Gas Leakage Detection Using Arduino
Aina Marie B. Bonifacio, Pablo Cascaño, Sam Yverson Co, Eleazar Cruz, Charlene P. Cunanan
Technological Institute of the Philippines
Manila, Philippines
Abstract—
The method of locating the gas leaks in
underground pipes is by using sound sensor
wherein the device is placed on the top of concrete
wall. Sound sensors work by detecting differences
in air pressure and transforming them into
electrical signals. Sound sensors work by
mimicking the human body process that involves
the ears and signal transmission to the brain.
Microphones are sound sensors that convert a
sound signal into a voltage or current
proportional to the detected signal. They typically
have a small diaphragm made of magnets
surrounded by coiled metal wire. Sound waves
cause the diaphragm to vibrate, which vibrates the
magnets and induces a current in the coil.
Ultrasonic gas leak detection uses acoustic
sensors to identify fluctuations in noise that is
imperceptible to human hearing within a process
environment. The sensor and electronics are able
to detect these ultrasound frequencies (25 to
100KHz), while excluding audible frequencies (0
to 25KHz).
Keywords—Arduino UNO, sound sensor,
ultrasonic sound
I. INTRODUCTION
Safety plays a major role in today’s world
and it is necessary that good safety systems are to be
implemented in places of households. Gas leakage
leads to various accidents resulting in both financial
loss as well as human injuries. An automatic
detection of gas leakage using arduino and sound
sensor is what our group wants to invent to improve
the convenience of determining the gas leak.
Gas leak detection methods became a
concern after the effects of harmful gases on human
health were discovered. Before modern electronic
sensors, early detection methods relied on less precise
detectors. As the new way of providing resident
places such as condominiums, sudden accidents like
gas leaks are inevitable and it will harm all the people
living in the area since the pipeline system of all units
in the condominium are connected in the main
pipeline of the building.
The idea of this project is to build a gas
leakage detection system that will avoid unnecessary
excavations and limit the amount of man-power and
time required to locate the leaks. As for the setup for
project testing, the metal and PVC pipes are
embedded into a 0.5 meter thick concrete with a
length of 1.5 meters and width of 0.5 meters. The
prototype was placed on top of the concrete for it to
sense the sound produced by the leakage.
The principle behind the working conditions
of the prototype is that the device will detect the
acoustic emission created when a pressured gas
expands in a low pressure area through a small
orifice. The most high-pressure gas leaks can
generate sound in ultrasonic range of 25 kHz to 10
MHz. The sensors are able to easily distinguish these
frequencies from background acoustic noise which
occurs in the audible range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The
ultrasonic gas leak detector then produces an alarm
when there is an ultrasonic deviation from the normal
condition of background noise.
Furthermore, the sound sensor detects
differences in air pressure and transforming it into
electrical signals. Sound sensors mimics the
behaviour of a human body process that involves the
ears and signal transmission to the brain.
II. OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study is to build a
device that allows leakage detection through the use
of sound sensors and Arduino UNO. This will
effectively save time and avoid unnecessary
excavation of concrete walls to trace the source of the
leakage. This study also aims to understand and
analyze the principle behind the sound sensors and
how can it be use to detect the low pressure gas
produced during leak. The arduino will serve as the
brain or the micro-controller to set the threshold of
the sensor.
III. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
A. Review of Related Readings
The sound sensor module provides an easy
way to detect sound and is generally used for
detecting sound intensity. The sound sensor module
can be used for security, switch, and monitoring
applications. Its accuracy can be easily adjusted for
the convenience of usage. It uses a microphone which
supplies the input to an amplifier, peak detector and
buffer. When the sensor detects a sound, it processes
an output signal voltage which is sent to a
microcontroller then performs necessary processing.
Furthermore, the principle of the operation
can be base in the use of ultrasonic sounds.The sensor
and electronics are able to detect these ultrasound
frequencies (25, while excluding audible frequencies
which is 0-25kHZ. Unlike traditional gas detectors
that measure the accumulated gas, ultrasonic gas
detectors can sense the leak, triggering an early
warning system. The sensors respond to sound
generated by escaping gas at ultrasonic frequencies.
Leak rate is mainly dependent on the size of the leak
and the gas pressure. In most facilities the majority of
process noise is in the audible range, while limited
ultrasonic noise is generated in normal operation.
Highly pressurized gas releases produce ultrasound
(25 - 100 kHz) which the sensors are able to pick up
despite the presence of audible noise. (About
Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detectors – Emerson)
B. Review of Related Literature
According to a literature paper of Huebler
discussing the acoustic detection of gas leaks, gas
leaks from underground gas pipelines are a
significant problem in terms of both the amount of
revenues lost to gas companies and the potential
hazards presented. The locations of such leaks are
also very difficult to pinpoint, particularly when the
gas has migrated beneath pavement or frozen ground,
when the gas has spread over a large area, when
multiple leaks are present, or when the water table is
high and gas and air are displaced from the ground.
Leaks from low-pressure (6-12 inches of water
column; 4 to /3 psig) cast-iron pipelines are often
particularly difficult to pinpoint using current
technology, Such as a combustible gas indicator. One
known technique for detecting leaks from
underground gas pipelines involves detecting the
Sound/vibrations created by the gas escaping through
the leak. However, to accomplish this feat, it is
necessary to be able to detect very Small leak
acoustic Signals and to be able to differentiate the
leak Sounds/vibrations from ever present background
noises. (Enhanced Acoustic Detection of Gas Leaks
in Underground Gas Pipelines, Huebler et. al, 2003)
C. Review of Related Studies
The pipeline system is the most important
part in media transport in order to deliver fluid to
another station. The weak maintenance and poor
safety will contribute to financial losses in term of
fluid waste and environmental impacts. There are
many classifications of techniques to make it easier to
show their specific method and application. The wave
propagation in the pipeline is a key parameter in
acoustic method when the leak occurs and the
pressure balance of the pipe will generated by the
friction between wall in the pipe. (Leak detection in
gas pipeline by acoustic and signal processing, N F
Adnan et. al, 2015)
Natural gas is becoming an important energy
resource in China because of its cleanness and high
unit-calorie. Pipeline transportation is one of the most
efficient ways to convey natural gas. Pipeline rupture
makes sudden change in pressure, causing economic
and environmental problems without detecting the
leakage position and repairing in time. (Research on
Leakage Detection and Analysis of Leakage Point in
the Gas Pipeline System, Zhao Yang et. al, 2011)
IV. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this study is to give
informative data to the future researchers, for them to
be innovative and creative in doing such things that
benefits both people and establishments. The
modification of this study can also explore the other
potentials of the device and to enhance its
capabilities, efficiency, reliability and durability.
This research is giving us knowledge
regarding the problems brought about by undetected
gas leaks. It enabled us to have knowledge to put in
actual planning and materialization of the device.
Moreover, it enabled us to understand the importance
of precautionary measurements.
V. SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS
This research used sound sensor and
Arduino UNO to locate the gas leaks in metal and
PVC tubes that are embedded to a 0.5 meter thick
concrete wall with a length of 1.5 meters and width
of 0.5 meters. The set signal in the sound sensor will
be detected when there is a low pressure building up
in the hole of the pipelines (gas leak). Ultrasonic gas
leak detection technology was used to analyze
ultrasonic waves generated by the ejection of high-
pressure gas from leaking holes in sealed metal and
PVC pipes to determine the presence or absence of
leaks, the location of any leaks and the size of the
leaking holes.
 VI. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
A gas leak in its entirety is very dangerous.
Oftentimes, it is barely noticed by our physical
senses, but when it did it may have been too late
causing property damage or even adverse effect on
our health. The relevance of real-time gas leak
detection will be very essential either for households
or industrial use. Undeniably, gas leak explosion still
shows as one of the major property destruction cause.
It will be a very useful tool providing an immediate
system response; in return, we become as responsive
as we can to prevent prolonged leak and further
damage. This study will also seek to answer (1) What
parameters are to be considered in order to know
accurately the state of the leak on the pipe; (2) Does
the detector material produces a different frequency
response depending on the type of the pipe being
used; (3) The efficiency of the detector when used in
a variety of medium, e.g. gas leak and water leak that
will exceed a separation length of 0.5m.
VII. CONEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
The key purpose of this conceptual
framework is to provide an overall outlook regarding
the process on how this study works:
Data Gathering
PVC pipe layered on a 0.5m thick concrete
wall is to be used for controlled leak
detection.
Simulation
The detection program will be compiled
through an Arduino microcontroller.
Along with a sound-vibration sensor, it is
designed to capture sound frequency
values and locate which exact part of the
pipe generates leak.
Program Testing
A specific range of frequency will be set
on the Arduino microcontroller. This will
serve as base measure frequency for a leak
once the detector is placed against the
concrete wall.
Efficiency Test
Prototype and program testing will be made on two different
pipe types: Metal pipe and PVC pipe.
VIII. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Gas leakage in industrial area causes many
health issues. Thus, to prevent such disasters happen,
the atmosphere of a workplace should be regularly
monitored and controlled, in order to maintain the
clean air environment. However, efforts in industrial
air quality control have been impeded by the lack of
science-based approaches to identify and assess
atmosphere air quality and level of dangerous gas.
Therefore, a monitoring system for gas leakage
detection needs to be developed. Using sound-
vibration sensor, a gas leak detector is to be made
with the help of an Arduino microcontroller. Using
this prototype as a monitoring system, it will be
situated on a 0.5m distance from a concrete wall to
the gas pipe, the detector will continue to move past
the whole surface of the PVC pipe and will stop at a
certain point once it captures the preset level of
frequency defined for gas leak.
IX. METHODOLOGY
The goal of the project is to develop a gas
leakage detection system using Arduino Uno and a
sound sensor. The working of any advanced system is
mainly dependent on the microcontroller which
controls the entire functioning of the device. In this
case the Arduino Uno microcontroller acts like a
conditional switch. It performs two set of action
depending upon the condition present. It triggers the
LED and it will light up when the leakage of the gas
is detected by the sensor. The other action is that the
LED will not turn on when the leakage of the gas is
not detected by the sensor.
The materials needed to perform the project
are Arduino Uno, 3 Male to Female Jumper Wires,
LED, USB- Arduino Port Cable and a Sound Sensor
as shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Materials used
in creating the
circuit
Start
The connection should be AO (on sound
sensor) to Analog Pin 2 on Arduino BoaBoard plus AO
(on sound sensor) to 5V on Arduino Board. Next, the
GND (on sound sensor) should be connected to GND Does Not Detect Detects the
on Arduino Board. Lastly, LED short leg is joined the Gas Sensor Gas
with the GND on Arduino Board on opposite side of
the wire connections. Also, the Long leg is connected
to digital pin 13 on the Arduino Board. For reference,
the connections made were shown in Figure 2.

LED will not light LED will light up

.
Figure 4. Flowchart of depicting the working of the
system.
Figure 2. Assembled circuit
After assembling the circuit, plug the cable X. DATA AND RESULTS
into Arduino Board and upload the necessary code to
perform the project. The code of the Gas Leakage The researchers made 5 trials wherein the frequencies
Detector can be seen in the Figure 1. detected near the hole were noted.
First Trial

Second Trial

Figure 3. Code of the program created in

Arduino Board creating the output to detect
gas leakage.
Once the code is uploaded
oaded to Arduino board,
if assembled correctly, LED should come on from the
sound sensor. When a noise is detected by the sensor,
the LED should turn on. A flat head screwdriver can
be used to adjust the sensitivity on top of the blue box
on the sound sensor or if the prototype doesn’t work.
The working of the Simple Gas Leak detector can be
summarized in the Figure 2.
 Third Trial
Fourth Trial
Fifth Trial
XI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The researchers successfully made a gas
leak detector prototype wherein sound sensor was
used to detect the ultrasonic sound produced inside
the PVC tube. The leak was successfully detected
within the radius of the hole located at the middle
part of the PVC tube. The researchers made 5 trials to
test the reliability of the prototype. The results
obtained on the trials showed a higher frequency on
the area where the hole is located. This is
theoretically correct because the frequency should be
higher on the part where the leak is located compared
to other locations. The future aspects of this detector
include the sound sensor capable of capturing 25 to
100kHz which increases the efficiency of the system
and provides more safety to the users. This detector is
implemented successfully and is easy to use and also
a low cost product.
The researchers recommend using PCB for
the prototype instead of using breadboard this is to
ensure its durability and reliability and also to add
more trials for the prototype testing to enhance the
working capabilities of the system.
REFERENCES
[1] Tao Wang , Xiaoran Wang and Mingyu Hong,
Article, Gas Leak Location Detection Based on Data
Fusion with Time Difference of Arrival and Energy
Decay Using an Ultrasonic Sensor Array, School of
Automation, Beijing Institute of Technology, No.5
South Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing
100081, China; beifen_wxr@163.com (X.W.);
hongmingyu2011@126.com (M.H.)
[2] James Emerson Huebler, Brookfield, IL(US);
Christopher John Ziolkowski, Elmburst, IL(US),
Enhanced Acoustic Detection of Gas Leaks in
Underground Pipelines, United States Patent, Patent
No.: US 6,725,705 B1, Date of Patent: Apr. 27, 2004
[3] Zhao Yang1, Mingliang Liu, Min Shao, Yingjie
Ji, Research on Leakage Detection and Analysis of
Leakage Point in the Gas Pipeline System,
Department of Thermal Engineering, Tianjin
University, Tianjin, China E-mail:
*zhaoyang@tju.edu.cn Received June 23, 2011;
September 2, 2011; accepted September 15, 2011
[4] Y.Gao, M.J.Brennan, P.F.Joseph, J.M.Muggleton,
O.Hunaidi, On the selection of acoustic/vibration
sensors for leak detection in plastic water pipes,
Journal of Sound and Vibration, Volume 283, Issues
3–5, 20 May 2005, Pages 927-941
[5] Emerson, About Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detectors,
Principles of Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detection,
Emerson US and World Headquarters Emerson
Electric Co., 8000 West Florissant Avenue, P.O. Box
4100, St. Louis MO 63136 , United States , Phone:
+1 314 553 2000