Portable Gas Detection and Warning System for Olfactory Disabled People

A significant part of the population suffers from olfactory disabilities, especially in their old age. Not only do these people find it difficult to sense the aroma of food or perfume, but they are also unable to sense the odour of harmful gases if there is any gas leak in the surrounding environment. This inability to smell exposes them to multiple health hazards putting their life in danger. This paper discusses a portable device that can be used as an aid to detect the presence of dangerous gases with a warning system. Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), Methane (CH
₄
), Butane (C
₄
H
₁
o), Carbon monoxide(CO) and Hydrogen Sulphide (H
₂
S) are the most common odored gases that are present in the surroundings, which are harmful to human health. These gases are widely used in household applications and industries and hence are commonly found. The device uses a gas detection system for monitoring the level of these gases and updates the values over the server from where it is made available to the user on a smartphone. Each sensor is calibrated to give accurate results, and the device uses Internet of Things (IoT) and an MQTT protocol to establish a network of all such users and plot the gas variations on the Map. It also includes vibrations, buzzers, and LEDs to indicate that a particular gas has crossed the threshold levels. The module is associated with an application that will continuously update the above-mentioned gases' values on the Android application and will send an alert through a notification and a text message with the individual's coordinates to the concerned individual during critical mishaps. Along with being compact and user-friendly, the device constitutes a rechargeable battery and also has applications in other fields.