Gas management & disaster system using ZigBee

International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 2 Issue 11, November - 2013

GasManagement& Disaster System Using ZigBee
Salman Rashid
University of Lahore

NabeelHaider

Abstract
Gas leakage is an important problem. It wastes energy and
sometimes it causes harmful effects to lives. We have limited
energy resources. Proper utilization of resources is need of
the time. We have proposed a gas safety management system
using ZigBeeto monitor flow and pressure of gas, earthquake,
temperature, smoke and leak of methane. It also provides a
health safety system simultaneously by automating the
associated devices with its embedded programmed feature to
procure the environment by completely eradicating the
harmful source. Through this dynamic technology, we can
establish a well economic and health caring system in this
rapidly developing era to excel our country.

1. Introduction

Wireless sensor network is an interesting research topic.
Release of standards like IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee in the
field have brought the technology in industrial domain
[11].Thisadvancement has lead the world towardsevolution of
many commercial products [5] like home automation and
remote monitoring. Previouslyproprietary routing algorithms
and RF technology were used in sensor networks, but now
standards-based networking and RF solutions are used in
products. Based on the Open System Interconnection model,
the Physical and MAC layer standard, defined that it would
have a date rate of 250 kb/s with the radio havingdirect
sequence spread spectrum as modulation technique, itoperates
in the 2.4 GHzthe unlicensed band. It has lower bit-rate
alternatives in the 868 MHz and 900 MHz bands [12]. On top
of these two standard layers, several proprietary and
standards-based sensor network systems emerged. ZigBee
standard is the one with most vendor and end-product support.
ZigBee joined the well-established Bluetooth and Wi-Fiband
of 2.4 GHz. It looks mostly like Bluetooth but it is simpler,
has fast connection time, longer battery life and a lower data
rate.
Today, high class apartments are equipped with
safety devices at facilities of gas, electricity and water. It is
clear that a sensor will make our lives safer and more
comfortable in the future. We can use it as a fire alarm or a gas
leak detector. We propose a gas safety management system
using
an
intelligent
ZigBeebased
system.System
includesZigBee network technology, automatic gas leak
cutoff, sensors of smoke, methane, and temperature. At first
we deployed the ZigBee coordinator, then we used sensors for

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quick monitoring and at last ZigBee controller to take action
as needed. Action included wall-pad opening and closing
which has a built-in cutoff valve and sensors of flow, pressure,
and earthquake. That ZigBee controlleroperates its inner valve
and shut off the gas, serving a warning on users if any unusual
is occurred for gas flow, pressure, earthquake, temperature,
and leakage of gases in gas pipeline and facilities. Our gas
safety management system is configured by the topology of
star types with those devices and sensors and then controls all
the devices through a wall-pad including a gateway [2] with
ZigBee network, and takes safety measures to protect a serious
risk. In this paper, the proposed system usedZigBeewireless
device, sensors and ZigBee controllers.System will increase
performance and will provide safety.

2. Comparison between ZigBee and other
technique
ZigBee is tremendously better than any other technologies [6]
like Bluetooth,Wi-Fi and Home RF because of its supreme
performance in any comparison on different technical aspects.
Below mentioned is the comparison of ZigBee with other
technologies.

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Keyword: ZigBee Networks, Gas Management System
(GMS),Full Function Device (FFD), Reduced Function
Device (RFD), TIN (total input), TOUT (total output)

MustansarIqbal

Frequency
Band

Maximum
bit rate
Power
Coverage
Area
Network
Nodes

ZigBee

Bluetooth

Wi-Fi

Home
RF

2.4GHz
/
915MHz
/
865MHz

2.4GHz

2.4GHz

2.4GHz

250kb/s

1 Mb/s

1 Mb/s

1.6Mb/s

Low

Medium

High

Medium

100 m

10

50

50

65,000

80

50

127

Table 1: Comparison between ZigBee, Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth

3. ZigBee technical characteristics
ZigBee is a wireless communication technology applied in
short range. It has low transmission rate between the various
electronic devices.ZigBeeisan emerging wireless transmission
technology standard. It has its unique technical characteristics.
The notable advantage of ZigBee is that it has long battery
life; low power consumption; and reliable connections [4]. It
uses free frequency range that why it is suitable for home

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applications. For commercial purpose it results low cost and
reliable networks. When ZigBee node is under workingmode,
the transmission rate is low, the amount of data transmission is
small, all these factors reduce the time of receiving and
sending signals and when it is under nonworkingmode,
ZigBee node is dormant. Both of two working modes
determine the low consumption.
ZigBee is a kind of wireless communication technology. It is
applied in short range, low transmission rate between the
various electronic equipments. ZigBee as emerging
wirelesstransmission technology standard has its unique
technical characteristics:

A. ZigBee Stake
Based on the physical and MAC layers specified by IEEE
802.15.4 WPAN standard, the ZigBee specification establishes
the framework for the Network and Applicationlayers. The
protocol stack of ZigBee networks is detailed in fig 1.

A. Reliability
ZigBee MAC layer [9] adopts talkwhenready collision
avoidance mechanism. Under this mechanism, when the data
transmission requirements appeared node will send each
packet immediately and wait for confirmation reply
information comes from the recipient. We fit does not receive
any confirmation then the end devices directly communicate
with the ZigBee coordinator. ZigBee coordinator is
responsible for forming the network in mesh and tree
topologies [1] and for choosing certain key network
parameters but by the use of ZigBee routers the network can
be extended. In our system we are using star topology. In star
topology, a central unit is controlling all network devices.

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B.Low Power Consumption

ZigBee uses low power [9]. Battery timing may be extended
from half to full year. This feature of ZigBee makes it reliable
and suitable in all environments.
C. High Expansibility

A ZigBee network can contain 255 ZigBee nodes, one isthe
master node and others are all slave nodes. Ifrough network
coordinator forms net, and network coordinator can also
interconnected each other, the whole net can contain 65000
nodes. At last the whole number is very considerable.

4. How ZigBee network works
There are two types of devices in a ZigBee network [12], one
is the full function device (FFD), and the other is the reduced
function device (RFD). In the network, FFD can be the
network coordinator or the router, and also can be the terminal
device linking to the network. While the RFD cannot be the
coordinator, it only can connect to FFD as a terminal
device.ZigBee networks useController, router (optional) and
end devices to communicate. Network devices based
uponZigBee technology like coordinators and end devices gets
together to form a ZigBee wireless network. Networking
coordinator works as a primary device in ZigBee based
system. It is anorigin to commence a networking process. It
sends information toend devices. The end devices are
secondary medium which coordinate with ZigBee controller.
An important point is that the end device only works as a
receiver within essential time span less than 15msec.

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Figure 1: ZigBee Stake
Two device types are specified within the IEEE 802.15.4
framework. First is full function device and reduced function
device. An FFD has more responsibilities in that they must
maintain routing tables, participate in route discovery and
repairbeaconing framework. Ithandles node joins. Moreover,
an FFD has the capability of communicating with any other
devices within its routing, the end devices have to rely
exclusively on their parent nodes to perform mesh routing on
their behalves.
B. General Parameters
Network Size
Number of Nodes
Transmission Range
Network Setup Time
Number of Concurrent Data Flows

45m x 45m
18 nodes
10 meters
30 seconds
3

Table 2: General parameters

5. ZigBee network topologies
ZigBee networks use different network topologies like peerto-peer, star topologies and mesh [12].
A. Peer to Peer Topology
In peer-to-peer topologyZigBee network nodes help other
devices to directlyconnect to each other [8].One node of
ZigBee network devicekeeps the abilityto forma network by
connecting multiple devices. In peer-to-peer networking
topology one ZigBeenetwork device node is connected with
the other node for network formation. It forms a grid like

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structure. ZigBee networks have short range wireless
networking. ZigBee networks relatively form a simpler
network,they don’t have any complexity.

6. ZigBee network devices
A. Coordinator
There are 14 channels in the default scan channels list (11 –
24), coordinator is configured to start a network on one of
these. The coordinator performs an energy scan and active
scan to ensure it selects a channel with minimal energy where
a PAN ID conflict will not occur. The coordinator, by default
selects a random 16-bit PAN ID for the network. The
coordinator is also configured as the trust center and network
manager.
B. Router

Figure 2: Peer to Peer Topology
B. Star Topology
Star topology of ZigBee [2] network makes all the devices
attached to a central control unit.Multiple routers may also be
used to increase ZigBee network range. The complexity of this
module makes it difficult to tell that which node is connected
to which one but in case of any breakdown the ZigBee
networkfinds an alternate route to execute the command
sending through coordinator anddoes not get affected itself.

The router is configured to make three attempts to join a
network when first powered on. By default, the router will
scan 14 of the 16 channels (11 – 24) and join any PAN that is
allowing joining. After the router joins a network, it will
attempt to discover an endpoint on the trust center that
supports key establishment by sending a match descriptor
request to the coordinator. If the trust center responds with a
match descriptor response, the router will attempt to perform
key establishment
C. End Device

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The end device is configured to make three attempts to join a
network when first powered on. By default, the end device
will scan 14 of the 16 channels (11 – 24) and join any PAN
that is allowing joining. After the end device joins a network,
it will attempt to discover an endpoint on the trust center that
supports key establishment by sending a match descriptor
request to the coordinator. If the trust center responds with a
match descriptor response, the end device will attempt to
perform key establishment.
When the end device joins a network it will send a modem
status API frame out its UART indicating the end device has
joined a network. Then it will send an API frame out the
UART [8] indicating the device authenticated successfully,
and its Associate LED pin (pin 15) toggles at a rate of two
blinks per second. The AI command, if queried returns a value
of 0, indicating a successful join to a smart energy
network.Once the end device has joined a network, it sends a
poll request to its parent device to see if the parent received
any RF data in its behalf. The end device continues polling
while awake, disabling its receiver between polls if the parent
has no data for it.

Figure 3:Star Topology
C. Mesh Topology

7. How ZigBee GMS works

Figure4: Mesh Topology

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The system is based on gas leakage prevention and health care
system through ZigBee Technology. We have installed
ZigBee device (RFD) in every room of the house [11].
Whereas these rooms are having Heater, Geezer and Stove
like appliances in them.
ZigBee device controllers and sensors are programmed to
inform ZigBee coordinator (FFD) [3], in case if Co or Co2
increases in the room more than the set level. In response
ZigBee coordinator will address to the ZigBee controller to
turn off the appliance immediately.
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This system is also capacitated to prevent the gas leakage. For
instance this house is provided with the total gas pressure of 4
Cubic Hector. ZigBee coordinator detects [10] that provided
gas pressure is decreasing to 3 cubic Hector then it will start
checking every room for gas leakage with the help of ZigBee
devices and Sensors [3].

fan and start alarm to intimate home members. This system
will save lives in two ways. First, it will start exhaust fan and
close the valve to decrease the quantity of these gases in the
room. On the other hand it will start alarm to make household
members attentive.

Zigbee
Controller

Start

Zigbee Enabled Thermo
Electric Sensor

Alarm

CO=x
CO2=y
CS
Flag=0

Stove
Electric Sensor

Fan
Electric Sensor

Listen
CS Sensor

30

Geezer

NO
Electric Sensor

Heater

CS>CO
OR
CS>CO2

Valve

NO

If
Flag=1

YES

Fan Off
Volve On
Flag=0

Zigbee Enabled Metter

YES

Figure 5: Block Diagram for Gas Management & Disaster
system

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Fan On
Volve Off;
Flag=1

It will perform thorough check to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th room
respectively. Let’s see how it will enquire for the gas leakage
detection. First of all it will check the first room by turning off
the gas connectivity and see if the main pressure retains to 4
Cubic Hector, In case of negative detection to room 1, gas
supply will again continue to that room. For instance gas
leakage is found in room 3 then gas provision to room 3 will
be discontinued and rest of the rooms will be carried on with
the gas supply. Similar step will be done to check for the
leakage until the detection is succeeded in every room. In Case
if no gas leakage is found in any room then it will presume
that leakage is on the main gas supply line and will turn off the
safety valve of the main line.
Whereas ZigBee room sensors are programmed to raise
alarm [8], on sensing the methane gas release in the air, by
reporting to ZigBee coordinator to turn off the particular room
gas valve. This system is also very effective for health care
system. For example in case of gas load shedding, some food
was cooking on the stove and gas was turned off and comes
again then the discharged methane gas in the room will be
sensed and reported to the ZigBee coordinator to turn off the
supply of the particular room. ZigBee Coordinator is
intelligent [7] enough to control the devices and sensors itself
independently.
A. Environment Control System
Environment Control System is designed to check the quantity
of Carbon dioxide and carbon mono oxide in the room. If the
quantity of carbon dioxide and carbon mono oxide will be
more than desired requirement than system will start exhaust

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Figure6: Environment Control System

Above figure shows all flows in system. It implements the
core idea and as a result it will work as per system
requirements.
B. Heat Control System
This system is design with RFD device [12]. This system will
find temperature value with RFD device. As the value of
temperature increased the carbon dioxide, sensors will detect
this change in room temperature automatically. After detecting
temperature the sensors will send instructions to ZigBee
coordinator. Thus, the sensor has two jobs: detection of heat;
sending instructions to ZigBee coordinator. After receiving
instructions from sensors the ZigBee coordinator will give
instructions to ZigBee controller. Its job of ZigBee controller
to take necessary action as required. ZigBeecontroller resolves
this issue by closing the valve connected with heater and turn
on the exhaust fan. It will be an effective solution because
excess heat and carbon dioxide will be exhausted from room
and new heat generation will be closed when heater will be
turned off.System has two major functions. It will close the
valve and start the fan to manage the temperature. This system
is designed feedback mechanism. The system will find
specific value until the temperature is balanced. ZigBee
controller and temperature sensor are used in this system.
When temperature in room will be normal the controller will
turn off the fan and start the heater again. Whole process will
be completed in good way.

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ISSN: 2278-0181
Start

TIN,TOUT
Rooms=x,Room[]
Flag=0,i=0

Start

Close Main
Volve

I < x

Heat=z
HS=x
Flag=0

YES
Listen TIN
And
Listen TOUT

Repair/Check

Error
NO

Flag=0

TIN ≠ TOUT

Listen HS

YES
Closs Volve Room[i]

No

Open Volve Room[i-1]

Displat Volve
Room[i]

Repair/Check

i++

Heater
On

Yes

Flag=1

No

HS>Heat

Yes

Success

Heater
Off

Flag=1

Flag=1

Figure8:Gas Leak Detection System
Figure7: Temperature controlling feedback system.

8. Conclusion
This system is solution for detection of gas leakage. System
achieve this task by comparing input of gas and usage in
apartment. System coordinator which will function with gas
meter will calculate exact incoming gas. When home
accessories like heater, stove will utilize the gas the ZigBee
coordinator will calculate it again. For instance this house is
provided with the total gas pressure of 6 Cubic Hector. ZigBee
coordinator detects that provided gas pressure is decreasing to
4 cubic Hector then it will start checking every room for gas
leakage with the help of ZigBee devices and Sensors.
System will perform this action by checking from 1stto2nd, 3rd
and 4th room one by one. First, it will check the first room by
turning off the gas connectivity and see if the main pressure
retains to 4 Cubic Hector, In case of negative detection to
room 1, gas supply will again continue to that room. For
instance gas leakage is found in room 3 then gas provision to
room 3 will be discontinued and rest of the rooms will be
carried on with the gas supply. Similar step will be done to
check for the leakage until the detection is succeeded in every
room. In Case if no gas leakage is found in any room then it
will presume that leakage is on the main gas supply line and
will turn off the safety valve of the main line.
The following process flow diagram shows that two main
variables; TIN and TOUT will perform this task logically.
After initialization of the system, input variable TIN will
calculate total incoming gas. It will constantly compare this
value with TOUT.TOUT value will be calculated with the
help of sensors and ZigBee devices.

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As our country is under great economicalcrisis and our present
natural resources are needed to be utilized with intense care.
Therefore, our research paper is very helpful solution to
overcome our presently confronted economical issues and as
well as for our wasted energy resources.Normally in every
region, whether it is industrial area or residential area, gas
leakage is very common. In our research paper, we have
presented a dynamic and intelligent system which is based on
ZigBeeTechnology;through this we can prevent gas leakage
which will save our energy resources from wastage.In future,
these systems can be implemented in industrial sector. This
thing will minimize production cost by utilizing energy
resources in more efficient way.

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C. Gas Leak Detection System

9. References
[1]. N. C. Liang, P.C.Chen, T. Sun, G. Yang, L. Chen, and
M.Gerla ,“Impact of Node Heterogeneity in ZigBee Mesh
Network Routing,” 2006 IEEE International Conference,
October 8-11, 2006, Taipei, Taiwan.
[2]. Masahiro Inoue, ToshiyasuHiguma, Yoshiaki Ito,
Noriyuki Kushiro, Hitoshi Kubota, "Network Architecture
for Home Energy Management System," IEEE
Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. 49, no.3, pp.
606-613, Aug. 2003.
[3]. A. Wheeler, “Commercial Applications of Wireless
Sensor Network Using ZigBee”, IEEE Communications
Magazine, Vol. 45, N. 4, pp. 70 – 77, April 2007.
[4]. P. Shah, T.Shaikh, K.Ghan andS.Shilasakar“ Power
Management using ZigBee Wireless Sensor
Network,”First International Conference on Emerging
Trends in Engineering and Technology.

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ISSN: 2278-0181

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[5]. X.Li, K. Fang, J.Gu, L. Zhang “An Improved ZigBee
Routing Strategy for Monitoring System,” First
International Conference on Intelligent Networks and
Intelligent Systems, 2008 IEEE.
[6]. T.W. Song, C.S. Yang, “A Connectivity Improving
Mechanism for ZigBee Wireless Sensor
Networks,”National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
2008 IEEE/IFIP International Conference on Embedded
and Ubiquitous Computing.
[7]. C.H. Liu, C.G Fan, “ZigBee - Research into integrated
Real-Time Location Systems,”2008 IEEE Asia-Pacific
Services Computing Conference.
[8]. J.Yongping, F.Zehao, “Design and Application
ofWireless Sensor Network Web Server based on
S3C2410 and ZigBee Protocol,” 2009 International
Conference on Networks Security, Wireless
Communications and Trusted Computing.
[9]. ManouchehrGhahramanianGolzar,
HamidRezaTajozzakerin. "A New Intelligent Remote
Control System for Home Automation and Reduce
Energy Consumption" Fourth Asia International
Conference on Mathematical/Analytical Modeling and
Computer Simulation. pp 174-180,2010.
[10]. Khusvinder Gill, Shuang-Hua Yang, Fang Yao, and Xin
Lu,“A ZigBee Based Home Automation System”, IEEE
Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Vol. 55, No. 2,
MAY 2009.
[11]. Imran A. Zualkernan, A. R. Al-Ali, Mustafa A. Jabbar,
ImadZabalawi, and Ahmed Wasfy, “InfoPods: Zigbeebased remote information monitoring devices for smarthomes,” IEEE Transactions on ConsumerElectronics,
Vol. 55, No. 3, August 2009, pp. 1221-1226.
[12]. ZigBee Specification, “ZigBee specification,” ZigBee
document 053474r17, ZigBee Standard Organization,
January 17, 2008.

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