Smart Shutoff Technology for Residential and Commercial Buildings
Gas smart shutoff system for commercial and residential buildings
Institute of Gas Technology dba GTI Energy
Recipient
Des Plaines, IL
Recipient Location
$1,004,577
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
The project team completed simulated demonstrations of the comprehensive gas smart shutoff safety system (CGSSSS) technology for subject matter experts at SoCal Gas, PG&E, and TECO at their corporate training centers. Following the initial demonstrations, two CGSSSSs using a wireless communication network were assembled, demonstrated, deployed, and observed at a residential building and a commercial building. The demonstrations successfully illustrated that a gas leak or fire in a building can be detected by smart sensors, alerts can wirelessly be communicated to first responders to improve safety, and the gas can be shut off to the building either by a programmed alert setting or remotely by the gas utility. The project has completed, and the final report has been published.
View Final ReportThe Issue
Currently, gas infrastructure lacks enhanced safety features to detect and respond to hazardous incidents such as gas leaks, fires, natural disasters, system failures, operational errors, or external impacts. Commercial stand-alone safety devices such as excess flow valves or residential gas monitors are available, but these devices do not possess "Internet of Things" connectivity to automate the safety response among emergency personnel, gas customers, and gas utility companies. Further research is needed to develop an integrated system with smart hazardous detecting sensors, automated shutoff valves, and two-way device-utility communication.
Project Innovation
This project led technological advancement and breakthroughs in smart shutoff technology via smart sensors, shutoff valves, and software integration to improve safety and prevent gas leaks in commercial/residential buildings. Overcoming these barriers will help the state of California achieve its statutory energy goals by preventing gas leaks and lowering the emissions footprint of fossil gas.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
This Agreement will result in the ratepayer benefits of reduced risk associated with the operation of gas pipelines, increased energy delivery reliability, and lowered barriers of smart technology adoption. Deploying smart shutoff technology to residential and commercial buildings can provide layers of protection to California ratepayers. With smart sensor deployment and automation, ratepayers will have the necessary interventions in place to avoid potentially hazardous events posed by gas leaks, fires, earthquakes, and floods. Detection and intervention capabilities provided by smart safety technology will protect ratepayer life and property. This will also limit pipeline downtime and recovery costs by protecting against damaging incidents and provide ratepayers access to safe and reliable energy. By establishing the foundation for smart shutoff requirements, technology developers will have the framework for continued innovation in this emerging market to improve customer satisfaction and lower costs.
Environmental Sustainability
To curtail nuisance gas leaks at residential and commercial customers, gas concentration sensors can be strategically deployed to effectively detect and mitigate methane leaks. The deployed gas concentration sensors will alert operators due to prolonged and continued detection of gas. The IoT data management software will alert the gas operator of the situation and recommend a field crew investigate the area.
Reliability
The proposed technology will limit pipeline downtime and recovery costs by protecting against damaging incidents and provide ratepayers access to more reliable energy supply.
Safety
Deploying smart shutoff technology to residential and commercial buildings can provide layers of protection to California ratepayers. With smart sensor deployment and automation, ratepayers will have the necessary interventions in place to avoid potentially hazardous events posed by gas leaks, fires, earthquakes, and floods. Detection and intervention capabilities provided by smart safety technology will protect ratepayer life and property.
Key Project Members
Dennis Jarnecke
Subrecipients
Energy Experts International
Travis Research Associates
Lorax
Simple Opinions
Match Partners
Lorax
Operations Technology Development
