pH CONTROL IN A BIOREACTOR

USING DAQ 6009

Project report submitted in fulfillment of the requirements
For the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
IN
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
BY
S.KAMAL VISWANATH

(07241A0206)

M.CHIRANJEEVI

(07241A0231)

M.RAMESH

(07241A0245)

K.SHRAVAN

(07241A0247)
Under the guidance of

Sri.E.VENKATESHWARULU
Department of EEE

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering & Technology
(Affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University)
Hyderabad
2007 - 2011

GOKARAJU RANGARAJU INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

This is to certify that the project report entitled pH CONTROL IN A

BIOREACTOR that is being submitted by KAMAL VISWANATH, CHIRANJEEVI,
RAMESH, SHRAVAN, in partial fulfillment for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of
Technology in Electrical and Electronics Engineering to the Jawaharlal Nehru
Technological University is a record of bonafide work carried out by them under my
guidance and supervision. The results embodied in this project report have not been
submitted to any other University or Institute for the award of any Graduation degree.

Head of Department

Project Coordinator

Internal Guide

Prof.P.M.SHARMA

Prof. S.N.Saxena

Sri. E.Venkateshwarulu

Professor & HOD

Professor

Assistant Professor

EEE, GRIET

EEE, GRIET

EEE, GRIET

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This is to place on record my appreciation and deep gratitude to the persons without
whose support this project would never seen the light of day.
I wish to express my propound sense of gratitude to Sri. P. S. Raju, Director,
G.R.I.E.T for his guidance, encouragement, and for all facilities to complete this project.
I have immense pleasure in expressing my thanks and deep sense of gratitude to my
guide Sri.E.Venkateshwarulu, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering, G.R.I.E.T for his guidance throughout this project.
I also express my sincere thanks to Sri.P.M.Sarma, Head of the Department,
G.R.I.E.T and for extending their help.
I express my gratitude to Mr. S.N. Saxena, Professor, Department of Electrical and
Electronics Engineering, Coordinator, Project Review Committee, G.R.I.E.T for his
valuable recommendations and for accepting this project report.
Finally I express my sincere gratitude to Sri. M. Chakravarthy , Associate Professor,
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, G.R.I.E.T and all the members of
faculty and my friends who contributed their valuable advice and helped to complete the
project successfully.

S. Kamal Viswanath (07241A206)

ABSTARCT

M. Chiranjeevi

(07241A0231)

M. Ramesh

(07241A0245)

K.Sharavan

(07241A0247)

The aim of developing this project is to

automate the control of the pH of solution in a bioreactor. A bioreactor is a
vessel in which is carried out a chemical process which involves organisms or
biochemically active substances derived from such organisms. Under optimum
conditions the microorganisms or cells will reproduce at an astounding rate. So
the conditions like temperature, pH value, oxygen rate are to be maintained. The
main idea of the project is to amplify the voltage that is generated by the pH
sensor and send this voltage to a controlling component. This component is to
be selected such that two limits an upper and a lower limit can be set to it, by
which any change in the amplifier voltage beyond the limits an output signal is
to be generated by the control circuit. This signal will control the pH by adding
pH solutions to it. This project is practical and highly feasible in economic point
of view, and has an advantage of controlling the pH value in a wide range. This
project is an automated, reliable and adaptable way of controlling the pH value
in a bioreactor.

CONTENTS

Abstract

II

List of figures

List of Tables

VI

Chapter 1.

Introduction

1.1Bioreactor
1.2pH
1.3pH sensor
1.4Operational Amplifiers
1.5DAQ

1
3
4
7
10

Chapter 2. Block Diagram

13

Chapter 3. Circuit Diagram

14

Chapter 4. System Simulation Results

15

Chapter 5.

17
18

Hardware Description
5.1 Hardware Circuit

Chapter 6. Software Description

6.1 Multisim
6.1.1

Use of Multisim in this project

6.2 LabVIEW
6.2.1 Use of LabVIEW in this project
6.2.2 Interfacing with DAQ

19
19
19

21
22
22

Chapter 7. Outputs Observed

24

Chapter 8. Conclusion and Scope for future work

29

8.1 Conclusion

29

8.2 Scope for future work

29

References

30

Appendix A

31

Appendix B

32

Appendix C

37

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure no.

Figure Name

Page no.

1.1

Basic pH sensor

1.2

Basic op amp

1.3

DAQ

12

1.4

DAQ interfacing mechanism

12

2.1

Block Diagram of the project

13

3.1

Multisim Circuit

14

4.1

Multisim simulation output

16

5.1

Hardware

18

6.1

Maximum output voltage

20

6.2

Minimum output voltage

20

6.3

LabView layout

22

7.1

Practical input 1

24

7.2

Practical output 1

24

7.3

Practical input 2

25

7.4

Practical output 2

25

7.5

Below the limit output

26

7.6

Within the limit output

26

7.7

Above the limit output

27

List of tables
Table no.

Table name

Page no.

4.1

System simulation results table

15

7.1

Practical results table

28

CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION
pH control is the one of the most important aspect that is to be
maintained in a bioreactor. This is achieved by a set of equipments and circuits. The main
blocks of this project are:

pH sensing device
Amplification circuit
Controlling device

By combining all these blocks the output is achieved which is to control the pH
value in a bioreactor. The working of a project is better understood if explained in parts.

1.1 BIOREACTOR:
A bioreactor is a vessel in which is carried out a chemical process which
involves organisms or biochemically active substances derived from such organisms.
Bioreactors are commonly cylindrical, ranging in size from some liter to cube meters, and are
often made of stainless steel. Bioreactor design is quite a complex engineering task. Under
optimum conditions the microorganisms or cells will reproduce at an astounding rate. The
vessel's environmental conditions like gas (i.e., air, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide) flow
rates, temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen levels, and agitation speed need to be closely
monitored and controlled. One bioreactor manufacturer, Bradley-James Corporation, uses
vessels, sensors, controllers, and a control system, digitally networked together for their
bioreactor system.
Cell culture bioreactors are categorized into two types: 1. those
that are used for cultivation of anchorage dependent cells (e.g. primary cultures derived from
normal tissues and diploid cell lines. 2. Those that are used for the cultivation of suspended
mammalian cells (e.g. cell lines derived from cancerous tissues and tumors, transformed
diploid cell lines, hybridomas). In some cases the bioreactor may be modified to grow both
anchorage dependent and suspended cells. Ideally any cell culture bioreactor must maintain a
sterile culture of cells in medium conditions which maximize cell growth and productivity.
Fouling can harm the overall sterility and efficiency of the bioreactor, especially the heat
exchangers. To avoid it the bioreactor must be easily cleanable and must be as smooth as
possible (therefore the round shape). The pH value of the substance is to be maintained
constant.
Heat exchange is needed to maintain the bioprocess at a constant temperature. Biological
fermentation is a major source of heat; therefore in most cases bioreactors need water

refrigeration. They can be refrigerated with an external jacket or, for very large vessels, with
internal coils. Optimal oxygen transfer is perhaps the most difficult task to accomplish.
Oxygen is poorly soluble in water -and even less in fermentation broths- and is relatively
scarce in air (20.8%). Oxygen transfer is usually helped by agitation that is also needed to
mix nutrients and to keep the fermentation homogeneous. There is however limits to the
speed of agitation, due both to high power consumption (that's proportional to the cube of the
speed) and the damage to organisms due to excessive tip speed. Bioreactor treatment may be
performed using microorganisms growing in suspension in the fluid or attached on a solid
growth support medium. In suspended growth systems, such as fluidized beds or sequencing
batch reactors, contaminated groundwater is circulated in an aeration basin where a microbial
population aerobically degrades organic matter and produces carbon dioxide, water, and
biomass. The biomass is settled out in a clarifier, then either recycled back to the aeration
basin or disposed of as sludge. In attached growth systems, such as up flow fixed film
bioreactors, rotating biological contactors (RBCs), and trickling filters, microorganisms are
grown as a biofilm on a solid growth support matrix and water contaminants are degraded as
they diffuse into the biofilm. Support media include solids that have a large surface area for
bacterial attachment.
Moisture content is the single most important factor that promotes the accelerated
decomposition. The bioreactor technology relies on maintaining optimal moisture content
near field capacity (approximately 35 to 65%) and adds liquids when it is necessary to
maintain that percentage. The moisture content, combined with the biological action of
naturally occurring microbes decomposes the waste. The microbes can be either aerobic or
anaerobic. A side effect of the bioreactor is that it produces landfill gas (LFG) such as
methane in an anaerobic unit at an earlier stage in the landfills life and at an overall much
higher rate of generation than traditional landfills.
Bioreactors have a wide range of applications in various fields like

Medicine: The immobilized enzyme reactors are one of the most recent achievements
in the field of medicine.
Environment : Water purification plants, sewage plant bioreactors, land filling
bioreactors has bought a major change in the recycle of the waste in the environment
Other than these advantages bioreactors find a wide range of applications in
industries, research and food processing plants.

1.2 pH:
pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said
to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at 25 C (77 F). Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said
to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline. pH measurements are
important in medicine, biology, food science, environmental science, oceanography, civil
engineering and many other applications. In a solution pH approximates but is not equal to
p[H], the negative logarithm (base 10) of the molar concentration of dissolved hydronium
ions (H3O+); a low pH indicates a high concentration of hydronium ions, while a high pH
indicates a low concentration. This negative of the logarithm matches the number of places
behind the decimal point, so, for example, 0.1 molar hydrochloric acid should be near pH 1
and 0.0001 molar HCl should be near pH 4 (the base 10 logarithms of 0.1 and 0.0001 being
1, and 4, respectively). Pure (de-ionized) water is neutral, and can be considered either a
very weak acid or a very weak base (center of the 0 to 14 pH scale), giving it a pH of 7 (at
25 C (77 F)), or 0.0000001 M H+. For an aqueous solution to have a higher pH, a base
must be dissolved in it, which binds away many of these rare hydrogen ions. Hydrogen ions
in water can be written simply as H+ or as hydronium (H3O+) or higher species (e.g., H9O4+)
to account for solvation, but all describe the same entity. Most of the Earth's freshwater
surface bodies are slightly acidic due to the abundance and absorption of carbon dioxide; in
fact, for millennia in the past, most fresh water bodies have long existed at a slightly acidic
pH level.
However, pH is not precisely p[H], but takes into account an activity factor. This represents
the tendency of hydrogen ions to interact with other components of the solution, which
affects among other things the electrical potential read using a pH meter. As a result, pH can
be affected by the ionic strength of a solution for example, the pH of a 0.05 M potassium
hydrogen phthalate solution can vary by as much as 0.5 pH units as a function of
added potassium chloride, even though the added salt is neither acidic nor basic.
Hydrogen ion activity coefficients cannot be measured directly by any thermodynamically
sound method, so they are based on theoretical calculations. Therefore, the pH scale is
defined in practice as traceable to a set of standard solutions whose pH is established by
international agreement.
It is unknown what the exact definition of 'p' in pH is. A common definition often used in
schools is "percentage". However some references suggest the p stands for Power, others
refer to the German word Potenz (meaning power in German), still others refer to
potential. Jens Norby published a paper in 2000 arguing that p is a constant and stands for
negative logarithm; H then stands for Hydrogen. According to the Carlsberg Foundation
pH stands for "power of hydrogen". Other suggestions that have surfaced over the years are
that the p stands for puissance (also meaning power, but, then, the Carlsberg Laboratory was
French-speaking) or that pH stands for the Latin terms pondus Hydrogenii or potentia
hydrogenii. It is also suggested that Sorensen used the letters p and q (commonly paired
letters in mathematics) simply to label the test solution (p) and the reference solution (q).

1.3 pH SENSORS:
A pH sensor is a typical transducer that senses the hydronium ion
concentration which will be proportional to the pH value of the solution and produces a
voltage proportional to the value of the pH. The pH sensor is a loop of components that
senses and transmits the pH value.

1.3.1 Working:
A pH measurement loop is made up of three components, the pH sensor, which
includes a measuring electrode, a reference electrode, and a temperature sensor; a
preamplifier; and an analyser or transmitter. A pH measurement loop is essentially a battery
where the positive terminal is the measuring electrode and the negative terminal is the
reference electrode. The measuring electrode, which is sensitive to the hydrogen ion,
develops a potential (voltage) directly related to the hydrogen ion concentration of the
solution. The reference electrode provides a stable potential against which the measuring
electrode can be compared.

1.3.2 Typical pH Sensor:

When immersed in the solution, the reference electrode potential does not
change with the changing hydrogen ion concentration. A solution in the reference electrode
also makes contact with the sample solution and the measuring electrode through a junction
completing the circuit. Output of the measuring electrode changes with temperature (even
though the process remains at a constant pH), so a temperature sensor is necessary to correct
for this change in output. This is done in the analyser or transmitter software. The pH sensor
components are usually combined into one device called a combination pH electrode. The
measuring electrode is usually glass and quite fragile. Recent developments have replaced the
glass with more durable solid-state sensors. The preamplifier is a signal-conditioning device.
It takes the high-impedance pH electrode signal and changes it into allow impedance signal
which the analyser or transmitter can accept. The preamplifier also strengthens and stabilizes
the signal, making it less susceptible to electrical noise. The sensor's electrical signal is then
displayed. This is commonly done in a 120/240 V ac-powered analyser or in a 24 V dc looppowered transmitter. Additionally, the analyser or transmitter has a man machine interface for
calibrating the sensor and configuring outputs and alarms, if pH control is being done. Keep
in mind, application requirements should be carefully considered when choosing a pH
electrode. Accurate pH measurement and the resulting precise control that it can allow, can
go a long way toward process optimisation and result in increased product quality and
consistency. Accurate, stable pH measurement also controls and often lowers chemical usage,
minimising system maintenance and expense.

1.3.3 Keeping the System Up and Running:

A system's pH electrodes require periodic maintenance to
clean and calibrate them. The length of time between cleaning and calibration depends on
process conditions and the user's accuracy and stability expectations. Overtime, electrical
properties of the measuring and reference electrode change. Calibration in known-value pH
solutions called buffers will correct for some of these changes. Cleaning of the measuring
sensor and reference junction will also help. However, just as batteries have a limited life, a
pH electrode's lifetime is also finite. Even in the "friendliest" environments, pH electrodes
have to be replaced eventually.

1.3.4 Calibration and Use:

For very precise work the pH meter should be calibrated before each
measurement. For normal use calibration should be performed at the beginning of each day.
The reason for this is that the glass electrode does not give a reproducible e.m.f. over longer
periods of time. Calibration should be performed with at least two standard buffer
solutions that span the range of pH values to be measured. For general purposes buffers at pH
4 and pH 10 are acceptable. The pH meter has one control (calibrate) to set the meter reading
equal to the value of the first standard buffer and a second control (slope) which is used to
adjust the meter reading to the value of the second buffer. A third control allows the
temperature to be set. Standard buffer sachets, which can be obtained from a variety of
suppliers, usually state how the buffer value changes with temperature. The calibration
process correlates the voltage produced by the probe (approximately 0.06 volts per pH unit)
with the pH scale. After each single measurement, the probe is rinsed with distilled
water or deionized water to remove any traces of the solution being measured, blotted with a
clean tissue to absorb any remaining water which could dilute the sample and thus alter the
reading, and then quickly immersed in another solution.

1.3.5 Types of pH Meters:

Meters
A simple pH meter pH meters range from simple and inexpensive
pen-like
like devices to complex and expensive laboratory instruments with computer interfaces
and several inputs for indicatorerature measurements be entered to adjust for the slight
variation in pH caused by temperature. Specialty meters and probes are available for use in
special applications, harsh environments, etc. The first commercial pH meters were built
around 1936 by Radiometer in Denmark and by Arnold Orville Beckman in the United
States. While Beckman was an assistant professor of chemistry at the California Institute of
Technology,, he was asked to devise a quick and accurate method for measuring the acidity
of lemon juice for the California Fruit Growers Exchange (Sunkist).
). Beckman's invention
helped him to launch the Beckman Instruments company (now Beckman Coulter).
Coulter In 2004
the Beckman pH meter was designated an ACS National Historical Chemical Landmark in
recognition of its significance as the first commercially successful electronic pH meter.[2]

1.4 OPERATIONAL
IONAL AMPLIFIERS (OPAMPS):
An operational amplifier ("op-amp")
amp") is a DCcoupled high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with a differential input and, usually, a singlesingle
ended output. An op-amp
amp produces an output voltage that is typically hundreds of thousands
times larger than the voltage difference between its input terminals. Operational amplifiers
are important building
ilding blocks for a wide range of electronic circuits. They had their origins
in analog computers where they were used in many linear, non-linear
non linear and frequencyfrequency
dependent circuits.
uits. Their popularity in circuit design largely stems from the fact the
characteristics of the final elements (such as their gain)) are set by external components with
little dependence on temperature changes and manufacturing variations in the op-amp
op
itself.
Op-amps
amps are among the most widely used electronic devices today, being used in a vast array
of consumer, industrial, and scientific devices. Many standard IC op-amps
op amps cost only a few
cents in moderate production
uction volume; however some integrated or hybrid operational
amplifiers with special performance specifications may cost over $100 US in small
quantities. Op-amps
amps may be packaged as components, or used as elements of more complex
integrated circuits. The op-amp
amp is one type of differential amplifier.. Other types of
differential amplifier include the fully differential amplifier (similar to the op-amp,
op
but with
two outputs), the instrumentation amplifier (usually built from three op-amps),
amps), the isolation
amplifier (similar to the instrumentation amplifier, but with tolerance to common-mode
common
voltages that would destroy an ordinary op-amp),
op
and negative feedback amplifier (usually
built from one or more op-amps
amps and a resistive feedback network).

1.4.1Operation:
The amplifier's differential inputs consist of a
input and a
input, and
ideally the op-amp
amp amplifies only the difference in voltage between the two, which is called
the differential input voltage.. The output voltage of the op-amp
op amp is given by the equation,

where
is the voltage at the non-inverting
non
terminal,
is the voltage at the inverting
terminal and AOL is the open-loop
loop gain of the amplifier. (The term "open-loop"
loop" refers to the
absence of a feedback loop
op from the output to the input).
input The magnitude of AOL is typically
very large10,000 or more for integrated circuit op-ampsand
op
and therefore even a quite small
difference between
and
drives the amplifier output nearly to the supply voltage. This
is called saturation of the amplifier. The magnitude of AOL is not well controlled by the
manufacturing process, and so it is impractical to use an operational amplifier as a standstand
alone differential amplifier.. If predictable operation is desired, negative feedback is used, by
applying a portion of the output voltage to the inverting input. The closed loop feedback
greatly reduces the gain of the amplifier. If negative feedback is used, the circuit's overall
gain and other parameters become determined more by the feedback network than by the opop
amp itself. If the feedback network is made of components with relatively constant, stable
values, the unpredictability and inconstancy of
o the op-amp's
amp's parameters do not seriously

affect the circuit's performance. If no negative feedback is used, the op-amp

amp functions as a
switch or comparator. Positive feedback may be used to introduce hysteresis or oscillation.

Amps:
1.4.2Ideal and Real Op-Amps
An ideal op-amp
amp is usually considered to have the following properties, and they are
considered to hold for all input voltages:

Infinite open-loop gain (when doing theoretical analysis, a limit may be taken as open
loop gain AOL goes to infinity).
Infinite voltage range available at the output (v
( out) (in practice the voltages available from
the output are limited by the supply voltages
and
). The power supply sources
are called rails.
Infinite bandwidth (i.e., the frequency magnitude response is considered to be flat
everywhere with zero phase shift).
shift
Infinite input impedance (so, in the diagram,
, and zero current flows from
to
).
Zero input current (i.e., there is assumed to be no leakage or bias current into the device).
Zero input offset voltage (i.e., when the input terminals are shorted so that
, the
output is a virtual ground or vout = 0).
Infinite slew rate (i.e., the rate of change of the output voltage is unbounded) and power
bandwidth (full output voltage and current available at all frequencies).
Zero output impedance (i.e., Rout = 0, so that output voltage does not vary with output
current).
Zero noise.
Infinite Common-mode
mode rejection ratio (CMRR).
Infinite Power supply rejection ratio for both power supply rails.

These ideals can be summarized by the two "golden rules":

I. The output attempts to do whatever is necessary to make the voltage difference
between the inputs zero.
II. The inputs draw no current.

The first rule only applies in the usual case where the op-amp is used in a closed-loop design
(negative feedback, where there is a signal path of some sort feeding back from the output to
the inverting input). These rules are commonly used as a good first approximation for
analyzing or designing op-amp circuits.
In practice, none of these ideals can be perfectly realized, and various shortcomings and
compromises have to be accepted. Depending on the parameters of interest, a real op-amp
may be modeled to take account of some of the non-infinite or non-zero parameters using
equivalent resistors and capacitors in the op-amp model. The designer can then include the
effects of these undesirable, but real, effects into the overall performance of the final circuit.
Some parameters may turn out to have negligible effect on the final design while others
represent actual limitations of the final performance, that must be evaluated.

Op-amps may be classified by their construction:

discrete (built from individual transistors or tubes/valves)

IC (fabricated in an Integrated circuit) - most common
hybrid

An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit (also referred to as IC, chip and
microchip) is an electronic circuit manufactured by diffusion of trace elements into the
surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material.
Integrated circuits are used in almost all electronic equipment in use today and have
revolutionized the world of electronics. Computers, cellular phones and other digital
appliances are now inextricable parts of the structure of modern societies, made possible by
the low cost of production of integrated circuits.
We also use one such IC LM324 for amplification of the pH sensor signal. LM324 is a Low
Power Quad Operational Amplifier.

1.5 DAQ (DATA ACQUISITION):

Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real world physical
conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be
manipulated by a computer. Data acquisition systems (abbreviated with the
acronym DAS or DAQ) typically convert analog waveforms into digital values for
processing. The components of data acquisition systems include:

Sensors that convert physical parameters to electrical signals.

Signal conditioning circuitry to convert sensor signals into a form that can be converted to
digital values.

Analog-to-digital converters, which convert conditioned sensor signals to digital values.

Data acquisition applications are controlled by software programs developed using various
general purpose programming languages such as C, Fortran, Java, Lisp, Pascal.COMEDI is
an open source API (application program Interface) used by applications to access and
control the data acquisition hardware. Using COMEDI allows the same programs to run on
different operating systems, like Linux and Windows.
Specialized software tools used for building large-scale data acquisition systems
include EPICS. Graphical programming environments include ladder logic, Visual
C++, Visual Basic,MATLAB and LabVIEW.

1.5.1 Source
Data acquisition begins with the physical phenomenon or physical property to be measured.
Examples of this include temperature, light intensity, gas pressure, fluid flow, and force.
Regardless of the type of physical property to be measured, the physical state that is to be
measured must first be transformed into a unified form that can be sampled by a data
acquisition system. The task of performing such transformations falls on devices
called sensors.
A sensor, which is a type of transducer, is a device that converts a physical property into a
corresponding electrical signal (e.g., a voltage or current) or, in many cases, into a
corresponding electrical characteristic (e.g., resistance or capacitance) that can easily be
converted to electrical signal.
The ability of a data acquisition system to measure differing properties depends on having
sensors that are suited to detect the various properties to be measured. There are specific
sensors for many different applications. DAQ systems also employ various signal
conditioning techniques to adequately modify various different electrical signals into voltage
that can then be digitized using an Analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

1.5.2 Signals
Signals may be digital (also called logic signals sometimes) or analog depending on the
transducer used.
Signal conditioning may be necessary if the signal from the transducer is not suitable for the
DAQ hardware being used. The signal may need to be amplified, filtered or demodulated.
Various other examples of signal conditioning might be bridge completion, providing current
or voltage excitation to the sensor, isolation, linearization. For transmission purposes, single
ended analog signals, which are more susceptible to noise can be converted to differential
signals. Once digitized, the signal can be encoded to reduce and correct transmission errors.

1.5.3 DAQ Hardware

DAQ hardware is what usually interfaces between the signal and a PC. It could be in the form
of modules that can be connected to the computer's ports (parallel, serial, USB, etc.) or cards
connected to slots (S-100 bus, AppleBus, ISA, MCA, PCI, PCI-E, etc.) in the mother board.
Usually the space on the back of a PCI card is too small for all the connections needed, so an
external breakout box is required. The cable between this box and the PC can be expensive
due to the many wires, and the required shielding.
DAQ cards often contain multiple components (multiplexer, ADC, DAC, TTL-IO, high
speed timers, RAM). These are accessible via a bus by a microcontroller, which can run small
programs. A controller is more flexible than a hard wired logic, yet cheaper than a CPU so
that it is permissible to block it with simple polling loops. For example: Waiting for a trigger,
starting the ADC, looking up the time, waiting for the ADC to finish, move value to RAM,
switch multiplexer, get TTL input, let DAC proceed with voltage ramp. Many times
reconfigurable logic is used to achieve high speed for specific tasks and digital signal
processors are used after the data has been acquired to obtain some results. The fixed
connection with the PC allows for comfortable compilation and debugging. Using an external
housing a modular design with slots in a bus can grow with the needs of the user.
Not all DAQ hardware has to run permanently connected to a PC, for example intelligent
stand-alone loggers and oscilloscopes, which can be operated from a PC, yet they can operate
completely independent of the PC.

1.5.4 DAQ Software

DAQ software is needed in order for the DAQ hardware to work with a PC. The device driver
performs low-level
level register writes and reads on the hardware, while exposing a standard API
for developing user applications. A standard API such as COMEDI
COMEDI allows the same user
applications to run on different operating systems, e.g. a user application that runs on
Windows will also run on Linux and BSD.

CHAPTER 2
BLOCK DIAGRAM

CHAPTER 3
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
This circuit is constructed using the virtual circuit simulation software multisim v 10.0.

CHAPTER 4
SYSTEM SIMULATION RESULTS
By taking into account the outputs produced by the pH sensor the circuit is virtually excited
using the software multisim v 10.0. By taking those values as consideration the outputs are
evaluated. The tally of these results with the practical design and hardware gives the accuracy
percentage of the system used.

pH value
of the
solution
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

INPUTS(sensors
output)

OUTPUTS(given to
OUTPUTS(gi
DAQ)

59mV
118mV
177mV
236mV
295mV
354mV
413mV
472mV
531mV
590mV
649mV
708mV
767mV
826mV

0.56V
1.113V
1.664V
2.241V
2.76V
3.315V
3.866V
4.416V
4.967V
5.571V
6.067V
6.618V
7.167V
7.761V

The change of the voltage at the output terminal i.e. 1 changes with the gain of the amplifier.
The gain of the amplifier is varied by varying the voltage given to the terminals Vcc+ i.e.
pin 4 and GND pin 11.

CHAPTER 5
HARDWARE DESCRIPTION
The components are connected on a Printed
Circuit Board in the non inverting mode to the operational amplifier as shown in the circuit
diagram. The functioning of the non inverting amplifier is simple. The basic circuit for the
non-inverting operational amplifier is relatively straightforward. In this circuit the signal is
applied to the non-inverting input of the op-amp. However the feedback is taken from the
output of the op-amp via a resistor to the inverting input of the operational amplifier where
another resistor is taken to ground. It is the value of these two resistors that govern the gain of
the operational amplifier circuit. The amplification of the circuit is explained mathematically
as

  



So according to the circuit every input voltage that is given to the circuit is multiplied by



 

 
 

 
 
   
  

 

The supply to the op amp is taken from a 12V, 1.5A DC adapter. The

working of the circuit can be explained by the sequence of changes that occur to the
components of the circuit. Initially the pH probe is dipped in to the solution and the output
terminal of it is connected to the input terminal 3 of the IC LM324 which gets excited when
the supply is given to the terminal 4 and terminal 11 of it. Once the IC is energized it
multipies the input voltage as per the given feedback and grounding resistance of it as per the
equation stated above. The pH sensor and the amplifier circuit gets connected and the mV
generated by the pH sensor is taken by the IC and the output is read at terminal 1 of the IC.
This is given as input to the DAQ card that is used, the range of control of pH that has
transformed itself into volts is set by programming the DAQ by setting the limits using the
software LABVIEW. The output of the DAQ card is connected to the motors that drive the
acid container and base container. Once the output of the amplifier circuit is beyond the
voltage limit (which indeed is the pH limit) in either way the corresponding motor will start
running. Say if the pH limits set are 3.5 V and 5 V i.e. from 6 pH to 9 pH, then if the

amplifier output voltage exceeds 5 V then the solution is more basic in nature than required
so the acid motor is given supply and the pH value gets reduced. The opposite happens if the
voltage generated by the amplifier is less than 3.5 V. Thus the control of pH of the solution is
automated
ed whenever it misses its range of control. The hardware designed even as it looks
simple does an important job of controlling the pH of a solution.

5.1. HARDWARE CIRCUIT:

The hardware designed can be seen in the figure below.

CHAPTER 6
SOFTWARE DESCRIPTIONS
The softwares used for the circuit eventually help the user the validity and control of the
circuit. The softwares used for the project are

MULTISIM

LABVIEW

6.1. MULTISIM:
Multisim is one such software that helps the user

For dete

Generate mathematical models of electronic components.

Test performance without actually building the circuit .
Calculating parameters of non-linear devices.
To test the validity of the circuit.

Most of the components that are available in the electronic market today are available in
the updating versions of multisim. These updated versions consists almost all the
components that came into existence into the market after its previous version. Using this
software in testing of circuits help us from the burden of practical building up of circuits.

6.1.2 Use of Multisim in the Project:

Many circuits where constructed using this software that
can give precise result for the pH sensor that is used in the project. The components were
chosen such that the IC used can sense a change in the input and can produce the output
such that it s DAQ compatible. The following circuit can best explain the purpose of the
software in this project.

Calculating parameters of non-linear devices

The maximum permissible voltage that a DAQ can take is 10V so

so the circuit limits the
maximum voltage that is to be given to the circuit to 8V.

The minimum change in the voltage that a DAQ can sense is 135mV the initial output that
the amplifier circuit gives is almost thrice the minimum sensible voltage.
The purpose of the software in the project played a major role in deciding the components
that are to be used for the project.

6.2. LabVIEW:
LabVIEW is the software that is used for graphical programming of a
system. LabVIEW (short for Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineering
Workbench) is a platform and development environment for avisual programming
language from National Instruments. The purpose of such programming is automating the
usage of processing and measuring equipment in any laboratory setup.
LabVIEW ties the creation of user interfaces (called front panels) into the development
cycle. LabVIEW programs/subroutines are called virtual instruments (VIs). Each VI has three
components: a block diagram, a front panel and a connector panel. The last is used to
represent the VI in the block diagrams of other, calling VIs. Controls and indicators on the
front panel allow an operator to input data into or extract data from a running virtual
instrument. However, the front panel can also serve as a programmatic interface. Thus a
virtual instrument can either be run as a program, with the front panel serving as a user
interface, or, when dropped as a node onto the block diagram, the front panel defines the
inputs and outputs for the given node through the connector pane. This implies each VI can
be easily tested before being embedded as a subroutine into a larger program.
The graphical approach also allows non-programmers to build programs by dragging and
dropping virtual representations of lab equipment with which they are already familiar. The
LabVIEW programming environment, with the included examples and the documentation,
makes it simple to create small applications. This is a benefit on one side, but there is also a
certain danger of underestimating the expertise needed for good quality "G" programming.
For complex algorithms or large-scale code, it is important that the programmer possess an
extensive knowledge of the special LabVIEW syntax and the topology of its memory
management. The most advanced LabVIEW development systems offer the possibility of
building stand-alone applications. Furthermore, it is possible to create distributed
applications, which communicate by a client/server scheme, and are therefore easier to
implement due to the inherently parallel nature of G-code.
The other benefits of LabVIEW are stated below

Interfacing

Code compilation

Recoding

Code re-use

6.2.1 Use of LabVIEW in

n the Project:
The use of LabVIEW in this project is explained below:

As we see from the figure above the output that is produced by the amplifier circuit is
given to the DAQ which is represented as DAQ assistant. This output is given to an adder
that increases the value as for the voltage can represent the pH on the computer.
compute This
voltage is given to two controllers which set limits the outputs that are produced by the
controller if exceed the limit the corresponding LED glows.

6.2.2 Interfacing With DAQ:

DAQ
The sequence of programming a DAQ is well understood
understood if explained in
steps.
a) First the output of the circuit is to be connected to the analog terminals of
the DAQ as per the terminology given on DAQ.
b) Connect the DAQ to the PC with the USB connector given. See if the light of the
DAQ is blinking.

c) Open the LabVIEW software and go to the subroutine called DAQ that is to be
installed before starting of the project.
d) Follow the user interface window that gets displayed. This is highly user friendly.
e) We need to receive the output which is in the form of voltage so click on the
corresponding icon buttons displayed.
f) Now the DAQ terminals are displayed and the terminal to which the input is given
is to be selected.
g) Now drop in the component DAQ assistant from where the voltages generated
by the amplifier circuit can be viewed.
h) Further the output that is obtained from the DAQ assistant can be programmed
graphically as per the requirement.

CHAPTER 7
OUTPUTS OBSERVED

Practical voltage outputs are noted after interfacing the DAQ with the circuit

pH of the

pH sensor

Amplifier

Acid motor

Base motor

solution

output

output

LED

LED

59mV

539mV

OFF

ON

118mV

1.065V

OFF

ON

177mV

1.61V

OFF

ON

236mV

2.15V

OFF

OFF

295mV

2.59V

OFF

OFF

354mV

3.13V

OFF

OFF

413mV

3.65V

OFF

OFF

472mV

4.25V

ON

OFF

531mV

4.70V

ON

OFF

10

590mV

5.92V

ON

OFF

11

649mV

5.89V

ON

OFF

12

708mV

6.42V

ON

OFF

13

767mV

6.98V

ON

OFF

14

826mV

7.64V

ON

OFF

CHAPTER 8
CONCLUSION AND SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK
8.1 CONCLUSION:
The input voltage to the amplifier circuit is given from a pH sensor that
generated a voltage in the order of mV for the change in pH that occurs in the solution.
This voltage is amplified by the amplifier circuit to range where the output of the
amplifier circuit is adaptable by the DAQ card that is being used.
The requirements of the range of control of pH is to be observed and
the programming in the labview is to be executed by keeping in to view the circuit output
production chart.
The pH value can be easily controlled between varied ranges of values
just by changing the limits used in the software to program the DAQ. This project is practical
and highly feasible in economic point of view, and has an advantage of controlling the pH
value in a wide range. This project is an automated, reliable and adaptable way of controlling
the pH value in a bioreactor.

8.2 SCOPE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS:

This pH control can be adapted in industries where
the cleaning and drying of machine parts in the acids exist. Further for making this adaptive
for factories the control part of the project can be made cheaper by using a pair of
comparators that set the limits of control instead of using a DAQ. This amendment in the
circuit will minimize the cost of pH control and efficiency of the circuit also remains
satisfactory.

REFERENCES
BOOKS:

Op Amp Applications Handbook, Analog Devices, Inc., edited by Walt Jorg.

LabVIEW for Data Acquisition,By: Bruce Mihura, Publisher: Prentice Hall

pH Sensors and Meters for Laboratory and Process Applications, By John Turner

WEBSITES:

http://www.sensorland.com/HowPage037.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_acquisition

http://www.national.com/mpf/LM/LM324.html#Overview

http://www.alldatasheet.com/

http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/opamp/opamp_3.html

APPENDIX A
LIST OF COMPONENTS
Type of the component

Name of the component

No.of components

Integrated Circuit

LM324

Resistors

12K, 100K

Adapter

230VAC to 12V, 1.5A

DC
DAQ

6009

pH sensor

DpH500

Programming software

LabVIEW v 7.0.2

with a compatible
computer

APPENDIX B
DATASHEET OF DAQ 6009
NI USB-6009
14-Bit, 48 kS/s Low-Cost Multifunction DAQ

8 analog inputs (14-bit, 48 kS/s)

2 analog outputs (12-bit, 150 S/s); 12 digital I/O; 32-bit counter

Bus-powered for high mobility; built-in signal connectivity

OEM version available

Compatible with LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and Measurement Studio for

Visual Studio .NET

NI-DAQmx driver software and NI LabVIEW SignalExpress LE interactive

data-logging software

Overview
The National Instruments USB-6009 provides basic data acquisition functionality for applications such as simple data logging, portable
measurements, and academic lab experiments. It is affordable for student use and powerful enough for more sophisticated
measurement applications. For Mac OS X and Linux users, download the NI-DAQmx Base driver software and program the USB6009 with LabVIEW or C.
To supplement simulation, measurement, and automation theory courses with practical experiments, NI developed a USB-6009
Student Kit that includes a copy of the LabVIEW Student Edition. These kits are exclusively for students, giving them a powerful, lowcost, hands-on learning tool. Visit the NI academic products page at http://www.ni.com/academic/measurements.htm for more details.
For faster sampling, more accurate measurements, and higher channel count, consider the NI USB-6210 and NI USB-6211 highperformance USB data acquisition devices.
Every NI USB data acquisition device includes a copy of NI LabVIEW SignalExpress LE so you can quickly acquire, analyze, and
present data without programming. In addition to LabVIEW SignalExpress, USB data acquisition modules are compatible with the
following versions (or later) of NI application software LabVIEW 7.x, LabWindows/CVI 7.x, or Measurement Studio 7.x. USB data
acquisition modules are also compatible with Visual Studio .NET, C/C++, and Visual Basic 6.

Specifications
Specifications Documents

Specifications (3)
Data Sheet

Specifications Summary
General
Product Name

USB-6009

Product Family

Multifunction Data Acquisition

Form Factor

USB

Part Number

779026-01

Operating System/Target

Windows , Linux , Mac OS , Pocket PC

DAQ Product Family

B Series

Measurement Type

Voltage

RoHS Compliant

Yes

Analog Input
Channels

8,4

Single-Ended Channels

Differential Channels

Resolution

14 bits

Sample Rate

48 kS/s

Throughput

48 kS/s

Max Voltage

10 V

Maximum Voltage Range

-10 V , 10 V

Maximum Voltage Range Accuracy

138 mV

Minimum Voltage Range

-1 V , 1 V

Minimum Voltage Range Accuracy

37.5 mV

Number of Ranges

Simultaneous Sampling

No

On-Board Memory

512 B

Analog Output
Channels

Resolution

12 bits

Max Voltage

5V

Maximum Voltage Range

0V,5V

Maximum Voltage Range Accuracy

7 mV

Minimum Voltage Range

0V,5V

Minimum Voltage Range Accuracy

7 mV

Update Rate

150 S/s

Current Drive Single

5 mA

Current Drive All

10 mA

Digital I/O
Bidirectional Channels

12

Input-Only Channels

Output-Only Channels

Number of Channels

12 , 0 , 0

Timing

Software

Logic Levels

TTL

Input Current Flow

Sinking , Sourcing

Output Current Flow

Sinking , Sourcing

Programmable Input Filters

No

Supports Programmable Power-Up States?

No

Current Drive Single

8.5 mA

Current Drive All

102 mA

Watchdog Timer

No

Supports Handshaking I/O?

No

Supports Pattern I/O?

No

Maximum Input Range

0V,5V

Maximum Output Range

0V,5V

Counter/Timers
Counters

Buffered Operations

No

Debouncing/Glitch Removal

No

GPS Synchronization

No

Maximum Range

0V,5V

Max Source Frequency

5 MHz

Minimum Input Pulse Width

100 ns

Pulse Generation

No

Resolution

32 bits

Timebase Stability

50 ppm

Logic Levels

TTL

Physical Specifications

Length

8.51 cm

Width

8.18 cm

Height

2.31 cm

I/O Connector

Screw terminals

Timing/Triggering/Synchronization
Triggering

Digital

Synchronization Bus (RTSI)

No

Pricing
Are you looking for order or quoting information?
Select the country where you will use the product so that we can provide accurate pricing, availability and purchasing information.

NI USB-6009 Complete Package

Each NI USB-6009 requires:

NI USB-6009

Software

Roll over icons above to learn why you need each item in the package.

NI USB-6009 and Accessories

Select Your Country
NI USB-6009 - 779026-01

For price,
Select Your Country

Optional Accessories Hide

USB 6008/09 Accessory Kit - 779371-01

For price,
Select Your Country

USB 6000 Series Prototyping Accessory - 779511-01

For price,
Select Your Country

Software
Select Your Country
Note : You should only purchase this device without software if you already own compatible application software.
NI LabVIEW SignalExpress - 779037-35

For price,
Select Your Country

You need software to interface with your hardware and to collect, analyze, present, and store your measurements. This board is
compatible with a variety of programming languages, including LabVIEW, C/C++, Visual Basic, and .NET. LabVIEW provides the
easiest integration with all of your NI hardware and is recommended to maximize your hardware investment.
Please select the country where you will use the product(s) so that we can provide you with accurate pricing, availability, and
purchasing information

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Related Information

NI USB Data Acquisition for OEM

Download NI Data Acquisition Drivers
NI LabVIEW SignalExpress Interactive Data-Logging Software

APPENDIX C
DATASHEET OF IC LM324