Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Smoke Sensor — Parallax Forums

Smoke Sensor

RDRD Posts: 8
edited 2009-01-22 18:30 in General Discussion
I'm looking for a smoke sensor, to monitor an outdoor wood burning(OWB) boiler,
so I can have more data and legal amunition, when I sue my neighbor.

This thing is about 30 feet from the corner of my house and at times my back yard
is virtually white out with smoke.

I'd like to monitor and record particulate levels.· I think the particulates are the most
dangerous, or most un-healthy, for a person.· I'm not sure about this, yet.

I've only begun my research and perhaps CO and CO2 levels are also·of concern.·
I actually don't know for sure the composition and characteristics of smoke
in general, or what sensors might be available.

I'll add this to my weather station with a real time clock an make a data logger.

I have found the Futurlec sensors, but that's it so far.· Any links, ideas, suggestions, hints,
notions, concepts, thoughts, principles, moans, groans, and grunts---would be appreciated.

·

Comments

  • icepuckicepuck Posts: 466
    edited 2009-01-14 03:51
    Try google for "smoke stack gas analyzer sensors" or "exhaust gas analyzer sensors" or "gas analyzer"
    it comes up with mostly scientific and automotive instruments.
    -dan
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2009-01-14 04:01
    You could use a laser and a photo receiver to measure air clarity. If, as you say, your back yard is covered with smoke then you could point the laser across the yard, and record how much light reaches the other side. If it's really smoky, then very little light will be available (this is why you can see a laser: particulate matter diffuses the beam). If it's clear, then most of the laser light will reach the other side.

    Another sensor that you might want to consider is an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of the boiler so that you can make the connection between the high temperature with the measured air pollution.
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2009-01-14 15:30
    This thread is being moved from the BASIC Stamp Forum to the Sandbox Forum.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Chris Savage
    Parallax Engineering
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2009-01-14 16:08
    Wouldn't a video camera recording the smoke in your yard be enough?
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2009-01-15 03:51
    I agree, visual while not being scientific is more visceral and pursuasive. Simple frame capture once per minute should be enough and save storage space. Or if you want to get fancy you could use an optical trigger that starts recording at normal speed whenever visibility drops so you only film during offenses (or fog).

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Paul Baker
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2009-01-15 05:00
    Here is a link that describes at least one method of implementing a smoke detector. It may give you some ideas:

    http://www.standardics.nxp.com/support/design/microcontrollers/smoke.detector/pdf/documentation.pdf

    Robert
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2009-01-16 13:16
    No Doubt this is wind dependant as well...perhaps a wind sensor too.
    Perhaps temp/Rh....

    Anyhow, SRLM has a good idea. We use one of these for field projects and I think it was called an extinction meter.
    Shine a light, of a known power, across to a reflector and back. The lower the return signal, the higher the scattering...the higher the particulate level.
    You could also measure backscatter....put a transmitter and a receiver beside each other (pointing in the same direction of course, then turn it on. The more light you get in to your receiver means there's a lot of backscatter (this one works best with non visible spectrum, although you could have a sensor that adjusts for ambient light).

    There's lots of fun ways to put together some information.
    Is your neighbors stack at the proper height?
    Have you talked to them at all? Or can you not get the words out amid all the hacking and coughing! [noparse];)[/noparse]

    SRLM said...
    You could use a laser and a photo receiver to measure air clarity. If, as you say, your back yard is covered with smoke then you could point the laser across the yard, and record how much light reaches the other side. If it's really smoky, then very little light will be available (this is why you can see a laser: particulate matter diffuses the beam). If it's clear, then most of the laser light will reach the other side.
    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    <FONT>Steve



    What's the best thing to do in a lightning storm? "take a one iron out the bag and hold it straight up above your head, even God cant hit a one iron!"
    Lee Travino after the second time being hit by lightning!
  • Carl HayesCarl Hayes Posts: 841
    edited 2009-01-22 17:57
    The optical methods have many advantages, although even so simple a method as capturing particles on Scotch tape might yield useful data (remember a byegone product called flypaper?).

    Whether using backscatter or transmissivity, you will need to modulate the light, and detect the modulating signal at the receiver -- that's the only really effective method to distinguish the return signal from ambient light.· One excellent (and inexspensive) method is to modulate with, say, a 700 Hz sinusoid (avoiding harmonics of the ubiquitous·50- or 60-Hz power-line hum), and then filter the detected signal with something like an LMF100 switched-capacitor filter.

    Brainstorming now, about things I actually know nothing about, I speculate that if you did this with several colors of light you might also get some information about the composition of the smoke.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    · -- Carl, nn5i@arrl.net
  • Carl HayesCarl Hayes Posts: 841
    edited 2009-01-22 18:30
    Of course, whilst in the shower after posting my reply, I realized that 700 Hz wouldn't be a very good way to avoid harmonics of 50 Hz.· Duh.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    · -- Carl, nn5i@arrl.net
Sign In or Register to comment.