Puspita Sari Putri, Melany Febrina, Eko Satria
Accurate monitoring and control of water levels in pembangkit listrik tenaga panas bumi (PLTP) separators (geothermal power plants) are essential for maintaining operational efficiency and preventing equipment damage. Conventional monitoring methods often lack precision and are not integrated with real-time data systems. This study developed and implemented an Internet of Things-based water level monitoring system for the separator at PLTP Ulubelu, located in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia. The system utilizes five Hall effect sensors installed at critical heights (30 cm, 40 cm, 50 cm, 60 cm, and 70 cm) inside the sight glass to detect the position of a magnetic float. Sensor data are transmitted using a NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller and stored in a local MySQL database, enabling real-time monitoring through a web-based interface. Field testing showed that the system achieved a mean absolute error of 0.14 cm and a response time of less than 1.5 s. The interface provides visual and audio alerts when the water level reaches cautionary (30 cm) or danger (70 cm) thresholds, ensuring timely operator intervention. No false positives or false negatives were observed during trials, and the system operated reliably under electromagnetic interference and network disruptions. This low-cost and robust monitoring system enhances operational safety and offers a scalable solution for geothermal power plant applications. © 2025 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.
Department of Physics, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung Selatan, 35365, Indonesia