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Full Project – Design and construction of a microcontroller based electric cooker with time, temperature control and display

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of study

A microcontroller based electric cooker is an automatic cooker that monitors a preset time and regulates the cooker temperature over the set time. If the temperature of the cooker increases or reaches the set maximum, the heating element is automatically turned off, but when the temperature reduces, the heating element is also automatically turned on. This on and off activity takes place within the set time given to the controlling unit, say ten minutes, and when the time runs out, the cooker is automatically turned off. This is because the cooker is a time conscious system. The research has an electric cooker with a heating element as the heat source, it also has a microcontroller system. The system uses a temperature sensor to determine the ambient temperature surrounding the cooker.

The idea behind the design and construction of this system is to make available or alternative means of providing safety and accuracy demand for electric cooker used for household or industrial purposes. This goes a long way in helping to curb the problem frequently encountered as a result of fire outbreak, burning of food, and inaccuracy found in measuring and maintaining temperature. This system will make it possible to have other means of heating food with constant temperature monitoring until when the required temperature will be achieved thereby creating time for the operator to be engaged on other activities while the system is in operation.

Moreover, rate of fire accident caused by heating appliances in this country is high. So, there is every need that other means of safety should be made available for constant running of our electric equipment and gadgets and also to provide comfort to man. Hence, with the help of a micro-controlled electric cooker, which has come to solve the problem of fire accident and inaccuracy found in temperature measurement in Nigeria, a steady running and operation of our electric equipment and gadgets are guaranteed.

Also, the recent technological advancement in management information systems and sharing of information across nations and amongst the international community has also reshaped our society to a great extent, this has no doubt been made possible by the efforts of various technologies advancements in micro-electronics, devices, machines and microcontroller based systems with most at times computer interface which has yielded an information technology society where a successful and dynamic relationship between engineering and societal needs. (Jacob Millan, 2006).

1.2 Statement of the problem

Most electric cookers available today lack the vital aspect of control, which has led to several losses ranging from food burning, power wastage, human losses etc. This among other factors has inspired the need of integrating control in electric cookers in a bid to reduce to the barest minimum or completely eliminate some of these losses. This project seeks for a source of energy that is relatively cheap and available, and therefore has an edge over stoves and ovens using kerosene and gas as sources of energy.

1.3 Research Objectives

The objective of this work is to design and construct a temperature control device which can control the temperature range of a cooker automatically, without the help of the user.

This study is to devise a means of producing or cooking food with temperature controlled electric cooker. In achieving the above aim, the following objectives would be realized;

To review the working principles of different types of cooker.
To design and construct a microcontroller based electric cooker with time, temperature control and display.

To test the constructed microcontroller based electric cooker with time, temperature control and display.

1.4 Contribution to Knowledge

The usefulness and significance of a micro-controlled based electric cooker cannot be overemphasized. This design and construction will bring about the possibility of cooking without having deposits of ash carbon dirt in an electric cooker. It entails good cooking condition, cleanliness, quietness and ambient temperature. Its capital cost, running and maintenance cost are low which make it affordable and easy to use.

This project work can serve as a catalogue and manual for the construction, installation, maintenance and repair of different possible faults in temperature-controlled cooker. It will also be of a great benefit to the department and society as it will serve as a medium of knowing the principle of operating the model work. It serves as an alternative means of cooking instead of using the stove, and the firewood.

1.5 Scope of project

There are some limitations in the use of temperature-controlled cooker:

It cannot be used where there is no electricity, since it makes use of electrical energy.
It will require an entire disassembling in the case of adjustment of its internal components.

Methodology

The following methods will be adopted in achieving the goal of this project;

Temperature range, type of cooker and other major components and materials to be used will be obtained through interview.
An expert in the field will be consulted for guidance and advise on steps to take to achieve the desired result of the construction.
The best switching technique for high current devices will be identified through a literature search.
Literature on micro-controllers and their communication technique will be gathered and evaluated to determine what would be needed to control the heating modules.
Control techniques will be investigated and applied to the embedded environment.
Data will be collected with respect to the cooker’s heating characteristics.
An algorithm will be developed based on the data obtained.
Simulation of the algorithm will be done.
A prototype controller will be designed and simulated.
Results will be evaluated and corrections to the design will be made.

Definition of Terms

The Relay: This is a device which allow the electrical circuit to control the ON and OFF state without human intervention (grouped as a mechanical switching device). An inductor is used to generate a magnetic field which in turn attract a contact, thereby closing the circuit and allowing current to flow. This inductor can be energized by other circuits which becomes the controller circuit. Contact bounce is always present during the switching period (Johler, 2000:83-93).

Electric cooker: This is an electric powered cooking device for heating and cooking of food. Electric cooker works basically by heating effect of electric current on conductors.
Microcontroller: A microcontroller is a compact integrated circuit designed to govern a specific operation in an embedded system. A typical microcontroller includes a processor, memory and input/output (I/O) peripherals on a single chip. Its sometimes referred to as an embedded controller or microcontroller unit (MCU). Microcontrollers are found in vehicles, robots, office machines, medical devices, vending machines and home appliances, among many other devices. The temporary information that the microcontroller receives is stored in its data memory, where the processor accesses it and uses instructions stored in its program memory to decipher and apply the incoming data. It then uses its I/O peripherals to communicate and enact the appropriate action.
Temperature Sensor: A sensor is a device that detects and respond to some type of input from the physical environment.

A temperature sensor is an electronic device that measure the temperature of its environment and converts the input data into electronic data to record, monitor, or signal temperature changes. Temperature sensor are used across a wide range of devices and environments, such as appliances, machinery, aircraft, automobiles, computers, thermostats and many others devices.

Heating element: This is a conductor material designed to heat up when connected to current flow. It converts electric energy into heat energy. This process is called Joule heating.
Power supply unit: A power supply (PSU) converts mains AC to low voltage regulated DC power for internal components of a computer. There are three subsets of regulated power supplies: linear, switched, and battery-based.
Buzzer: A buzzer or a beeper is an audio signaling device, which maybe mechanical, electromechanical or piezoelectric. Typical uses of buzzers and beepers include alarm devices, timers, and confirmation of user inputs such as mouse click or keystroke.
Liquid crystal display: This is an electronically modulated optical device that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystal.

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