Energy-Efficient Chain-Type Wireless Sensor Network for Gas Monitoring

As a supplement of current wired gas monitoring system, wireless sensor network can be used to cover the blind area, and to diagnose the faults of wired system. The concept of novel chain-type wireless sensor network (NCWSN) for gas monitoring in coal mine with multi-sections is defined. The connectivity of NCWSN is considered too. To focus on gas monitoring, the advantages of NCWSN for gas monitoring are introduced first, then two energy-efficient methods are adopted in gas monitoring NCWSN which are node scheduling and data fusion. The scheme of node scheduling can keep balance of the energy cost by transmitting energy distribution frame in certain section. The scheme of data fusion can reduce transmission data bits by adopting fuzzy sets. Finally, performances of NCWSN are investigated including energy efficiency and network capability. It is shows that energy efficiency is improved to double by adopting node scheduling and data fusion. In addition, it is important to keep the balance among energy cost, network capability and detection precision by choosing appropriate number of sections.