Microcontroller-based instrument for measuring methane concentration

Abstract

A portable microcontroller-based instrument for measuring methane concentration was fabricated using Atmega16 microcontroller. The TGS2611 methane sensor was interfaced into the system. The system was designed to automatically collect data from the sensor every minute, and store them in nonvolatile memory for retrieval using serial interface to a personal computer. The study has four main parts namely hardware design, software design, calibration, and data acquisition and storage. The Atmega16 was used to perform the data collection, data storage, and data display and retrieval. The system was used to gather data on manure pits for two hourst. Methane concentrations ranging approximately 4000−12 000 ppm were observed for the closed pit, while for an open pit the readings obtained ranges from 75−17 000 ppm. Also the device was exposed with fixed methane concentration of 8000 ppm and the sensor’s reading stabilized after a certain time and the results are very precise with the standard. From the results, it shows that the device an be used for monitoring methane concentrations.