Methods for the determination of Humidity

There are many methods for the determination of humidity. Some of the most important methods for determining humidity are as follows. Psychrometric method : The oldest method for measuring relative humidity is the psychrometric method. Psychrometry is commonly known as the wet and dry bulb method. A psychrometric sensor does not directly sense humidity, but rather it senses temperature to indirectly find relative humidity. The sensing elements can be thermometers, RTDs, or thermistors. The first sensing element, the dry bulb, measures ambient temperature. The second sensing element, the wet bulb, is enclosed in a wick saturated with distilled water. Air forced across the wet bulb creates evaporation, which cools it below ambient temperature. The amount of evaporation (cooling) is dependent on the vapor pressure of the air. Using the wet and dry bulb temperatures, the relative humidity can be looked up on a psychrometric chart. Looking up the %RH on a chart for every measurement is time-consuming and cumbersome. With todays technology, psychrometric charts and dew point equations can be stored in a microprocessor, thus making this a direct sensing method for RH and dew point. Dew point method : In this method, the dew point is determined by cooling a highly polished surface in the gas and checking the maximum temperature at which the condensation takes place . The humidity of the gas is equal to the humidity of saturated gas at the dew point. Hygrometric method: The hygrometric method of relative humidity sensing is the most common. The instruments are generally compact, reliable, and inexpensive These sensors provide an output that is directly indicative of humidity. The first humidity sensing elements were mechanical in nature. Physical dimensions of various materials will change with the adsorption1 of water. Some examples of these are hair, animal membrane, and some plastics. To build a sensor from these materials the element is kept in tension with a spring. A strain gauge monitors the displacement caused by a change in the moisture content of the air. The output of the strain gage is directly proportional to the relative humidity. A second method of hygrometry is coating an oscillating crystal (quartz) with a hygroscopic coating. When the coating adsorbs water the mass changes which then changes the crystals oscillating frequency. A more obscure method is an electrolytic hygrometer. This method is complicated and not used frequently enough to warrant explanation. Electrical Hygrometers : Electrical impedance sensors measure the changes in electrical capacitance or resistance of a hygroscopic material. The material will absorb or desorb water depending on the partial vapour pressure in the atmosphere around it, thus changing its electrical properties. These sensors measure relative humidity. While capacitive hygrometers can withstand condensation, resistive ones usually cannot.

Mechanical Hygrometers : Mechanical hygrometers utilize the change in dimensions of various porous materials (such as wet paper and hair) as they absorb/exude water vapour. This change in dimensions can be used to move a needle or dial; which, when calibrated, will give the relative humidity. Chemical methods: Chemical hygrometers work by using a chemical substance and exposing it to air. The chemical will be measured before being exposed and then again after. Any changes in weight indicate how much humidity is in the air. Determination of Wet Bulb Temperature : It is usually achieved if the bulb of a thermometer is covered up with a soaked cotton wool and is allowed to expose in the air. The air will pass through that soaked cotton wool which will cause evaporation. As evaporation causes cooling, the temperature will decrease. The temperature in this equilibrium condition will be known as Wet bulb temperature and is always less than Dry bulb temperature. Capacitance meters : It is in which electrical capacitance is the function of a degree of decomposition of moisture from the atmosphere.

Methods of increasing humidity

Following are the methods for increasing humidity : 1) Allow live steam to add directly in the required quantity. A slight increase in temperature is seen but this method is not favourable because of the impurities present in the steam. 2) Water may be sprayed into the gas at such rate that, on complete vaporization , it gives the required humidity. But the temperature of the gas will fall as the latent heat of vaporization must be supplied from the sensible heat of the gas and liquid. 3) The gas may be fixed with a stream of gas of higher humidity. This method is widely used in the laboratory when the humidity of a gas supplied to an apparatus is controlled by varying the proportions in which 2 gas streams r mixed. 4) The gas may be bought in contact with water in such a way that only part of the liquid is evaporated. This is perhaps the most common scenario.

The rate of humidification can be increased by increasing the contact area between the air and water and water must be supplied in the form of spray showers. Packed column must be use d to increase the interfacial area.