Addressing Natural Gas Leak Detection to Save Lives
After a series of devastating gas explosions in New York City in 2014 and 2015, utilities faced mounting pressure to improve natural gas leak detection. Traditional methods including manual inspection and odorization of natural gas to make it detectable by smell were not only labor-intensive but also not always effective. Utilities needed a solution that could deliver real-time, accurate data to mitigate safety risks while optimizing operational costs.
Itron, a global leader in utility technology, partnered with DeNova Detect, a pioneer in natural gas safety, to develop a natural gas detection system that was precise, scalable, and seamlessly integrated into utility networks. At the heart of this solution is a battery-powered natural gas detector that communicates with utility networks through Itron’s robust 4G mesh network and HiveMQ’s reliable MQTT platform. Designed to last 10 years on a single battery charge, the detector has been instrumental in preventing gas-related incidents with virtually no false alarms.
Advanced Natural Gas Detection Built on Reliable Data
HiveMQ’s MQTT platform serves as the backbone of this natural gas detection solution, providing reliable, low-latency communication across detectors, utility networks, and back-office systems. Its pub/sub architecture facilitates the uninterrupted flow of data, enabling real-time insights that drive immediate and effective responses. HiveMQ enables:
Seamless Data Flow: Natural gas alarms send health checks three times daily and instant asynchronous alerts when natural gas is detected.
Reliable Communication: The MQTT platform integrates data from DeNova’s alarms into utility back-office systems for immediate action.
Scalable Connectivity: HiveMQ’s architecture supports deployments across hundreds of thousands of devices without compromising performance.
These enhanced monitoring capabilities augment manual inspections, allowing service line inspection intervals to be extended from one to five years, with the potential for further extensions pending regulatory approvals.
Ron Lazarus, COO of DeNova Detect, explains, “Our collaboration with Itron and HiveMQ allowed us to create a sensor that not only detects natural gas accurately and immediately but also integrates into existing utility networks without requiring new devices or retooling.”
Transforming Utility Safety and Operations
The natural gas detection system has achieved remarkable outcomes, setting a new benchmark for utility safety and operational efficiency.
Enhanced Public Safety: More than 5,000 actionable alarms have been detected since deployment, preventing potential gas-related incidents. This milestone reflects the system’s precision, mirroring Japan’s success in eliminating gas explosion fatalities since adopting similar technology in 1980.
Virtually No False Alarms: Over six years of operation, the system has demonstrated unparalleled accuracy, validated by rigorous industry testing, with no message loss or downtime.
Cost Savings: Continuous leak monitoring provided by natural gas alarms has reduced gas service line inspection frequency from annual to every 5 years within business districts, meaning approximately 36,000 less inspections and associated truck rolls per year are required, leading to an $11M savings.
Regulatory Compliance: The system supports alignment with stringent safety standards, such as New York City’s Local Law 157, and enables utilities to extend service line inspection intervals from one to five years, with potential for up to ten years.
The system’s effectiveness is exemplified by its deployment with a major utility in New York City, where over 275,000 natural gas alarms are operational, with plans to scale to 400,000 devices by 2025. Future initiatives include leveraging predictive analytics and AI to enhance monitoring and optimize operational efficiency further.
Marc A. Adams, Managing Director of DeNova Detect highlights the impact, "This system is transformative for how utilities can monitor gas leaks, prioritize safety and promote efficiency. It has saved lives, reduced costs, and set the stage for wider adoption across the industry."
Douglas Martel, Sr. Product Line Manager at Itron, adds, "In the six years since deploying HiveMQ, we haven’t had a single support issue. It’s a testament to the platform’s reliability, which is crucial for applications where safety is paramount."
Scaling for Broader Impact
As natural gas detectors gain traction, Itron and DeNova Detect aim to expand deployment across North America, leveraging HiveMQ’s scalability to support hundreds of thousands more devices. The system’s success in New York City has sparked interest from other utilities, with pilots underway in multiple regions.
The partners also envision enhancing the system with predictive analytics and AI to further optimize infrastructure monitoring. By integrating HiveMQ’s advanced capabilities, Itron and DeNova Detect are well-positioned to lead the utility industry toward a safer, more efficient future.
