Automatic Alarm Prediction of CO Gas Sensors in Sudden Fire Disasters

In recent years, gas cylinders have been gradually replaced by pipeline natural gas, yet they are still widely used in rental houses, restaurants and other venues. Though gas cylinders are flexible, convenient and low-cost, they pose relatively high safety risks. Fuel gas is easy to ignite and use, but improper installation or operation may lead to explosions, fires and poisoning incidents. Firefighters remind the public to take preventive measures in advance when using fuel gas, as any minor negligence may result in catastrophic accidents causing family loss and casualties.

A gas explosion occurred at a snack bar on Xinyang Road, Ehu Town, Xishan District, Wuxi City. Preliminary investigation suspected the accident was caused by gas leakage. The explosion killed 9 people and injured 10. The incident immediately became a hot news topic, raising public concerns over kitchen gas safety around residential environments.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is generated in the early stage of a fire. Inhalation of CO initially causes dizziness and blurred vision, and severe cases may lead to fainting. Once CO enters the human body, it binds to hemoglobin in the blood, preventing hemoglobin from combining with oxygen. This causes oxygen deprivation in body tissues and eventually leads to suffocation and death. Therefore, applying CO sensors to fire alarms to transmit real-time CO concentration data in buildings to the fire control center is crucial for guiding fire rescue operations.

Shenzhen Yuanxin Semiconductor Co., Ltd. mainly distributes the UK-imported DDS electrochemical high hydrogen resistance carbon monoxide sensor GS+4CO2H. It is designed to detect carbon monoxide in environments with high hydrogen content and is widely applied in steel plants, chemical industries, civil scenarios and other fields. The CO sensor can detect extremely low concentrations of carbon monoxide. Meanwhile, photoelectric sensors are adopted to detect visible smoke particles. By analyzing the data ratio and correlation from the two types of sensors and applying professional fire detection algorithms, the sensitivity of fire detection can be greatly improved.

When fuel gas leaks in the surrounding environment and the gas concentration reaches the threshold set by the explosion or poisoning alarm, the gas alarm converts the gas signal into a voltage or current signal and transmits it to the alarm meter, which then triggers an alarm. The carbon monoxide sensor detects low-concentration flammable gas in the ambient environment and sends detection signals to the controller or control circuit in analog or digital form. When the flammable gas concentration exceeds the preset threshold, the controller activates an alarm via actuators or control circuits, or performs actions such as closing the gas valve. On-duty personnel can then take timely emergency measures to prevent gas explosion accidents.

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, colorless, odorless and non-irritating gas that cannot be perceived by human senses. This is why installing a carbon monoxide sensor for early warning and prediction is particularly essential. In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that every household be equipped with at least one carbon monoxide alarm, which serves as a vital part of home safety protection plans.