Real-time LPG leakage monitoring system using iot and cloud technology
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sigma Journal of Engineering and Natural Sciences 2025, Vol. 43, Issue 3, pp. 962-980; doi.org/10.14744/sigma.2025.00084
Abstract
Keywords: Bylnk platform; IoT; Leakage monitoring; LPG; Microcontroller
Introduction
Growing public awareness of the health concerns posed by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) leakage in recent decades has highlighted the need for innovative technologies to
[1]–[3]. The use of such technology opens up new areas of study for researchers to explore and develop novel solutions to many societal problems. LPG is a nonrenewable, clean
*Corresponding author. *E-mail address: okubanjo.ayodeji@oouagoiwoye.edu.ng This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Selim Dalkilic Published by Yıldız Technical University Press, İstanbul, Turkey Copyright 2021, Yıldız Technical University. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).
Sigma J Eng Nat Sci, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 962−980, June, 2025
fuel utilized in residential applications such as cooking and heating. LPG is popular as a cooking gas for household usage due to its high heating efficiency, convenient storage, ease of transportation, and low emissions. It has no colour or odour and it is completely imperceptible [4]; therefore, Mercaptan is added to LPG to give it a unique, irritating odour that aids in leak detection.[4]–[6]. Liquefied petroleum gas is a combustible gas primarily made up of propane and butane. LPG is a by-product of petrol fractionation and it is synthesised from crude oil. Compared to other types of fuel, it is cost-effective, clean emission, and user-friendly, making it a preferred option for family cooking. Furthermore, developing nations are using LPG as a clean cooking fuel to lessen their carbon imprint [7]–[9], while LPG is a dominant fuel for automobiles in Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, and India [10]–[17]. Thus, LPG fuels a diverse spectrum of innovative applications in variety of industries. Leaks, on the other hand, are the most typical issue while cooking with LPG. In addition, gas leaks can be a severe safety risk if not properly detected and addressed quickly, resulting in serious damage or fatalities. LPG leaks can occur as a result of a faulty gas regulator [18], a leaking cylinder [19], a weak connection [20], or pipeline network deterioration [21], [22]. Therefore, the high concentration of fuel vapour in an LPG leak makes it susceptible to fire or electric spark. However, there is a rising emphasis on using the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve safety through proactive detection and monitoring of LP gas leaks. Hence, the emergence of Internet of Things offers a novel option for identifying gas leaks faster than conventional methods such as human inspection or chemical sensor. IoT uses various sensors, software, and other technologies to exchange data with other systems or devices over the internet. The Internet of Things aims to provide remote solutions to contemporary problems. In addition, the Internet of Everything (IoE) is replacing the Internet of Things (IoT) as the next Internet paradigm. IoT demands encompass numerous industries, including energy, buildings, education, healthcare, medical (IoMT), electric vehicles (IoV) and the environment [23–32]. The gas detection system uses MQ-6 sensors to detect the presence of toxic gases like LPG and smoke. With IoT, devices continuously monitor gas concentrations and provide real-time data on gas levels via the cloud platform. The model uses short messaging service (SMS) notification system to notify the gas leakage status to the users. The motivation of this study lies in the explosive nature of LP gas and the degree of mortality and injuries sustained often by the domestic users. Often times, death and deformation have increased over the years with the use of LP gas as alternative heating fuel. For these reasons, safety management and the use of intelligent technologies has recently become a focus for emerging nations especially Africa. One of such initiatives is the use of disruptive technology, IoT, to provide a real-time monitoring and control of gas leaks concentration of various toxic gasses at household domains.
This technology enhances safety and efficiency. The primary aim of this study seeks to ensure safety by detecting gas leaks in real-time. Contrary to the existing studies, the proposed system integrates a cloud technology to enhance real-time gas leaks monitoring. It furthers uses email and SMS notification to improve users’ awareness. The contribution of this study is highlighted as follows: 1) An IoT and cloud-based gas leakage monitoring systems is proposed. 2) A real-time monitoring of gas leaks using Bylink application is implemented. 3) Instant SMS messaging and e-mail notification are proposed. 4) The proposed systems enhance remote accessibility and precautionary actions 5) Minimizes gas leaks potential hazards The growing demand for the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and big data has expanded the use of gas sensors in a variety of industries (Table 1). One major area of interest is air quality control. Gas sensors are used in this industry to detect the concentration of harmful pollutants such as CO, NO, H2S, LPG, NO2, CH4, and PbO. Although the gas sensor is not a novel technology, its high sensitivity makes it useful for a wide range of applications. Gas sensors are essentially electronic-based sensing devices that detect and track gas levels in the atmosphere. Typically used to determine the concentration of specific gases in air. Researchers are focusing on innovative materials to boost sensitivity, such as nanorods, nanoparticles, nanowires, and polymers [33–36]. The different variant of gas sensor is shown in Figure 1 [37]. Among these variants, Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensor technology, for example, is widely utilized in a variety of industries due to its high sensitivity, low power consumption, durability, and quick reaction [37–40]. MOS sensors are sensitive to LPG [41,42]. It is a viable solution for detecting Liquefied petroleum gas. LPG MOS types include MQ-2, MQ-5, MQ-6, and MQ-306A. Tin oxide (SnO2) is a common detecting element in MOS sensors [41,43]. MOS gas sensors are a low-cost and effective option for monitoring air pollution [44]. The MQ-2 is a solid-state gas sensor that has a high affinity for LPG. The sensor can detect LPG gas concentrations ranging from 200 to 1000ppm [45]. MQ-2 has a sensitive layer of SnO2 and a small ceramic tube of AlO3. The MQ-5 and MQ-6 are low-cost semiconductor sensors for propane, butane, and LPG detection. They are suitable for gases with concentrations ranging from 300 to 1000ppm. MQ-5 and MQ-6 use the silicon substance SnO2 as a sensing element. MQ-306A is a SnO2-sensitive semiconductor gas. It is compact, uses minimal electricity, and is LPG compatible. Authors in [33], demonstrated a groundbreaking high surface area MOS gas sensor based on nanotechnology, making it a feasible alternative for gas detection applications. Work done in [44], studied MOS-based nanomaterials and
Figure 1. Different variant of gas sensors [From Muhammad et al. [37], with permission from IEEE.] affirmed that nanoparticle materials improve the thermal and structural stability of MOS gas sensors. Authors in [39], presented a biomarker gas detector based on MOS. The proposed model can detect the concentration of breathed air and avert hazard in the medical and healthcare industries. In contrast, authors in [36], improved MOS sensitivity and lowered the operating temperature of a ZnO-based MOS gas sensor by doping it with Gold.
Materials And Methods
Materials LPG leakage monitoring systems in this study is also referred to as LPG leakage model (LPG-LM). The LPG leakage model is an IoT-cloud based enabled system for detecting and tracking gas leaks especially in domestic domains. The model uses IoT devices, IoT connectivity, software, and Blynk IoT platform to sense, track, monitor, and analyze LP gas leakage in real time. The system designed is structured into system hardware and software. System Hardware The system hardware in this study uses an Arduino nano and NodeMCU (ESP8266) as the main embedded system. It also includes a gas sensor (MQ-2), temperature and humidity sensor (DHT11), a 20kg load cell sensor (LC 20) and a load cell amplifier chip (HX711), a GSM module (SIM800L), 18650 Li-ion battery (2 Pcs), buck converter (LM2596), a capacitor (35V, 1 Pc), a buzzer, liquid crystal
Table 1. Existing studies on LPG leakage monitoring systems S/N
Proposed an android based LPG monitoring systems which enhances instant SMS notification of gas leakage status.
Developed a wireless based LPG monitoring systems to enhance domestic safety.
Developed LabVIEW graphical user interface for monitoring gas leakage. In addition, the system is integrated with a self-control system to cut off gas supply once leak is detected.
Proposed a motion-based LPG monitoring system to minimize fire and smoke in case of gas leakage.
Lora module, MQ-2, MQ-7, MQ-135, MQ136 sensors, Arduino controller
Implemented a wireless leak detector system to increase [61] worker’s health condition and alert gas leakage for emergency exit.
Proposed a real-time LPG monitoring system with GSM [62] network.
Proposed an iOS smart phone application for tracking [63] smoke and detecting LPG leakage. This system provides real time SMS update on gas leaks
Developed a mobile application-based detection systems to improve early detection of LPG leaks
Humidity sensor, temperature sensor, MQ-2 gas sensor, Raspberry Pi
Developed an intelligent LPG monitoring systems [65] based on GPS and Internet of Things. It provides timely information of gas level status and usage
MQ-2, MQ-5 gas sensors, Developed an LPG alert notification-based systems IR sensor, Arduino Uno, to minimize fire outbreaks and burn injury in LPG ESP8266 environment
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Figure 2. (a) SIM800L; (b) NodeMCU; (c) HX711; (d) DHT11; (e) MQ-2; (f) LM2596; (g) buzzer; (h) load cell sensor (LC20); (i) LM7805; (i) 18650 Li-ion battery; (k) LCD; (l) Capacitor. display (LCD), and some jumper wires and other electronic boards needed for components assembling. Fig. 2 shows the hardware components. IoT sensors such as the gas sensor MQ-2, humidity and temperature sensor (DHT11), and the load cell sensor (LC20) are used as sensing devices to collect physical environmental data, which is then sent into the Arduino nano. These IoT sensors are linked to the Arduino nano via various pin combinations to collect data. Furthermore, the Arduino nano provides data transmission between sensors to identify the presence of LPG gas leaks or abnormalities in temperature,
humidity, and variations in LPG weight using software and firmware. The NodeMCU (EPS8266), a system-on-chip (SOC), connects the Arduino nano to the cloud server for real-time analysis of IoT sensor data. In addition, the system integrates LCD to display the LPG leakage level, humidity, temperature, and weight of LPG cylinder. A buzzer is further implemented to trigger a sound alarm to the neighborhood for prompt safety intervention or measures. IoT cloud service is applied using a bylnk IoT platform to assist the users to keep real-time data update on the gas leakage A GSM module is also included to enable users with access to
Sigma J Eng Nat Sci, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 962−980, June, 2025
instant SMS updates on the liquid petroleum gas and other LPG variables. Figure 3 depicts a schematic diagram of the system hardware.
System Software Three separate system software are required to design, code, model, and simulate the system prototype. These software applications include the following: Arduino IDE: It is a free license software for programming and compiling Arduino series boards. It supports free use of source code, enabling the users to view, modify, and customize to meet their project demands. In addition, it is a user-friendly interface that facilitates coding, compilation, and uploading of code to Arduino boards. The proposed model is coded using Arduino IDE. Arduino language: It is a code-based development platform for writing Arduino sketches in C or C++ and uploading them to Arduino boards. The proposed model is programmed with C++. Arduino fritzing: This is a distributed software program designed specifically for making visual representations of
System Architecture As shown in Figure 4, the LPG leakage model has a four-tier Internet-of-Things framework. The sensing layer detects and collects data via devices, sensors, and actuators. In this layer, the Arduino nano microcontroller interacts with sensors and actuators to detect, collect, process, and transmit data via network connectivity. The network layer employs wireless technology to build a communication gateway link between the sensing layer and the internet. The data analysis and processing of LPG leakage and other changes in LPG parameters is handled by the application layer. This layer is in charge of monitoring gas leakage levels and updating LPG data on the IoT cloud platform.
Sigma J Eng Nat Sci, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 962−980, June, 2025
Arduino circuit diagrams, and documenting electronic circuits and porotypes. It can be used to visually represent Arduino sketches and connections. It can only be used with the Arduino IDE. Solidworks: It is a computer-aided designed (CAD) software primarily used for creating, simulating, and managing 3D model, and product designs. Solidworks offers a range of powerful and intuitive tools that enable users to design, analyze, and visualize their ideas in virtual environment. Fig. 5 depicts a 3D model of the system prototype created in Solidworks.
Results And Discussion
The various hardware components and embedded systems of LPG-LM are depicted in Fig. 6. The sensor module, communication module, and the output unit are connected to the embedded system (Arduino Nano and NodeMCU). The collected data are sent to the cloud server, and accessed via bylnk IoT platform. MQ-2, DHT11, LC20, communication module, GSM800L, NodeMCU, microcontroller, Arduino Nano, output unit, LCD, and cloud storage platform were functionally tested using their pin combinations as shown in Table 2.
GND, In
Figure 6. (a) NodeMCU and sensor set up (b) communication module set up (c) components set up (d) system testing (e) load cell with system set up (f) prototype of the LPG-LM.
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The LPG-LM was experimentally set up using a 3kg liquefied petroleum gas cylinder, and instant data on LPG gas leakage, humidity, temperature, and weight are obtained in real-time via the bylnk IoT platform. For example, as illustrated in Figure 7, the LCD uses four separate letters T, H, W, MQ as indicators to, respectively, represent temperature, humidity, LPG cylinder weight, and gas leakage level.
In addition, the bylnk IoT platform uses a number of data visualization indicators to analyze and track real-time data. The gas leakage, temperature, humidity, and weight of the LPG are all displayed simultaneously in the graph depicted in Figure 8. The instant values for variables are categorized into four distinct cases A, B, C, and D, as shown in Table 3.
Figure 7. (a) The LPG-LM’s parameters indicator ((b) System model.
Figure 8. Detail of real-time LPG parameters in the bylnk dashboard.
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The time duration of each case varies and depends on other environmental factors. Also, the gas sensor MQ-2 is programmed not to detect any gas leak within the range of 240 to 270 ppm and configured to display “No leakage” status via the liquid crystal display as shown in cases A, B, and C. Once the gas concentration reaches or exceeds the predefined threshold of 400 ppm (as seen in case D), the gas sensor detects the gas leakage level and send the data remotely to the bylnk platform for real-time monitoring of LPG variables. An alarm is further triggered via the buzzer to call the attention of the user. The system is equipped with a GSM module to send instant SMS notifications update or initiates a call to the
user. For instant, Figure 9, shows a real time SMS update and displays the LPG gas leakage status, temperature, humidity, weight on the bylnk IoT dashboard for remote monitoring and control. Furthermore, the temperature and humidity of the LPG cylinder must be monitored to ensure optimal operation and safety. One of the significant variables for monitoring the liquefied petroleum gas pressure inside the cylinder is the temperature. High temperatures can be dangerous, and humidity can have a considerable impact on the sensitivity and performance of the MQ-2 gas sensor. In this regard, the temperature remains normal during the testing time, ranging from 30.2 to 30.7 degrees Celsius, while the humidity remains consistent at 95%. The
Figure 9. (a) Weight measurement (b) Impact of distance on LPG-LM (c) effect of distance on LPG concentration (d) Load cell measurement.
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weight of the LPG cylinder and the gas leakage are observed for 12h- horizon with a time interval of 2hrs as shown in Fig. 9. A 3kg LPG cylinder is chosen as baseline due to its compactness and light weight. It weighs 5.6 kg when empty, and 8.6 kg when fully loaded. The goal of this experiment is to investigate the sensitivity of the LPG-LM system to gas leakage by varying its distance The weight of the LPG decreases over time, as illustrated in Figure.9a. This implies that the LP gas usage inside the 12h-horizon changes when the gas is consumed. The weight of the LPG cylinder was measured within the 12-hour time frame to determine the sensitivity of the load cell sensor. Furthermore, the suggested system’s location is changed during a 12-hour horizon to assess the device’s sensitivity to position changes. It can be inferred from Fig.9b that as the distance between the 3kg LPG cylinder and the LPG-LM system increases, the time taken to activate the system increases. The system’s delayed time response is due to the fact that the experiment was done in the open air, which may have been affected by external environmental conditions such as draughts. As a result, the detectable distance of the proposed
system to gas leakage sensitivity is between 0.4 and 0.5 meters. Further experiments were carried out to determine the influence of distance on gas concentration. The main goal of this experiment is to determine the sensitivity of the LPG-LM system to gas leakage distance. The LPG concentration (ppm) data was obtained using a bylnk IoT dashboard. Fig.9c demonstrates that the LP gas concentration is slightly constant over a short distance, it drops abruptly from 380% to 95% with increasing distance, and remains reasonably constant at the 12h-horizon. The load cell calibration is shown in Fig.9e. The load cell sensor is calibrated to assure an error-free and precise weight measurement.
Performance Evaluation
Table 4 highlights the differences in performance between the proposed system and the existing models. In general, there has been a number of previous studies on Internet of Things based LPG leakage monitoring systems. This work combines internet of Things, cloud, and GMS technologies. The synergetic combination of these
Table 4. Performance comparison of the proposed system with existing studies No. Paper
Table 5. Design analysis and user’s ranking Design Assessment Statement
I found this system reliable, efficient, affordable and intelligent in detecting LPG leakage than existing models
The gas leakage data is easily monitored and retrieve 45 via bylnk without data loss
The developed system enhances the real time information update of LPG leakage, temperature,humidity and cylinder weight
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technologies enables real-time monitoring, remote access to gas leakage data as well as communication and SMS alert to users via smartphones. In addition, a 4- point Likert scale online questionnaires was administered to 50 students within the University community hostel via google form to assess the proposed system performance. Table 5 presents the design data assessment and rank distribution of the users. The scale 4 connotes “strongly agree” and scale 1 denotes “strongly disagree” and was used as a performance metric for the proposed system. Overall, the findings of the design assessment show a high degree of acceptability and suitability of the proposed system.
remote access of vital LPG parameters through mobile applications or web-based interfaces.
System Cost The main objective of the system cost analysis is to examine the viability of the proposed system and to provide a clear roadmap for mass production of the model for future integration in buildings, cars, and industries. Therefore, the costs of the electronic hardware components based on the difference vendor market price is presented in Table 6. The system cost per product is estimated to be $7.61, which translates to N 6,270 in Nigerian currency using current Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate. The proposed model is low cost, budget-friendly, and safety oriented when compared to the existing models. The integration of the proposed system with smart home system will not only enable seamless automation and control but also provide
Strengths of the Proposed System The main strength of the proposed system lies on the use of hybrid technologies of Internet of Things, IoT-cloud, and GSM to provide real-time monitoring, remote access to gas leaks and instant SMS update. In addition, the system redefines domestic gas safety through real time detection, rapid response, and remote accessibility, resulting in risk mitigation. With the Internet of Things, users can monitor LPG leakage status through mobile application. This eliminates the need for manual checks and provides convenience. Furthermore, the proposed system can detect gas leaks and send immediate alerts and email notification to the users on real-time. The system incorporated safety features such as gas leakage alarm, sensors, and real-time notification response mechanisms to provide an additional layer of safety to the users. Contrary to the previous works, the proposed system seeks to enhance safety using a fused internet of things and global system communication technology. A novel email notification, web-based dashboard mechanism, and IoT cloud platform incorporated to the system to enhance data update and data sustainability. Future Outlook Recent technological advancement in Artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) can enhance real
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time gas leakage data trends and prediction. Such techniques can be integrated into the system model to assist in future decision making. One notable future function is the integration of advanced vision-based sensors such as cameras, GPS, other modern sensors to collect the coordinates, images, and pictures of the scene especially in mobile cars, buildings, or industrial workplaces to aid prompt safety intervention. It is worth noting that the reliable internet connectivity is a significant issue that can affect real-time monitoring and communication capabilities of the proposed system. In this regards, redundant connectivity options can be implemented. This can include backup interment connections, cellular connectivity, and alternative communication protocols to ensure continuous monitoring and communication in case of internet outages. The MQ-2 gas sensor of the system has a limited range of distance and its only sensitives to certain gases such as methane, butane, propane, and LPG. However, MQ-6 gas can be used in combination with the MQ-2 gas to ensure domestic safety. The proposed system is limited to the cylinder weight measurement but it can be further improved to measure gas flow by incorporating high performance ultrasonic sensors, which allows users to track their gas consumption and receive timely alerts when it’s time to book a refill. Furthermore, the real-life deployment of the prototype system in places like transport, buildings, and industries will enhance real time monitoring of potential hazards, and provide timely safety measures in case of an emergence. Future enhancement of this model with various communication networks and electronic mail would enhance users and safety authority awareness on gas leakage. Further, enhancement of the model with a single sensor, capable of detecting multiple gases would not only improve system’s efficiency but also save costs. A highly interesting future path of this work may be found in the energy conservative and off-grid energy system of minimizing the energy consumption of the system model. Using a renewable source such as solar or wind to power the system model would enhance system’s continuous operation and efficiency, and also ensure sustainable monitoring access. In addition, the use of advanced data techniques such as data mining and machine learning can be leveraged with predictive maintenance model to identify potential issues, optimize safety and downtime in industries.
analytics. The NodeMCU serves as cloud server and also as HTTP client enabling remote data connectivity and processing. A comprehensive software suite Blynk provided intuitive interfaces for easy visualization of the LPG variables such as gas leakage, humidity, temperature, and weight. In addition, the integration of IoT enabled the user to have online access to Blynk dashboard for continuous monitoring of LP gas leak status, and other changes in LPG variables in real time. Several experimental findings were presented to demonstrate the applicability and success of the designed system. Specifically, the instantaneous values of liquefied petroleum gas variables such as gas leakage, temperature, humidity, and weight have been carefully monitored during a 12-hour time span. The novelty of the proposed system depends not only on infused hybrid technology, but also addresses the limitation of the existing studies. For example, this work improves early detection of gas leaks by providing timely response to potential threats via real-time SMS update, alarm notification, and instant phone call, as well as improvement in real-time visualization of LPG leakage data on web interface and smart phones. Additionally, the proposed model offers a lower-cost, and more affordable than the products currently available on the market.
Conclusion
The issue of gas leakage and its potential implications with the use of liquefied petroleum gas for residential fuel necessitates the implementation of intelligent safety measures to protect against massive collateral damage and threat to individual safety. This study presented a monitoring system for tracking real-time information on LPG leakage. The system model uses 4-tier of IoT architecture to facilitate data sensing, sharing, processing, storage, and
Acknowledgements
The lead author is grateful to the members of the research lab group for their significant contributions and prompt feedback. A special thanks also goes to the College of Engineering and Environmental Studies for providing a conducive environment to complete this project.
Data Availability Statement
The authors confirm that the data that supports the findings of this study are available within the article. Raw data that support the finding of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.
Conflict Of Interest
The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Ethics
There are no ethical issues with the publication of this manuscript.
Sigma J Eng Nat Sci, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 962−980, June, 2025
Share and Cite
OKUBANJO, A.; OKANDEJI, A.; AKINLOYE, B.; OKAKWU, I.; OSIFEKO, M. Real-time LPG leakage monitoring system using iot and cloud technology. Sigma Journal of Engineering and Natural Sciences 2025, Vol. 43, pp. 962-980. https://doi.org/10.14744/sigma.2025.00084