Project Details

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Natural Gas Sensor Alarm and Shutoff

Company: Product Realization Specialties, LLC

Major(s):
Primary: EE
Secondary: CMPEN
Optional: IE, MATSE

Non-Disclosure Agreement: NO

Intellectual Property: NO

Description: It seems that every few weeks there is a home or business explosion caused by buildup of natural gas or propane in the home or building. Sometimes people are badly burned or killed by the explosion. What is needed is a gas sensor unit (that exists) and a solenoid-controlled master gas shutoff valve (that exists) linked by software and Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to shut off the gas main to the building prior to dangerous gas buildup. The existing sensors are much more sensitive than the human nose. Many lives could have been saved in Reading by preventing the gas explosion at the R.M. Palmer Company candy factory some years ago. In Allentown 5 people were killed in an explosion in 2011. This could have been prevented as well. The students could pitch this concept to the natural gas companies such as UGI. Perhaps they would be willing to help sponsor the project, since it would avoid major lawsuits. It is expected that the new alarm/shutoff system would use a cost reduced version of the existing natural gas or propane sensors and incorporate a communication PCB plus software to close the incoming main to the building if the gas concentration reaches a threshold level. The system could potentially contact 911 or the gas company so that an emergency technician could be dispatched to the site to investigate. The system would also initiate an audible alarm similar to a smoke detector to evacuate the building. The capstone project team will need to: Research and identify existing natural gas and propane sensing systems and evaluate the cost/performance tradeoffs for these systems. Look for application specific cost reductions for gas sensing systems. Research and identify existing solenoid-controlled gas main shutoff valves and evaluate the cost/performance tradeoffs. Develop a Bluetooth or WiFi communication module with an intelligent interface to the gas sensor for operating the solenoid-controlled shutoff valve. Develop software/firmware to tie together the sensor and gas shutoff valve, create an audible alarm and initiate a contact to 911 or the gas company. Project deliverables: A fully functional demonstration unit complete with sensor, shutoff valve, communication system and working software/firmware. Provisional patent application protecting the hardware and software. Final report with financial analysis and cost estimate for a production version of the final product.