10-04-2017, 08:20 PM
Application of ZigBee for Pollution Monitoring Caused by Automobile
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INTRODUCTION
Wireless Sensor Networks and intelligent wireless systems
have successfully been applied in many situations including
habitat monitoring, environmental monitoring, structural
health monitoring, water and oil and gas pipelines, agriculture,
active volcano monitoring, industrial control systems,
process control systems such as the pulp and paper industries,
mineral processing plants, road traffic control systems, food
and chemical plants, and many others [1], [2], [3], [4]. The
technical suitability and necessary requirements for wireless
technologies for hazardous environments have been discussed
in a number of publications, which indicate that although the
wireless technology is ready in such applications, there still is
a room for improvement of open standards particularly for
industrial wireless sensor networks [5], [6].
SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION AND THE RESULTS
Gas sensor array together with wireless communication system
has been applied for monitoring of exhaust gasses on a
total of 11 types of automobiles. The automobiles had been
selected from different ages and different manufacturers and
models. Many tests had been conducted by using the gas sensor
array located about 50 cm away from the exhaust opening.
The automobiles were working idle during the measurements
and all the tests had identical experimental procedure.
To minimize the effect of the engine temperature on the combustion
of the fuel, each automobile had been driven for at
least 10 minutes before the tests.
ANALYSIS OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The emissions of gases in different tests conducted on different
automobiles of different ages and models have ranged
widely, particularly for levels of ambient oxygen and carbon
monoxide. In different tests it was noted that the carbon monoxide
level varied from 6 ppm to 1100 ppm. Similarly, hydrogen
sulfide level changed from 6 ppm up to 175 ppm and
methane level has changed from 1 LEL to 70 LEL. Tests also
reveal that there is a notable difference of the emissions of
gases between the unleaded petrol and the natural gas.
CONCLUSIONS
Gases emanated from automobile exhausts have been motored
by using gas sensor arrays. Information from the sensors
has been transmitted by ZigBee to a central computer.
Analysis revealed that automobiles operating on natural gas
fuels have much less emissions as compared to unleaded and
premium unleaded fuels. Results indicate that unleaded fuel
and premium unleaded fuel can have significant impact on
the environment conditions for their high levels of emissions.