A small and medium South Korean company has developed a digital gas middle valve that can detect any gas leakage and control gas valves with Smartphones. It is seen as an alternative to current safety device that measures concentration of gas in the air as there are more construction methods that embed gas pipes within walls and sinks recently.
SafeTech (CEO Kim In-kyu), which specializes in gas safety device, made an announcement on the 9th that it has developed ‘HESTA’ that is able to shut off digital gas valves and detect any gas leakage and will start supplying it to new apartments that are being built.
By detecting gas flow, HESTA shuts off gas through a sensor that is built in when water overflows during cooking or when fire goes off due to wind. Even if cooking is finished without any problems, valves are turned off automatically after 10 seconds. It also has a timer function that turns off gas valves automatically after certain period of time.
HESTA is also capable of remote control through Smartphone application regardless of telecommunication businesses as it has Wi-Fi telecommunication module, which is the first in this industry. SafeTech explains that HESTA corresponds to trend of new apartments that are changing home automation functions to wireless.
HESTA can also detect gas leakage. Since it has parts that can detect, transmit, control, and block, it immediately responds to gas flow. If a person clicks a button from a kitchen, HESTA can detect whether or not there is gas leakage in just 10 seconds. When there is very tiny amount of gas leakage, sensor that is built inside of HESTA detects it, makes an alarm, and blocks off gas immediately.
HESTA is seen as an alternative that supplements weaknesses of current gas leakage detectors. Due to current laws, all facilities that have are obligated to install gas leakage detectors that are approved by Korea Gas Safety Corporation. Products that are attached to ceiling are currently being used the most. However as there are more incidences where valves for oven are installed inside walls and sinks to have cleaner look of kitchen, current detectors are not displaying their full potentials. When gas valves are embedded, it is difficult to inspect and manage safety of hoses and connections. Even when gas is exposed, it is not exposed in the air since it is trapped inside of sink.
SafeTech also received an approval from Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy on the 11th that it can use HESTA as a gas leakage detector for built-in facilities.
“While most of construction companies are responding to gas leakage by making holes on top of sink to reduce production cost, which is caused by price regulation, safety inspection is realistically difficult since holes are made in different corners rather than on top of connection.” said President Kim In-kyu of SafeTech. “HESTA will be able to increase quality of gas safety one step higher.”
Staff Reporter Choi, Ho | snoop@etnews.com