Methane (CH4) Detection System Using The TGS2611 Sensor and MQ-4 Sensor

Abstract

Abstract This research focused on cow dung digesters as measurement samples, utilizing the TGS2611 and MQ-4 sensors, both known for their affordability. The objective was to develop a low-cost gas sensor system for monitoring methane gas concentrations through a straightforward web-based data acquisition platform. The DHT11 sensor was employed to measure air temperature and humidity. The electronic sensor circuit in this research utilized a voltage divider circuit. Testing the performance of the low-cost gas sensor involved integrating it with an anaerobic digestion system. For both the TGS2611 and MQ-4 sensors, the graph illustrating the relationship between sensor voltage (volts) and methane gas concentration (ppm) formed a logarithmic or non-linear pattern. The measurement range for the system was around 4700 ppm to 6300 ppm for TGS2611 and 4000 ppm to 5100 ppm for MQ-4. The sensor sensitivity was determined as 0.5433 Volts/ppm for TGS2611 and 0.5639 Volt/ppm for MQ-4. The TGS2611 sensor exhibited a higher response to changes in methane gas concentration, while the MQ-4 sensor successfully detected methane gas within its designated range. Interestingly, the TGS2611 sensor accurately detected methane gas concentrations above its specified range. The gas sampling procedure involved automatic gas sampling in a vacuum chamber for measurement, a strategy potentially enhancing sensor robustness. This research successfully amalgamated sensor advantages, circuit control, and data analysis to realize an economical yet reliable monitoring system.