KR102074175B1 - Apparatus and Method for providing Gas information - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for providing gas information, measuring gas indoors and outdoors and providing the kind of the gas measured, and a method for the same. According to the present invention, semiconductor gas sensors are installed in a predetermined place, and a composition ratio generating unit generates three composition ratio values corresponding to an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis by using measurement values measured by the semiconductor gas sensors. Also, a control unit individually provides the three composition ratio values generated by the composition ratio generating unit to the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis on a three-dimensional classification map mapped with a composition ratio range of the gas to be sensed, provided in advance. Therefore, the control unit classifies and provides at least one measured gas by kind. Accordingly, the device for providing gas information can detect the kind of gas generated indoors and outdoors and prepare a proper response plan for each kind of gas.

Description

Apparatus and Method for providing Gas information

The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing information such as gas type, and more particularly, to classify and provide a gas type measured by semiconductor gas sensors reacting to multiple gases through a three-dimensional classification map. It relates to a gas information providing apparatus and method.

With the development of industry, the use of various gases from various industrial sites to general households is increasing and the kinds thereof are also increasing. In addition, the gas includes odors and various harmful gases harmful to the human body, and the risks due to these gases are gradually increasing. For example, gas leaks can cause workplaces to explode, and odors or inhalation of harmful gases expose workers to dangerous environments.

Therefore, a necessity for quickly detecting a risk of odor or harmful gas in advance is required, and various kinds of sensors are currently used as such a method.

There is an electrochemical sensor which is widely used as a sensor for detecting harmful gases. These electrochemical sensors can detect only a single gas, resulting in faster reaction rates and better detection. However, since it reacts to only one gas, in order to detect various kinds of gases, an additional number of individual sensors is required as the number of gases to be detected, which causes the increase in purchase and installation costs. First of all, there is always a risk from unknown gas generation, because no gas other than the installed sensor can be detected at all.

Another sensor is a semiconductor gas sensor, which is cheaper than an electrochemical sensor and reacts to various gases. Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1695596 (prior patent) discloses a configuration for detecting harmful gases using such a semiconductor gas sensor. However, the prior patent discloses only a configuration in which the data processing module calculates concentration data for each harmful gas type by detecting the harmful gas detection data detected by the semiconductor gas sensor, and still does not provide the harmful gas correctly classified by gas type.

This means that it is impossible to determine the type of gas generated at a specific work place and to actively respond to each type of gas. In other words, the countermeasures may be different for each harmful gas. If the type of the gas being measured or detected is not known, the treatment for the harmful gas cannot be efficiently presented.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, a gas information providing apparatus for providing a plurality of types of gas information measured by a plurality of semiconductor gas sensors that are cheaper than electro-chemical sensors and responds to multiple gases; To provide a way. That is, because the semiconductor gas sensor responds to multiple gases at the same time, it is possible to confirm what gas is generated in the indoor workplace while solving the technical limitations of low selectivity and stability, which may be disadvantageous.

And another object of the present invention is to use the provided gas information to enable the operator to escape from the influence of harmful gases or odors to improve the working environment and to promote the safety of the operator.

The present invention for achieving the above object, the sensor is installed in a specific place; A converter for converting the analog measurement values measured by the sensors into digital values; A composition ratio generation unit generating three composition ratio values corresponding to the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis using the measured values of the converted sensors; And a control unit providing one or more gas information by providing composition ratio values generated by the composition ratio generation unit to the X, Y, and Z axes of the three-dimensional classification map to which the composition ratio range of the gas to be detected previously provided is mapped. It provides a gas information providing apparatus.

The composition ratio generation unit calculates and generates each measured value measured by two different sensors as a ratio.

The sensing target gas is changed according to the type and performance of the sensors, and the composition ratio range of the sensing target gas is also changed.

The gas information may include a gas type and a gas concentration.

The sensor is a semiconductor gas sensor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller may transmit the gas information to a portable terminal device possessed by an operator or a display device installed in a workplace. Alternatively, only when noxious gas is included in the gas information, it may be configured to be transmitted to the portable terminal device or the display device.

According to another feature of the invention, the semiconductor gas sensors installed in a specific place measuring the gas contained in the air; A conversion step of converting the measured analog measurement value into a digital value; A generation step of generating three composition ratio values corresponding to an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis by calculating, as a ratio, measured values measured by two different semiconductor gas sensors among the digitally converted measured values; And it provides a gas information providing method comprising the step of providing the gas information belonging to the composition ratio range by applying the three composition ratio values to the three-dimensional classification map to which the composition ratio range of the sensing target gas provided in advance.

Here, if the three composition ratio values are changed and generated, the gas information provided will also be changed. The gas information is a gas type.

According to the gas information providing apparatus and method of the present invention as described above, three composition ratio values corresponding to the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are generated by using values measured by a plurality of semiconductor gas sensors installed at a specific place, By applying this to the three-dimensional classification map, there is an effect that can know the type of the measured gas more accurately.

In addition, since it is possible to know exactly the types of harmful gases generated at the work place, there is an effect of providing treatment methods for each hazardous gas at an early stage.

In addition, if the classified gas is harmful gas or bad smell that adversely affects the working environment, a warning message or a guide sound is provided so that the operator can recognize it. Therefore, it is possible to prevent safety accidents caused by harmful gas or bad smell. Of course, the effect can be expected to actively improve the working environment.

1 is a block diagram of a gas information providing apparatus using a semiconductor gas sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention
2 is an exemplary view showing a state in which the composition ratio ranges of different gases are mapped to a three-dimensional classification map in the gas information providing apparatus of FIG.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing gas information according to the present invention.

The present invention determines the position of the composition ratio value with respect to the measured value measured by each semiconductor gas sensor in the three-dimensional classification map while the composition ratio range of the gas to be detected is mapped to the three-dimensional classification map (MAP). The present invention proposes a method of providing gas type information. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of semiconductor gas sensors 10a to 10d are installed at specific places such as various workplaces. The semiconductor gas sensor is a detection element for detecting a gas using an oxide semiconductor, as is known, and has the characteristic of simultaneously responding two or more kinds of gases.

Various types of gas sensors may be used in the present invention, but the embodiment uses four different types of semiconductor gas sensors. Four types of semiconductor gas sensors are TGS-2602 (sensor 1) 10a, TGS-2603 (sensor 2) (10b), TGS-2620 (sensor 3) (10c), and TGS-826 (sensor 4) (10d) The types of gas detected by these sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) are different. That is, sensor 1 (10a) detects toluene (C ₇ H ₈ ), hydrogen sulfide (H ₂ S), ammonia (NH ₃ ), hydrogen (H ₂ ), and sensor 2 (10b) is methyl mergantan (CH ₃ SH). ), Trimethylamine (C ₃ H ₉ N), hydrogen sulfide (H ₂ S), ethanol (C ₂ H ₅ OH), sensor 3 (10c) is ethanol (C ₂ H ₅ OH), carbon monoxide (CO) , And detects methane (CH ₄ ), sensor 4 (10d) detects ammonia (NH ₃ ), ethanol (C ₂ H ₅ OH), hydrogen (H ₂ ). In addition, since the reaction rates for specific gases are different from each sensor 10a to 10d, the gases that can be detected by the sensors may be classified into a main sensing gas and a secondary sensing gas, which can be summarized as shown in Table 1 below. .

Sensor type Main gas Detected Gas TGS-2602 (Sensor 1) C ₇ H ₈ H ₂ S, NH ₃ , H ₂ TGS-2603 (Sensor 2) CH ₃ SH C ₃ H ₉ N, H ₂ S, C ₂ H ₅ OH TGS-2620 (Sensor 3) C ₂ H ₅ OH CO, CH ₄ TGS-826 (Sensor 4) NH ₃ C ₂ H ₅ OH, H ₂

Here, the sensor 1 to the sensor 4 (10a to 10d), and the type of sensing gas they detect is only one embodiment, and sensors for detecting other types of gas are added, or a combination of new sensors Of course it can.

The A / D converter 20 converts and generates data measured by the sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) into digital values. The A / D converter 20 may be configured as one as shown in the figure, or may be provided for each sensor. According to an embodiment, the A / D converter 20 converts an analog value measured in the range of 0 to 5V of the sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) into a digital value in the range of 2 ¹⁰ (0 to 1023). The reason for the conversion to digital values is that gas types cannot be accurately detected and classified when the analog values measured by the sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) are used as they are.

According to the present invention, the measured values detected by the sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) are not used as they are. That is, the composition ratio values generated by calculating two measured values among the respective measured values of the sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) are used as ratios. The use of the composition ratio value will be referred to to improve the classification capability of the measured gas types, and in order to generate such a composition ratio value, the composition ratio generation unit 30 is provided in the present invention.

The composition ratio generation unit 30 generates three composition ratio values, which are used to indicate the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis in the three-dimensional classification map 50 which will be described later. The three composition ratio values are calculated by the following [Equation 1].

Here, S _i is the measured value of the sensor i, S _j is the measured value of the sensor _j , the three composition ratios according to the composition ratios r _{i, j} are r _4,2 , r _1,2 , r _2,3 Can be represented. And r _4,2 is the composition ratio by the sensor 2 (10b) and sensor 4 (10d), r _1,2 is the composition ratio by the sensor 2 (10b) and sensor 1 (10a), r _{2, 3} is a sensor The composition ratio of 3 (10c) and the sensor 2 (10b).

On the other hand, the present invention can be any number of combinations of sensors other than the sensor provided for the generation of the composition ratio value of r _4,2 , r _1,2 , r _2,3 , for example, sensor 1 (10a) The composition ratio value may be generated using the sensor 3 (10c), the sensor 3 (10c), and the sensor 4 (10d). However, even if other sensors are combined, the composition ratio value may be set to three so as to provide the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis information in the 3D classification map 50.

According to the present invention a composition ratio range for the gas to be detected is provided. The composition ratio range is previously provided for each composition ratio r _4,2 , r _1,2 , r _2,3 for each gas to be detected. The composition ratio range will be set to a different value for each gas to be detected, and the mapping unit 40 to be described later will map the composition ratio range for each gas to the three-dimensional classification map 50. The mapping state in the three-dimensional classification map 50 is described below.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the above sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) are provided, the gas types that can be detected are ammonia (NH ₃ ), methane (CH ₄ ), and propane (C ₃ H ₈ ). , Carbon monoxide (CO), methyl mercaptan (CH ₃ SH), toluene (C ₇ H ₈ ) are six kinds, the composition ratio for each of these gases is shown in the following [Table 2]. Here, the values in Table 2 are values of the sensors 1 to 4 and it is natural that the composition ratio range is different when other sensors are provided.

Ammonia (NH ₃ ) Methane (CH ₄ ) Propane (C ₃ H ₈ ) r _{4, 2} : 0.0131 to 0.0369
r _{1, 2} : 0.0013 to 0.0515
r _{2, 3} : 0.0098 ~ 0.0291 r _{4, 2} : 0.0799 to 0.1730
r _{1, 2} : 0.0070 to 0.0513
r _{2, 3} : 0.0012 to 0.0031 r _{4, 2} : 0.0310 ~ 0.0508
r _{1, 2} : 0.0085 to 0.0169
r _{2, 3} : 0.0029 ~ 0.0342 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Methylmeraptan (CH ₃ SH) Toluene (C ₇ H ₈ ) r _{4, 2} : 0.0470 ~ 0.1541
r _{1, 2} : 0.0014 ~ 0.0175
r _{2, 3} : 0.0048 to 0.0069 r _{4, 2} : 0.1659 to 0.2345
r _{1, 2} : 0.0141 to 0.0962
r _{2, 3} : 0.0040 to 0.0090 r _{4, 2} : 0.0559 to 0.1245
r _{1, 2} : 0.0262 ~ 0.0914
r _{2, 3} : 0.0040 to 0.0190

A mapping unit 40 for mapping the composition ratio range defined for each gas type to the 3D classification map 50 is provided. The mapping unit 40 serves to map the 3D classification map 50 as shown in FIG. 2 based on the value of Table 2 above. 2 illustrates a state in which a composition ratio range is mapped with reference to the values of the X, Y, and Z axes for each gas type. Here, it will be obvious that the mapping state of the 3D classification map 50 also changes when the sensor type and the sensing target gas are different.

A control unit 60 is provided to provide gas information sensed using the composition ratio value and the 3D classification map 50. Providing the gas information is located in the composition ratio range of any gas by applying the three composition ratio values provided from the composition ratio generation unit 30 to the X, Y, and Z axes of the three-dimensional classification map 50. By judging whether it is. Therefore, when the composition ratio value transmitted by the composition ratio generation unit 30 is changed, it is natural that the position in the three-dimensional classification map 50 is also changed. Accordingly, the controller 60 continuously provides the gas information corresponding to the changed position. Done.

Here, the gas information provided by the controller 60 according to the present invention may include not only the type of the measured gas but also gas concentration information.

And the present invention is further provided with a configuration that the operator can recognize the gas information detected by the control unit 60. This is to prevent a safety accident that may occur due to the operator not aware of the harmful gas generated in a substantially closed workplace.

Provision of gas information to workers is possible in a variety of ways. It can be provided through a portable terminal device possessed by the operator or can be provided by installing a display device at a predetermined place in the workplace, and can be notified by a guide message or a guide sound. In addition, the information on the detected gas type may be provided in real time, but a guidance message or a sound may be provided only when noxious gas is detected.

Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, the composition ratio generation unit 30, the mapping unit 40, the control unit 60, etc. are processed in separate configurations, but the composition ratio generation function and the mapping function are added to the control unit 60 to form one IC chip. It may also be possible to implement and provide in the form.

Next, a method of providing classified gas information will be described with reference to FIG. 3. According to the present embodiment, the sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) of the gas information providing apparatus are installed in a specific place, and the gas (here, six kinds of gases) that the sensors 10a to 10d can detect. The composition ratio range is also mapped to the three-dimensional classification map 50 shown in FIG. 2 after being provided for each gas as shown in [Table 2].

Under these conditions, the sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) measure the gas contained in the indoor / outdoor air according to the normal driving (S100). The measured gas data is converted into a digital value within the range of 0 to 1023 from the analog measured value of 0 to 5V while passing through the AD converter 20 (s102).

As such, the measured values of the digitally converted sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) are received by the composition ratio generation unit 30. Then, the composition ratio generation unit 30 generates three composition ratio values based on the measured values of the four types of sensors 1 to 4 (10a to 10d) (S104). The three composition ratios are generated by Equation 1, but in the embodiment, the first composition ratios r ₄ and 2, the sensors 2 (10b) and the sensors by the sensor 2 (10b) and the sensor 4 (10d). 1, the second composition according to (10a) (r _1,2), generates a third ratio (r _2,3) by the sensor 3 (10c) and the sensor 2 (10b).

In addition, the first to third composition ratio values will be substantially included in the gas-specific composition ratio range of the above [Table 2]. If the values of the first to third composition ratios are not included in the composition ratio range shown in [Table 2], the composition ratio range for each gas should be newly set based on the data within the changed concentration range while changing the concentration for each gas. will be. This embodiment assumes that the first to third composition ratio values are included in the composition ratio range for each gas through this process.

The first composition ratio r ₄ , 2, the second composition ratio r _1,2 , and the third composition ratio r ₂ , 3 generated by the composition ratio generation unit 30 are transmitted to the controller 60. Then, the control unit 60 uses the three-dimensional classification map 50 in which the composition ratio ranges are mapped for each gas, and thus the first composition ratio r ₄ and 2 and the second composition ratio r ₁ delivered by the composition ratio generation unit 30. _{, 2} ) and at which point the third composition ratio r ₂ , 3 is located is determined (S106). This determination process is performed by mapping the first composition ratio (r _4,2 ) to the X axis, the second composition ratio (r _1,2 ) to the Y axis, and the third composition ratio (r _2,3 ) to the Z axis, respectively. According to the result of the present invention, one particular gas information or two or more gas information may be classified and provided according to the result (s108).

For example in the first composition ratio (r _4,2), the second ratio (r _1,2), the third ratio (r _2,3) composition ratio ranges of the composition ratio of the value of toluene (C ₇ H ₈₎ gas, If located, the control unit 60 detects toluene (C ₇ H ₈ ). As another example, the value of the first composition ratio r _4,2 is located within the composition ratio range of toluene (C ₇ H ₈ ) gas, and the second composition ratio r _1,2 and the third composition ratio r _{2,3 which are} different composition ratios. The composition ratio value of) is located within the composition ratio range of the ammonia (NH ₃ ) gas, the control unit 60 can detect and provide toluene (C ₇ H ₈ ) and ammonia (NH ₃ ) gas.

As such, the embodiment of the present invention generates three composition ratio values corresponding to the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis using the measured values measured by the semiconductor gas sensors 10a to 10d, and then uses the three-dimensional classification map 50. By applying to, it can be seen that not only the gas generated in the indoor / outdoor can be sensed but also information about the gas type can be determined.

On the other hand, when there is noxious gas among the gas information provided by the control unit 60, the present invention is to guide the generation of noxious gas through a display device installed in the operator's portable terminal device or the workplace. Therefore, appropriate follow-up measures such as ventilation in the workplace or shortening of working time for each harmful gas can be sufficiently proceeded. Of course, the control unit 60 may transmit the indoor / outdoor generated gas information to the portable terminal device or the display device regardless of the generation of harmful gas, so that the operator can check it in real time.

In addition to classifying gas types as described above, the present invention may be configured to calculate and provide a gas concentration although not shown in the drawing. When providing a gas concentration, it is possible to set a risk threshold value for each harmful gas in advance, and guide message when the risk threshold is reached, so that it may be possible to specifically provide a countermeasure for harmful gas.

Although described with reference to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention as described above, this is merely exemplary, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention It will be apparent that other variations, modifications and equivalents are possible. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

10a to 10d: sensor 1 to sensor 4
20: A / D converter 30: composition ratio generation unit
40: mapping unit 50: 3D classification map
60: control unit

Claims (8)

Sensors installed in a specific place;
A converter for converting the analog measurement values measured by the sensors into digital values;
A composition ratio generation unit generating three composition ratio values corresponding to the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis using the measured values of the converted sensors; And
And a control unit for providing one or more gas information by providing the composition ratio values generated by the composition ratio generation unit to the X, Y, and Z axes of the three-dimensional classification map to which the composition ratio range of the target gas provided in advance is mapped. ,
The composition ratio generation unit generates a composition ratio value using Equation 1 below.
[Equation 1]

In Equation 1,
r _{i, j} is the composition ratio by the sensor i and the sensor j,
S _i is the measurement of sensor i,
S _j is the measured value of sensor j,
I and j are each independently an integer of 1 to 4,
Wherein the X-axis represents the S ₄ / S ₂ value, the Y-axis represents the S ₁ / S ₂ value, and the Z-axis represents the S ₂ / S ₃ value. The method of claim 1,
And the composition ratio generation unit calculates and generates each measured value measured by two different sensors as a ratio. The method of claim 1,
The gas to be detected is changed according to the type and performance of the sensors, the gas information providing apparatus is also changed in the composition ratio range of the gas to be detected. The method of claim 3, wherein
And the gas information includes a gas type and a gas concentration. The method of claim 1,
The sensor is a gas information providing apparatus is a semiconductor gas sensor. The method of claim 1,
The control unit is a gas information providing apparatus, characterized in that for transmitting the gas information to a portable terminal device or a display device. A measuring step of measuring a gas contained in air by semiconductor gas sensors installed at a specific place;
A conversion step of converting the measured analog measurement value into a digital value;
A generation step of generating three composition ratio values corresponding to an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis by calculating, as a ratio, measured values measured by two different semiconductor gas sensors among the digitally converted measured values; And
And providing the gas information belonging to the composition ratio range by applying the three composition ratio values to the three-dimensional classification map to which the composition ratio range of the gas to be detected is provided in advance.
The composition ratio generation value is calculated using Equation 1 below.
[Equation 1]

In Equation 1,
r _{i, j} is the composition ratio by the sensor i and the sensor j,
S _i is the measurement of sensor i,
S _j is the measured value of sensor j,
I and j are each independently an integer of 1 to 4,
Wherein the X axis represents S ₄ / S ₂ , the Y axis represents S ₁ / S ₂ , and the Z axis represents S ₂ / S ₃ . The method of claim 7, wherein
When the three composition ratio values are changed and generated, the provided gas information is also changed,
The gas information is a gas information providing method indicating a gas type.

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