Smart nose for residential houses and buildings

Abstract

In the last several years, a growing scientific evidence has indicated that the pollutant levels within homes can sometimes be higher than in outdoor air, due to the modern air tight home structure. Most of our time is spend indoors, so poor indoor air quality can put us at risk for health problems from short-term eye and throat allergies-to long-term effect like cancer and even death. On 22nd January, 2014 it was reported that four person of the family including husband, wife and their two children were found dead due to suffocation caused by gas leakage. In another case, Three real brothers present in the room went unconscious due to suffocation and were rushed to Civil Hospital where doctors confirmed death of the two brothers while third’s condition was also declared serious. A couple and their two children sustained burn injuries in a blast that occurred due to gas leakage. These are only a few incidents while there are a lot more all around the world whereas minor allergies are not reported The mostly encountered hazardous gases inside buildings are: Carbon-dioxide, Carbon-monoxide, Methane and Hydrogen Sulfide. Most of the dangerous gases are colorless and odorless (for example Carbon-monoxide-the silent killer) and the odorous ones (for example Hydrogen Sulfide) are harmful at low concentrations. So some detecting mechanism is needed to aware us of these dangerous gases at a concentration not dangerous for human health, so that the residents can take timely action to get rid of the gas source. Gas detectors or sensors available in the market can sense/detect only one gas in one module. Moreover, if user is not present near the detector, it cannot control the safety providing devices. Therefore one compact indoor device for detection of four dangerous gases carbon-dioxide, carbon-monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and methane is designed and implemented. When gas is detected the user is informed via audio visual indications along with a text message. Safety device (e.g. exhaust fan) will be turned on automatically after gas detection to evacuate the gas to keep its concentration as low as possible. The user can take action manually (i.e., turning gas evacuating device on or gas sources off via switch) or via a text message. In case of manual action the user at the mobile end can send a pre-defined text message to know the status of the devices at the residence and can turn any device on or off according to his will. A keypad interface is also provided so that the user can enter, delete and check the numbers to which the messages will be sent. Thus, a Smart Nose is designed and implemented to provide user with all the features mentioned above.