Gas Detection System

A real-time combustible gas monitoring system using ESP8266, MQ-6 sensor, and GSM module for SMS alerts. This project provides both hardware sensing capabilities and a web-based dashboard for monitoring gas levels.

Features

• Real-time gas level monitoring with MQ-6 combustible gas sensor
• SMS alerts via GSM module when dangerous gas levels are detected
• Responsive dashboard with dark/light mode and real-time updates
• Historical data tracking with 24-hour gas level charts
• Alert management system with acknowledgment capability
• Battery and signal monitoring for the IoT device

Hardware Requirements

• ESP8266 (NodeMCU or similar)
• MQ-6 Gas Sensor
• SIM900 GSM Module
• SIM card with SMS capability
• Power supply (for ESP8266 and GSM module)
• Jumper wires

Software Requirements

• Python 3.13+
• Flask and related packages
• Arduino IDE with ESP8266 support
• Web browser with JavaScript enabled

Installation

Backend Setup

1. Clone this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/gas-detection-system.git
   cd gas-detection-system
   

2. Install Python dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt
   

3. Create necessary directories:

   mkdir -p data
   

ESP8266 Setup

1. Open the Arduino IDE

2. Install required libraries:

   • ESP8266WiFi
   • ESP8266HTTPClient
   • ArduinoJson
   • SoftwareSerial

3. Open the ESP8266 sketch from the arduino directory

4. Update the following variables:

   • Wi-Fi credentials (ssid and password)
   • Server URL (serverUrl)
   • Phone numbers for SMS alerts (phoneNumbers)

5. Connect your ESP8266 to your computer

6. Upload the sketch to your device

Hardware Assembly

1. Connect the MQ-6 sensor to ESP8266
2. Connect the SIM900 GSM module:
3. Optional: Connect the buzzer
4. Optional: Connect an external LED

Running the System

1. Start the backend server:

   python main.py
   

2. Access the dashboard: Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:5000

3. Power on your ESP8266 device

4. The system should automatically begin monitoring gas levels and displaying them on the dashboard

Dashboard Features

• Real-time gas level indicator with status (Safe, Warning, Danger)
• Historical chart showing 24 hours of gas level readings
• System status panel showing battery level and connectivity
• Active alerts panel with acknowledgment option
• Dark/light mode toggle for comfortable viewing

API Endpoints

The system exposes several API endpoints:

• GET /api/current-reading - Get the latest gas reading
• GET /api/gas-readings - Get historical gas readings (default 24h)
• GET /api/alerts - Get all active alerts
• GET /api/system-status - Get device status information
• GET /api/gsm-config - Get GSM/SMS configuration
• POST /api/sensor-data - Submit new sensor readings from ESP8266
• POST /api/alerts/{id}/acknowledge - Acknowledge an alert
• POST /api/alerts/{id}/sms-status - Update SMS status for an alert

Alert Thresholds

The default alert thresholds for the MQ-6 gas sensor are:

• Safe: 0-29 PPM
• Warning: 30-49 PPM
• Danger: 50+ PPM

These thresholds can be adjusted in the utils/gas_utils.py file based on your specific requirements and the gases you're monitoring.

Customization

Adjusting Gas Thresholds

Edit the get_status_from_ppm function in utils/gas_utils.py:

def get_status_from_ppm(ppm):
    if ppm < 30:  # Change this value
        return "safe"
    elif ppm < 50:  # Change this value
        return "warning"
    return "danger"

Adding SMS Recipients

Edit the phoneNumbers array in the ESP8266 sketch:

String phoneNumbers[] = {
    "+1234567890",  // Replace with actual numbers
    "+0987654321"   // Add more numbers as needed
};

Calibrating the MQ-6 Sensor

The MQ-6 sensor requires calibration for accurate readings. In the ESP8266 code, adjust the conversion formula in the readGasSensor() function:

// Convert analog reading to PPM
float ppm = 50.0 * voltage;  // Adjust this formula based on calibration

Troubleshooting

ESP8266 Connection Issues

• Ensure Wi-Fi credentials are correct
• Verify the server is running and accessible
• Check the server URL includes "http://" and correct IP/port

GSM Module Issues

• Ensure SIM card is active and has credit
• Check power supply (3.7-4.2V required)
• Verify TX/RX connections are correct
• Monitor serial output for AT command responses

MQ-6 Sensor Issues

• Allow 24-48 hours for initial warm-up and stabilization
• Verify analog pin connection
• Check power supply (5V required)

Server Issues

• Check if port 5000 is already in use
• Verify database directory has write permissions
• Check log messages for detailed errors

License

MIT License

Acknowledgments

• Flask - Web framework
• Chart.js - JavaScript charting library
• Tailwind CSS - CSS framework