Low-power gas detection beacon for hazardous area applications

Staubitzer, Kurt W. (2024) Low-power gas detection beacon for hazardous area applications. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (1MB)

Abstract

Sensors are critical in industrial applications as information of any given process must be relayed from the environment back to a human or computer for interpretation and action. Particularly in the Oil and Gas industry, certain environmental hazards exist that must be respected, and such areas are classified with a “Hazardous Area” designation as specified by the International Electrotechnical Commission, a globally recognized standard. These areas have restrictions for personnel and equipment to operate as safely as possible. Hardwired field devices are designed and certified for specific areas and most wireless sensors, if they’re acceptable at all, are developed with an integrated explosion-proof enclosure such that the circuit design requirements are not as restrictive as otherwise would be without this level of protection. Gas detection methods are available in both fixed and portable designs. Fixed designs provide general operational coverage and portable are often utilized when more specific coverage is required (during non-routine maintenance, for example). When designing hardwired field devices for coverage in hazardous areas, special considerations are required such as the use of intrinsically safe barriers between the field and a designated “safe’ or potentially less-dangerous category of Hazardous Area. The use of batteries can be advantageous due to electrical isolations and protection techniques. Most portable gas detection methods are secured to a person in the general area of their mouth and nose and alarm in the presence of gas. This inherently means when gas is detected it is already near the face of personnel. This work explores the potential to leverage Bluetooth Low Energy to develop a beacon for gas detection that can alert personnel in the area with a sufficiently low transmission power such that the International Electrotechnical Commission safety guidelines are respected. It can also be integrated into existing portable gas detectors such that the warning is available from a meaningful distance.

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