Deployment and evaluation of a wireless sensor network for methane leak detection

Abstract Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have been adopted in various monitoring applications. However, due to the high power consumption of catalytic gas sensors, which enable reliable gas detection, there is a lack of real WSN deployments aimed at the monitoring of combustible gases. This work reports on the evaluation of a WSN deployed in a real operational boiler facility. The WSN consists of nine battery-powered wireless sensor nodes (with an onboard catalytic sensor) controlled by a network coordinator. In this safety critical environment our objective is twofold: (i) guarantee precise and fast sensor response, and (ii) deliver the sensed data from the sensor nodes to the network coordinator safely in case of methane leakage. We first describe the deployment of the WSN and then evaluate the catalytic sensor response under various conditions. Besides, we evaluate the wireless links using the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and link quality indicator (LQI) metrics. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate that during 5 months of deployment the sensor nodes have been discharged for 22–27%.

[1]  Xenofon D. Koutsoukos,et al.  RF doppler shift-based mobile sensor tracking and navigation , 2010, TOSN.

[2]  Andrey Somov,et al.  Wildfire safety with wireless sensor networks , 2011, EAI Endorsed Trans. Ambient Syst..

[3]  Dirk Pesch,et al.  Design and deployment of a new wireless sensor node platform for building environmental monitoring and control , 2011, EAI Endorsed Trans. Ambient Syst..

[4]  V. V. Malyshev,et al.  Dynamic properties and sensitivity of semiconductor metal-oxide thick-film sensors to various gases in air gaseous medium , 2003 .

[5]  K. Tsukada,et al.  Hydrogen gas detection system prototype with wireless sensor networks , 2005, IEEE Sensors, 2005..

[6]  Norihisa Miki,et al.  Preliminary development of a hydrocarbon-fueled catalytic micro-combustor ☆ , 2003 .

[7]  D. Diamond,et al.  Evaluation of a low cost wireless chemical sensor network for environmental monitoring , 2008, 2008 IEEE Sensors.

[8]  Wei-Chih Hsu,et al.  A smart medication system using wireless sensor network technologies , 2011 .

[9]  Margaret Martonosi,et al.  Hardware design experiences in ZebraNet , 2004, SenSys '04.

[10]  J. Van Landuyt,et al.  LPE growth and characterization of InGaAsP/InP heterostructures: IR light-emitting diodes at 1.66 μm. Application to the remote monitoring of methane gas , 1997 .

[11]  O. Berger,et al.  Miniaturized gas monitoring system employing several SAW sensors , 2001, Proceedings of the 2001 IEEE International Frequncy Control Symposium and PDA Exhibition (Cat. No.01CH37218).

[12]  Matt Welsh,et al.  Deploying a wireless sensor network on an active volcano , 2006, IEEE Internet Computing.

[13]  Kuang-Ching Wang,et al.  Channel Characterization and Link Quality Assessment of IEEE 802.15.4-Compliant Radio for Factory Environments , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics.

[14]  Chee-Yee Chong,et al.  Sensor networks: evolution, opportunities, and challenges , 2003, Proc. IEEE.

[15]  Walter Lang,et al.  A microfluidic preconcentrator for enhanced monitoring of ethylene gas , 2011 .

[16]  S. So,et al.  LaserSPECks: Laser SPECtroscopic Trace-Gas Sensor Networks - Sensor Integration and Applications , 2007, 2007 6th International Symposium on Information Processing in Sensor Networks.

[17]  K.S.C. Kuang,et al.  Remote flood monitoring system based on plastic optical fibres and wireless motes , 2008 .

[18]  Elif Uysal-Biyikoglu,et al.  Measurement and characterization of link quality metrics in energy constrained wireless sensor networks , 2003, GLOBECOM '03. IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference (IEEE Cat. No.03CH37489).

[19]  Sang Jin Lee,et al.  Wireless electronic nose network for real-time gas monitoring system , 2009, 2009 IEEE International Workshop on Robotic and Sensors Environments.

[20]  Amy L. Murphy,et al.  Not all wireless sensor networks are created equal: A comparative study on tunnels , 2010, TOSN.

[21]  Roberto Passerone,et al.  Development of wireless sensor network for combustible gas monitoring , 2011 .

[22]  Roberto Passerone,et al.  Energy-Aware Gas Sensing Using Wireless Sensor Networks , 2012, EWSN.

[23]  Aiguo Song,et al.  A GPS-enabled wireless sensor network for monitoring radioactive materials , 2009 .