Determination of Water Level using 2-Side Interdigital Capacitor Sensor Non-Substrate

Abstract

This research paper explores the design and operational efficacy of a non-substrate 2-side interdigital capacitor sensor for precise water level measurement. The sensor design, with a 1 mm gap, a copper line width of 1 mm, an adjacent line distance of 2 mm, and a total of 20 lines on each side, capitalizes on the permittivity disparity between air and water to track changes in water levels. The study encompasses two experimental configurations: one employing a copper plate and the other utilizing a PCB (FR4) with a relative permittivity of 4.6. The findings reveal that the sensor's capacitance alters in response to fluctuations in water levels, which is attributed to the varying contact between the copper lines and the water surface. Notably, the non-substrate sensor demonstrated a significant increase in capacitance of 236 nF/mm, with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9981. These results highlight the potential of the 2-Side Interdigital Capacitor Sensor Non-Substrate as an effective tool for accurate water level measurement, emphasizing the importance of sensor design in achieving precise outcomes.