Smart nose

Abstract

Over the past few years, the scientific advances have brought changes in every aspect of our lives and they have created both a positive and a negative impact simultaneously. When we consider the advantages, our lifestyle has become more luxurious and comfortable. However, everything has a price and it is now being paid in terms of global warming, more frequently happening natural disasters, shortage of food and clean water in many parts of the world and an alarming level of pollution of every form. These have increased the risk of the loss of human life in the current environment. One of the factors that play a significant role in our daily lives is the presence of dangerous gases in the air. The most occurring is natural gas, commonly known as Sui gas, which is being used in heaters, geysers and other appliances. Sometimes, gas cylinders containing LPG are also used in its place. Besides its usefulness, if these gases get leaked in our houses, offices and industries, they can cause serious casualties. Not just Methane and LPG but there have been numerous cases of Carbon Monoxide poisoning as well. All of these gases impose a great threat to human life. On 22nd January, 2014 it was reported that four persons of a family including husband, wife and their two children were found dead due to suffocation caused by gas leakage. In December 2017, at least seven people died of suffocation or burns in ten incidents of gas leaks and gas explosions reported to the police. Another incident in the same year was a blast due to gas leakage in PWD Colony of Rawalpindi which killed three people and injured many others. Natural gas is colorless and odorless on its own, so the gas company adds an odorant as a safety precaution. The pungent odor, which is almost like rotten eggs, helps detect it immediately if there is any gas leak. However, lately it has been revealed that the odorant of the gas is quiet expensive and the companies have decreased its amount in the gas being supplied. No odor and color and gas load shedding on the top of that in winters often makes gas leak and its detection difficult and hence leads to these accidents. Gas detectors and sensors available in the market can detect only one gas in one module. Moreover, if user is not physically present at the site of detection, there can be made no safety measures as the current devices only detect the gas. Therefore one compact device for detection of two dangerous gases namely; carbon-monoxide and LPG is designed and implemented on a small scale to serve as a prototype. When gas is detected and measured above the threshold value, the user is informed via audio visual alarms along with a text message. Moreover, the device itself will take some precautionary measures to stabilize the environment which include the cut off of the main electric and gas supply thus preventing explosion caused by sparking of the gas. In case of fire, the device will detect it and notify the user in the same manner as mentioned above. Hence, a Smart Nose is designed and implemented to provide user with all the features mentioned above.