ii

APPROVAL SHEET

This thesis entitled “CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WITH

LEVEL MONITORING SYSTEM”, was prepared and submitted by
SANTIAGO, GERONIMO N., BASALLAJE, MA. REGINA P., SAN ANDRES,
ARLENE S., OGSIMER, SUSIE A., and DE CHAVEZ, GLADYS D., in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED PHYSICS-COMPUTER SCIENCE
EMPHASIS, has been examined and recommended for ORAL
EXAMINATION.

MRS. DAISY MAE R. BONGTIWON

Adviser

Approved in partial fulfillment of the requirement for

the degree of BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED PHYSICS-
COMPUTER SCIENCE EMPHASIS, by the committee on ORAL
EXAMINATION on February 15, 2013 with the rating of _______.

MR. RAYMUND B. BOLALIN

Chairman

MRS. NERISSA B. CAPILI ENGR. EUGENE RANADA

Member Member

MR. LESTER C. BERNARDINO MR. BENJAMIN G. HAVOC

Member Member

DR. LOURDES A. RONDA

Dean
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Behind this work were people who played important roles

for without their support this study would not be done. In

return the researchers would like to acknowledge the

following persons who helped the researchers in various ways

in making this research possible.

The researchers loving parents, Mr. Gerardo N.

Santiago, Mr. and Mrs. Basallaje, Mrs. Edna A. Ogsimer, Mr.

Arnold D. Chavez, Mr. Allan S. San Andress, for giving

their moral support and most especially financial support

until the completion of this work;

To Mr. Benjamin G. Haboc, the researcher mentor, for

his knowledge, hopeful explanation, valuable suggestions and

untiring support and assistance from the start of the

research;

To Mr. Raymud B. Bolalin, the chairman of the Applied

physics, for his unconditional support and guidance to the

researchers on how will they work and improve the study;

To Mr. Arnel Caburnay, the researcher’s circuit

consultant, for sharing his knowledge and insight for the

 iv

progress of the study, and for allowing the researchers to

use his electronic equipments that made the study possible;

To Mr. Roey Valdez Rabino, their thesis consultant,

for sharing his knowledge in choosing the study and with all

the happy moments together to make this research come to

realization; and

Above all, the Almighty God, who gave blessing,

guidance and the courage to overcome the difficulties and

made this research successful.

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DEDICATION

The researchers would like to dedicate

This study to their beloved parents,

friends, and classmates

To their thesis adviser and consultant who helped

and support the researchers,

even to all people who did not

believed on them.

And most of all to the Heavenly

Father, the Almighty God.

G.N.S

M.R.P.S

A.A.S.A

G.D.D.C

S.A.O
 vi

THESIS ABSTRACT

TITLE: “Carbon Monoxide Detector with Level

Monitoring System”

Researcher: Santiago, Geronimo

Basallaje , Ma. Regina

San Andress, Arlene

Ogsimer, Susie

De Chavez, Gladys

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics with

Computer Science Emphasis

School Year: SY-2012-2013

Adviser: Mrs. Daisy Bongtiwon

Statement of the Problem

This study was conducted with the purpose of developing

a Carbon Monoxide Detector with Level Monitoring System.

Specially, the research sought answers to the following

questions:

1. What is the sensitivity of the proposed Carbon Monoxide

Detector with Level Monitoring System?

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2. How acceptable the proposed Carbon Monoxide Detector with

Computer Based Level Monitoring System in terms of:

a. Features;

b. Measurement;

c. Durability; and

d. Affordability

3. Is there a significant difference between the levels of

Carbon monoxide, measured by the device in urban and rural

place?

Summary of Findings

The study focused on detecting and measuring the amount

of Carbon Monoxide suspended in the air. People should be

well informed of the presence of Carbon Monoxide because

carbon monoxide cannot be detected without using any

detection device. The study would be a vital in preventing

CO poisoning and other health risk such as respiratory

illnesses. The device was composed of PIC and Figaro TGS 203

as the main parts. TGS 203 is a semi-conductive type of

sensor. The CO Sensor of Figaro TGS 203 function is to

detect the Carbon Monoxide using data analog of output

voltage. Therefore, this data needs to be converted into

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digital data of 8 bit by connecting to ADC pin of PIC16F877A

Microprocessor.

The microprocessor chip with downloaded Micro basic

program inside will process all received output data from

the TGS CO sensor. After this stage, the microcontroller

PIC16F877A will send the processed data to LCD. The level

shown in LCD is equal to the level intensity of Carbon

monoxide measured by Figaro sensor TGS 203. To find if the

device works properly in measuring carbon monoxide as its

main objective, researchers utilized the experimental type

of study.

The experiment revealed that the device works properly

and as addition the evaluation by the DENR-EMB gave an

enormous feedback.

Conclusion

Based on the outcomes, the researchers arrived at the

following conclusions:

1. The conducted experiment in understanding the sensitivity

revealed that the device works properly, in utilizing Carbon

monoxide emitted by the cigarette 5-15 ppm in one stick and

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10-20 pmm per one pack according to the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA). The experimentation using the

device in measuring the CO emitted by the cigarette gave

conclusion that the device has immense sensitivity and can

definitely detect CO emission because the output from the

device give the accurate reading from the utilize materials

which reads 15 ppm as the highest point in one stick and

averages 8.9 ppm per 5 minutes exposures. Subsequently, the

reading of Carbon monoxide detector with level monitoring

system entered the evaluation of Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) in cigarette’s carbon monoxide emission.

2. According to the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, section

12, the standard CO emission in the indoor air quality

leveled as 0-9 ppm. The indoor test experiment performed by

the researchers result 3.5 pp in 8 hours which proved that

the device works properly and is highly sensitive in Carbon

monoxide emission.

3. According to the test, there is a significant difference

between carbon monoxide emission in rural and urban place

measured by the device. Therefore, researchers determined

that the pollution in the modernize place have a great

impact in the air quality of the area.

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4. The DENR-EMB evaluated the device and performed actual

test. The evaluation of DENR-EMB give further facts that the

device can detect and measure the amount of CO suspended in

the air.

5. In contrasting the device in other CO detector, the study

revealed that the proposed Carbon monoxide detector with

level monitoring system is more affordable and useful than

the CO detector in the market. In addition, the Carbon

monoxide detected and measured by the device entered the

NDIR Gas analyzer utilized by the DENR-EMB.

Recommendation

For further investigation in this kind of research, the

researchers offered the following recommendations.

1. The researchers recommend that the device must be a hand-

held type of device for the users to utilize the device

anywhere, therefore the device must be battery operated.

2. Researchers recommend that the device must be wireless

with at least ten (10) meters wide of its range in

connecting to the computer. The device could be a vital

factor for outdoor CO emission monitoring while measuring,

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obtaining the data, and monitoring the level of CO emission

even if the computer is in a distance.

3. For further study, it is recommended that the device must

be a film badge type of device to be equipped by the passive

smokers and active smokers for them to be informed on their

absorbed carbon monoxide emission.

4. The carbon monoxide is less dense than the oxygen,

therefore researcher recommend that the device must be

installed seven (8) feet above the ground for outdoor

purposes and sixth (6) feet above the ground for indoor

purposes for the device to function significantly.

5. It is also recommended that the quantity output of the

device that can be observed in the computer must be changed

from the digital representation into graphical

representation.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Approval Sheet …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………ii

Acknowledgement ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….iii

Dedication ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...v

Thesis Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………vi

Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………………………………….xii

List of Figures ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………xiv

List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….xvi

List of Appendices ………………………………………………………………………………………………….xvi

CHAPTER Page

I. The Problem and its Background

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………..1

Background of the Study ……………………………………………………………..3

Conceptual Framework ……………………………………………………………………….4

Statement of the Problem …………………………………………………………..6

Hypothesis ………………………………………………………………………………………………….7

Assumption ………………………………………………………………………………………………..7

Scope and Limitation .…………………………………………………………………….8

Significance of the Study ……………………………………………………………9

II. Review of Related Literature and Studies

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Related Literature ……………………………………………………………………………11

Related Studies ……………………………………………………………………………………25

III. Methods of Research and Procedure

Methods of Research …………………………………………………………………………30

Locale of the Study …………………………………………………………………………30

Source of Data ………………………………………………………………………………………31

Data Gathering Procedure ……………………………………………………………32

Data Gathering Instrument …………………………………………………………32

Cost Analysis of the Materials ………………………………………….35

Construction of the Device …………………………………………………….36

Testing and Experimentation Proper ……………………………….41

Evaluation of the Device ……………………………………………………………43

IV. Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data…………49

V. Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

Summary of Findings …………………………………………………………………………87

Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………………88

Recommendation …………………………………………………………………………………….90

BIBLIOGRAPHY …………………………………………………………………………………………………………91

APPENDICES …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….95

CURRICULUM VITAE ………………………………………………………………………………………….121

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.Research Diagram …………………………………………………………………………………….5

Figure 2.World Health Org. Study ……………………………………………………………..24

Figure 3.Smoke detector circuit diagram ………………………………………………27

Figure 4.RE46C190 photoelectric smoke detector ………………………….29

Figure 5.Sensor Structure ……………………………………………………………………………………34

Figure 6.High/ Low Cycle of heater voltage …………………………………….34

Figure 7.PIC16F877A Microprocessor ………………………………………………………….34

Figure 8.Construction of the Device

Figure 8.0 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………36

Figure 8.1 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………37

Figure 8.2 ………………………………………………………………………………………………….38

Figure 8.3 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………38

Figure 8.4 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………39

Figure 8.5 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………39

Figure 8.6 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………40

Figure 9.Research Flow Diagram …………………………………………………………………….43

Figure 10.Schematic Diagram ………………………………………………………………………………44

Figure 11.Carbon monoxide in the Cigarette Experiments

Figure 11.0 …………………………………………………………………………………………………50

Figure 11.1 …………………………………………………………………………………………………51

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Figure 11.2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………53

Figure 11.3 …………………………………………………………………………………………………54

Figure 11.4 …………………………………………………………………………………………………56

Figure 11.5 …………………………………………………………………………………………………58

Figure 12.Indoor Test …………………………………………………………………………………………….62

Figure 13.Indoor Test in the Morning ………………………………………………………64

Figure 14.Indoor Test in the Afternoon …………………………………………………65

Figure 15.Indoor Test in night time …………………………………………………………66

Figure 16.Indoor Test in 8 hours …………………………………………………………………68

Figure 17.Configuration of the Device ……………………………………………………71

Figure 18.CO Test in Quezon City ……………………………………………………………..77

Figure 19.Quezon City CO emission Reading ……………………………………….78

Figure 20.CO Test San Mateo, Rizal ………………………………………………………….81

Figure 21.San Mateo, Rizal CO emission reading ……………………………82

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………23

Table 2 ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………24

Table 3 ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………42

Table 4 ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………52

Table 5 ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………61

Table 6 ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………63

Table 7 ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………65

Table 8 ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………66

Table 9 ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………67

Table 10 ………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………72

Table 11 ………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………79

Table 12 ………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………80

Table 13 ………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………83

Table 14 ………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………84

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendices A. Computed Data used in the Indoor Test ………………95

Appendices B. Research Survey ………………………………………………………………………100