MiCS-6814 Ammonia Gas Sensor [Arduino Sensors for Everyone]

This chapter explains how to use the MiCS-6814 sensor. You will learn its features, operating principles, specifications, connection pin arrangement, output values, and connect Arduino and the sensor together to measure the air around you easily using the library.

 

Contents

 

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MiCS-6814 Ammonia Gas Sensor

 

 

Ammonia gas is a toxic gas mainly generated from livestock housing, compost, biomass, septic tanks, and manhole facilities. In addition, it easily occurs from bathrooms and food spoilage in everyday life. Ammonia is produced  in industrial sites, detergents, small amounts of ammonia in cigarette smoke, fuel burning, metabolic processes in humans and animals, and urine or manure decomposition.
 
In particular, 80% of ammonia occurs in the agricultural field, and occurs during chemical fertilizer application, livestock manure storage, and soil spray treatment. It is a gas that causes a very unpleasant odor in cowsheds (cows) and pig pens (pigs) and must be measured before entering the pig house. Gas poisoning accidents caused by ammonia should be prevented, and should be measured to reduce odor.


The Odor Prevention Act stipulates that odors that irritate and causes discomfort are ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, mercoptan (thiol), amines, and other irritating gas-phase substances.

These days, many people leave the city life and return to farming and villages. One of the biggest challenges in farming as well as livestock farming is the manure treatment problem. In particular, these days, environmental issues are becoming increasingly important, and if manure is mistreated and leaks or odors exceeding the standard level are discharged outside of the farm, heavy legal sanctions may be imposed.

Ammonia is a cause of odor, but it is also one of the causes of fine dust. Ammonia gas generated from livestock excretion in the barn, livestock manure storage facilities, agricultural land spraying of manure made from livestock manure, and grazing livestock manure becomes ultrafine dust when it meets contaminants. Livestock manure sprinkled on rice fields in the form of compost and water manure in rural areas fuels the generation of fine dust. Fine dust is composed of ionic components such as sulfate and ammonia, and harmful substances such as metal compounds and carbon compounds. Ammonia, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides are the worst combinations that produce ultrafine dust. By reducing the amount of ammonia emissions alone, the concentration of ultrafine dust can be lowered.

Most fine dust can penetrate into the alveoli and lead to heart disease and respiratory disease as well as death. Ammonia becomes fine dust by reacting with nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur oxides (SOX) generated in automobiles. The smog that occurred in London in 2014 was attributed to ammonia from agriculture. The ammonia that becomes fine dust is removed from the atmosphere as it travels long distances or mixes with rain or snow and enters the ground or water. For this reason, ammonia causes long-term environmental impacts on sensitively balanced ecosystems by supplying nitrogen to soil and plants.

 

 

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Effects on the human body

Mental stress builds up due to odor and psychological anxiety can lead to irritation, hysteria, and insomnia. In addition, symptoms such as an increase in blood pressure, abnormalities in the reproductive system due to changes in hormone secretion, loss of appetite and sense of smell, headache, and vomiting appear, and pain in the eyes or throat may occur. Naturally occurring ammonia has a low concentration, so it does not have any harmful effects on the human body.

However, as the concentration increases, it severely irritates the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. When it enters the eyes, it stagnates and causes cataracts, glaucoma, and burns. Eye irritation, burns, tears, pain, conjunctivitis, corneal irritation and severe tissue destruction can lead to blindness. Inhalation irritates the nasal mucosa and causes respiratory irritation, burns, chest irritation, chest pain, cough, choking, shortness of breath, sore throat, cyanosis, pulmonary edema, respiratory arrest, headache, nausea, and vomiting. 

 
[Ammonia concentration]
Since ammonia is a toxic gas, most countries in the world have established and manages concentration standards that can be allowed in the workplace or in everyday life. According to the standards of the Ministry of Environment's [the air pollutant emission standard in 2020], the ammonia standard concentration has been decreased by 39% from 20 to 50 ppm to 12 to 30 ppm.

 

 

 

 

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MiCS-6814 Sensor?

The Grove Multichannel Gas sensor module is a multichannel gas sensor with Amphenol SGX Sensortech small MOS MiCS-6814 sensor. Three gas sensors (NH3, CO, and NO2) are included in one chip, so it can measure three harmful gases at the same time. You can use this sensor when you want to detect multiple gases. 
 
 
Grove multichannel gas
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

1143_Datasheet-MiCS-6814-rev-8-1144828.pdf

0.36MB

 

Grove Multi-Channel Gas Homepage 

 

 

 

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According to the data sheet of the MICS-6814 gas sensor, the sensor can measure carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ethanol (C2 H6 OH), hydrogen (H2), ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), propane (C3 H8), isobutane (C4 H10). The sensor can be applied and used where approximate measurements are adequate.  

Use Case	Explanation	Sensor type
Environment	Monitoring of toxic gases present in the atmosphere due to industrial emissions (weather stations, pollution monitoring)	CO,CH4, humidity, CO2, O3, VOCs, SOx
Safety at work	Indoor air quality management; Toxic gas monitoring in the working environment, e.g. factories where hazardous chemicals are used	Toxic gases, combustible gases, O2
Domestic safety/home use	Toxic gas or smoke detection in your home due to accidents such as fire and explosion; smart refrigerator or oven; fire alarm; natural gas heating; leak detection; air quality management; air cleaner; cooking control	CO, humidity, CO2, VOCs
Car safety	Car ventilation control; Gasoline vapor detection; Alcohol breathing test	CO, LPG, VOCs, CH4
Public security	Indoor air quality management, detection of dangerous substances	Toxic gases, combustible gases, flammable gases, explosives, O2
Medical/Clinical	Diagnosis (respiration analysis, disease detection); Point-of-care patient monitoring; Drug monitoring; Artificial organs and prostheses; Discovery of new drugs	O2, NH, NOx, CO2, H2S, H2, CL2, anesthesia gases
Agriculture	Plant/animal diagnosis; Soil and water testing; Meat/poultry test ions; Waste / sewage monitoring	amines, humidity, CO
Food quality control	Detection of specific molecules that are formed when food begins to spoil and are no longer good for consumption	humidity, CO2
Utility/Automotive/Power Plant	Gas concentration control in engines and gas boilers to ensure the highest efficiency of the combustion process. Since energy is generated by combustion, the same concept can be applied to power plants.	O2, CO, HCs, NOx, SOx, CO2, H2, HCs
Petrochemical Steel/Water Treatment/Semiconductor	Process monitoring and control; Quality Management; Rectal monitoring; Waste flow monitoring; Leak alarm	HCs, conventional pollutants, O2, H2, O3, CO2, CL2, CH4, H2S
Defense/Military	Detection of chemical, biological and toxin transfer agents; Treaty verification	Agents, explosives, propellants
Aerospace	Monitoring oxygen and toxic and combustible gases in the environmental atmosphere	H2, O2, CO3, humidity
Transportation/tunnel/parking	City traffic control and management; Air quality monitoring in tunnels or underground parking lots

 

 

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[MiCS-6814 Ammonia (NH3) Arduino sensor specifications ]

The sensor specifications are as follows. According to the Grove multi-channel gas sensor data sheet , the sensor can detect and output carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ethanol (C2 H6 OH), hydrogen (H2), ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), and propane (C3). H8), isobutane (C4 H10) measurements.

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[MICS-4514 vs MICS-6814 sensor output value comparison]

There is no difference in the output range when comparing MICS-4514 and MICS-6814, and the type of sensor output is added. 

 

 

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[Sensitivity curve of the MICS-6814 sensor ]
Typical sensitivity curves for NH3, NOX and CO measurements of the MICS-6814 sensor are as follows.

 

 

 

• The sensing resistance of air R0 is measured under controlled ambient conditions. 
-For RED sensors, measured in synthetic air: 23 ± 5 °C and 50 ± 10% RH. 
-For OX sensors, measured in synthetic air: 23 ± 5 °C and ≤ 5% RH.

 

 

• The sensitivity factor is defined as Rs divided by Rs in air at 60 ppm carbon monoxide (CO)-RED. Test conditions are 23 ± 5 °C and 50 ± 10% RH. 
• The sensitivity factor is defined as Rs divided by Rs in air at 0.25 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO2)-OX. Test conditions are 23 ± 5 °C and ≤ 5% RH. 
• The sensitivity factor is defined as Rs in air divided by Rs at 1 ppm of ammonia (NH3). Test conditions are 23 ± 5 °C and 50 ± 10% RH.

 

 

 

 

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Purchasing the MiCS-6814 sensor

As follows, the [MiCS-6814] sensor used in the book [Arduino Sensors for Everyone] can be purchased at Ali Express, Amazon.  

 

 

 

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Software Coding

Run the example file in Steamedu123_Sensor-master > examples.

/*
   @404 MiCS-6814 Ammonia gas sensor
*/

#include <C404_Steam_Air_MICS-6814_MOS.h>   // Internal library header file

SteamMICS6814 mics6814;     // Instance

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);     // Start serial communication at a speed of 115200bps.
  mics6814.begin();         // (1) Initialize the sensor.
}

void loop() {
  mics6814.read();          // (2) Measure the value of the sensor.
  mics6814.display();       // (3) Output the sensor value.
  delay(3000);              // Wait for 1 second.
}

 

 

 

 

 

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MiCS-6814 Arduino sensor operation check

When the hardware connection and software coding are completed, you can check the operation screen as follows.

 

------------------------------------------------------ 
Development environment: WINDOWS 10
Arduino IDE: 1.8.13
------------------------------------------------------ 

 

01 library copy

You can easily check the operation by using the  library.  
The libraries \Steamedu123_Sensor-master folder is copied to the folder below.
* This folder is created automatically after installing Arduino C:\Users\s\Documents\Arduino\libraries

02 *. ino file execution
-Connect Arduino and PC
-Run Arduino IDE
-Menu → Tools → Board: Check Arduino UNO
-Menu → Sketch → Check/Compile

03 Check compilation

Select Sketch>OK/Compile (CTRL+R) to compile.

04 Arduino Uno upload

When the compilation is completed without any problems, select Sketch>Upload (CTRL+U) to upload the compiled file.

05 Operation check

You can check the operation as follows.
 

 

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Wrap-up

You can connect Arduino and [MiCS-6814] sensor and practice the sensor easily with simple coding.

 

In this section, we investigated the effects of ammonia on the human body, the reference concentration, the measurement range of simple measuring instruments, and the sensors used in measuring instruments. We learned how to control the grove multi-channel gas sensor, and with Arduino, we measured ammonia.  

The grove multi-channel gas sensors can be used in smart systems for livestock and pig farms. It can also be installed in closed places including underground, hazardous work facilities, production lines, tunnel construction, shipyards, wastewater treatment facilities, petrochemical plants, steel mills, refineries, and mines.

 

 

 

 

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References

The [MiCS-6814 Ammonia (NH3) Arduino sensor] operation introduced in this book [Arduino Sensors for Everyone] can be easily checked easily using the library.  

 

[35] Articles 39 to 41 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, https://bit.ly/38TdKqV

[36] "Toxic FAQ Sheet for Ammonia". Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

September 2004.

[37] Seeed Grove-Multichannel Gas Sensor, https://bit.ly/2XN4yhp

[38] Winsen MQ137 Datasheet, https://bit.ly/3iqgX4G

[39] Winsen ZE03 Datasheet, https://bit.ly/3itQPFV

[40] AliExpress Grove Multichannel Gas Sensor, https://aliexpi.com/ZjR8

[41] AliExpress MQ-131, https://aliexpi.com/8CJX

[42] AliExpress Winsen ZE03-NH3, https://aliexpi.com/EVQW

[43] 1143_Datasheet-MiCS-6814-rev-8-1144828, "MiCS-6814 with recommended supply circuit(top view)", p3

[44] 1143_Datasheet-MiCS-6814-rev-8-1144828, "Detectable gases", p1

[45] Grove Multichannel Gas Sensor Block Diagram, https://bit.ly/2XN4yhp

 

 

 

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Purchasing a book

[Arduino Sensors for Everyone] The book is available for purchase on Google Book and Apple Books.

In this book, you will learn how to use the PMS7003, GP2Y1010AU0F, PPD42NS, SDS011 Fine Dust Sensor, DHT22 temperature/humidity sensor, MH-Z19B carbon dioxide sensor, ZE08-CH2O formaldehyde sensor, CCS811 total volatile organic compound (TVOC) sensor , GDK101 radiation (gamma ray) sensor, MQ-131 ozone (O3) sensor, MQ-7 carbon monoxide sensor, MICS-4514 nitrogen dioxide sensor, MICS-6814 ammonia sensor, DGS-SO2 sulfur dioxide (SO2) sensor, BME280 atmospheric pressure sensor, GUVA-S12SD ultraviolet (UV) sensor, MD0550 airflow sensor, and QS-FS01 wind speed sensor.

 

[Google play book]

Arduino Sensors for Everyone, 저자: Ronnie Kim - Google Play 도서