIC microcontroller for simulating smoke detector fire alarm to program.
The project focuses on the C- code. PIC16F877A used to reduce size and cost comparing to the model
that uses separated CPU, memory and I/O devices PIC also provides a benefit of controlling non
digital electronic systems. The microcontroller does not need the computer to operate. It can work by
itself since all the code is written on it. This project has been organized into five chapters with
introduction as chapter 1 deals with introduction, background, statement of problem, objectives, scope
and limitation, and significance of the project. Chapter 2 studies about the literature review, Chapter 3
deals with the methodology, system design, major components and Chapter 4 deals with the analysis
the expected results and discussions of smoke detector fire alarm circuit and chapter 5 explains about
conclusions and future work of the project.
LIMITATION
Smoke must be detected when light intensity (lux) value is below 53.
When the value of light intensity (lux) above 53 it must be safe.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
This design and simulation can be used for industries, offices, companies, Universities and residential
purposes. For residential applications, smoke detectors should be installed outside of each separate
sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms and on each additional story of the family
living unit, including basements and excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics. Smoke detectors
should be installed in sleeping rooms in new construction and it is recommended that they should also
be installed in sleeping rooms in existing construction. All fire alarm systems require notification
devices, including sirens, bells, horns, and/or strobes. In residential applications, each automatic alarm
initiating device when activated should cause the operation of an alarm notification
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
Designing and simulation of smoke detector fire alarm using PIC microcontroller is implemented in
every field where efficiency and accuracy cannot be compromised. Smoke detectors are a much newer
technology, having gained wide usage during the 1970's and1980's in residential and life safety
applications. After that, the smoke detector concept has been kept on improving to become more
advance and applicable in various areas. As mentioned earlier in the objective that, one of the main
reason of this fire alarm system is the cost factor. Subsequently, to design a system that can achieve
this objective some study have been carried out
2.1 Fire Alarm System: Related Work
According to Wang, Niihau Xiao and Jianmei, Bao Minzhong , the purpose of the fire alarm system is
to detect a fire at earlier stage and then to led give a high reliable judgments result. An important point
is that alarm is there to cause the operator to responds. If the operator does not notice an alarm and
make an appropriate response to it, then in the alarm system has failed. It has been also suggested by
Brown, Campbell, that for an alarm to be alarm it must be require positive response from the operator.
The alarm system proposed by Nur Azirah Bte Abd Aziz, is consists of tree sensor infrared smoke
sensor, thermistor heat sensor, infrared sensor. The infrared smoke sensor is designed to identify a fire
while in its smoldering or early flame stage, replicating the human sense of smell. The thermistor heat
sensor which detects abnormally high temperature or rate of temperature rises. Infrared sensor for
intruder alarm is used to detect any motion at the entrance of the house where it acts as a burglar
system. Once, the fire has been detected it automatically switched on the water sprinkler, whereas the
infrared sensor for the intruder alarm is been activated. The well-known catalyst for fire is heat, smoke
and flame but only heat and smoke sensors have been
emphasized and applied. Further on when real problem occurred, the highly sensitive motion sensors
will response to normal environmental vibration that can be caused by passing a car or plain overhead.
2.2 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
2.2.1 Detection Component on Fire Alarm System
2.2.1.1 Smoke Detectors
Photoelectric type:-In this type of smoke detectors, a light source (normally an LED-light emitting
diode) and an optical sensor are always common.
In projected beam type, the light source and the detector are facing each other with a steady signal
output from the detector under normal conditions. The smoke particles in the space in-between
produce scattering and/or absorption of light hem, thus, reducing the intensity of light input to the
detector. The consequent fluctuation in its signal output can be recorded.
In a reflected beam type of detector, the arrangement of source and the photo detector is such that in
normal condition, the light falling on detector is zero and it increases due to scattering from the smoke
particles, if they are present. Thus the signal output of the photo detector increases.
Sensor is type of transducer, or mechanism that responds to a type of energy by producing another
type of energy signal, usually electrical. Type of sensors include electromagnetic, chemical, biological
and acoustic. Aside from other applications, sensors are heavily used in medicine, industry and
robotics as detection components
2.2.2 Smoke Sensor
Smoke detectors are much newer technology, having gained wide usage in the residential and life
safety applications. These devices are designed to identify a fire while in its smoldering or early flame
stages, replicating the human sense of small. The key advantage of smoke detectors is their ability to
identify a fire while it is still in its incipient. As such, they provide added opportunity for emergency
personnel to respond and control the developing fire before severe damage occurs. These type of
detector are usually the preferred detection method in life safety and high content value applications.
When compared to thermal sensors, and are more resistant to inadvertent alarms, the smoke detectors
are more expensive to install.
2.2.3 PIC Microcontroller
A microcontroller is an integrated circuit consists of simple CPU which associated with support
functions such as timers, serial and analog I/O, crystal oscillator, its memory is divided to RAM,
ROM, EEEPROM, PIC is designed for small or dedicated applications.PIC used to reduce size and
cost comparing to the model that uses separated CPU, memory and I/O devices PIC also provides a
benefits of controlling non digital electronic systems. The PIC become popular in both industrials
developers and hobbyists th program and reprogram with flash memory (EEPROM) capability.
2.2.3.1 PIC16F877A 40 PIN CMOS FLASH MICROCONTROLLER
As defined by James L. Atonakos, microcontrollers are actually souped-up microprocessors with built-
in features such as RAM, ROM, Interval timers, parallel I/O ports and even A/D. PIC16F877A is a
powerful flash microcontroller that has many features in a 40 pin DIP package.
The flash microcontroller can be programmed and then erased instantly, without the need for a UV
light source. Fig 2.1: Shows the basic stricture of a microcontroller and Fig 2.2: shows the image of
PIC16F877A
Fig: PIC16F877A 40 Pin CMOS Flash microcontroller
2.2.3.2 REASON FOR SELECTING PIC16F877A
1. Rich in peripherals: The PIC microcontroller has many built in peripherals which can
be utilized for various purposes. The 40 pins of PIC make it easier to use the peripherals as the
functions are spread out over the pins. This makes it easier to decide what external devices to
attach without worrying too much if there enough pins to do the job.
2. Reprogrammable controller: The PIC16F877A has 8kb flash memory which can be
used to erase and rewrite the programs for the controller. Hence the devices can be re-
programmed up to100000 times.
3. Low power consumption: The controller works with a low power supply such as 5V
DC.
4. Easy programming, cheap and reliable: It is easy to program the PIC microcontroller
in embedded C language or assembly level language.
2.2.3.3FEATURES AND ADVANTAGES OF MICROCONTROLLER
Microcontroller differs from microprocessor in many ways. First and the most important is its
functionality. These are the several advantage and the features of the PIC microcontroller.
1. Safety –all the instructions fit into a 12 or 24 bit program memory word. These is likely
hood of the software jumping into the DATA section of a program and trying to occur in a
non-Harvard architecture microcontroller using 8 bit busses.
2. Speed –the PIC has an internal divided by 4 connected between the oscillator and the
internal block bus. This makes instruction times easy to calculate, especially if using 4MHz
crystal. Each instruction cycle then works out at 1µs.
3. Drive Capability –The PIC has a high output drive capability and can directly drive
LEDs and TRIACS etc. any I/O pin can sink 25mA, an 8 bit port 100Ma
4. Options –a range of speed, temperature, package, I/O lines, timer functions, serial
combs, A/D and memory to suit virtually all the requirement.
5. Versatility –the PIC is a versatile micro and in volume as low as cost solution to
replace even a few logic gates where space is at a premium.
6. Code efficiency –the PIC is an 8 bit microcontroller based on the Harvard
architecture – which means there are separate internal busses for memory and data. The
throughput rate is therefore increased due to simultaneous access to both data and
program memory. Conventional microcontroller tends to have on internal bus handling
both data and program. This shows operation down by at least a factor of two when
compared to the PIC.
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
The project required multiple research techniques to get what we needed to learn and to build the
project as a whole. Each of the members of the group had a particular interest in different parts
of the project. In which case, the project was divided up in what was agreed to be equal. The
beginning of the project started with how it was going to be built and what the project needed to
complete its task. In this process many ideas were thrown around as possible candidates for the
project. This method of throwing ideas around as a group helped considerably in finding the
perfect compromise that would fit best for the project and keep it at a realistic difficulty. The
project required multiple research techniques to get what we needed to learn and to build the
project as a whole. The beginning of the project started with how it was going to be built and
what the project needed to complete its task. In this process many ideas were thrown around as
possible candidates for the project. This method of throwing ideas around as a group helped
considerably in finding the perfect compromise that would fit best for the project and keep it at a
realistic difficulty. The gathering of information followed the process outlined in the scope of
investigation having university regard to the objectives. We mainly used books and the internet
connection provided by our University to gather our data and information. The aspect or factors
that must be taken into consideration during the development process are very important to make
sure the project achieves its objective. So to attain our goal we followed and worked out on the
following methods. These are:
Designing fire alarm circuit
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
The software constitutes the major part of the system. This is extremely important
since ultimate performance of the microcomputer based system depends on the strength
of the software.
The Operation of the Smoke Detector and Fire alarm system is presented in the block diagram as
shown in below. It consists of a Power Supply Unit which supplies the needed power to the
PIC16F877A microcontroller, sensor (LDR) and the Liquid Crystal Display LCD. The
microcontroller is connected to the Power Supply Unit, LCD, LDR sensor; The LCD shows the
status of the system when there is a presence of safe or smoke detected and manually off which
may lead to fire outbreak in the environment. A detailed analysis of the various units in the
system is shown in the block diagram given in fig below
Power supply unit
Indicators
Control unit (PIC16F877A)
Alarm
Sensor unit
Display Unit
LED
Motor
Water Supply
Water
Sprinkler
Power supply unit
The power supply unit is necessary for the provision of regulated (step-down rectified) Dc power
supply from AC mains to circuit components i.e. microcontroller, sensors, and LCD’s. The
power supply unit consists of a step down transformer, the diode Rectifier, voltage regulator and
capacitors for filtering.
Sensors Unit
The sensor unit consists of the various sensors used in the sensing of the presence of gas or flame
which may lead to fire outbreak in an environment. The sensor used in this system is the Light
Dependent Resistor,
Control Unit (Pic16f877a Microcontroller)
The control unit is the brain of this section and its main components is the PIC16F877A
microcontroller.
