COMPOSITION ANALYSIS-HUMIDITY

Humidity measurement in gas

• Dry bulb temperature
• Wet--bulb temperature
• Dew point temperature
• Humidity
• Absolute humidity
• Relative humidity
• Relationship between
• density, pressure and temperature
Basic Definitions:
• Dry bulb temperature:
Air temperature measured by a thermometer, thermocouple or other conventional measuring
instrument.
• Wet Bulb temperature:
Temperature of air measured by a thermometer covered (thermometer bulb) by wet wick.
• Dew point temperature:
When a vapor is cooled slowly at constant pressure, the temperature at which the first liquid forms is
the dew point temperature.
• Humidity (Air—water systems):
Refers to the amount of moisture present in air
• Absolute humidity:
It is the ratio of amount of water vapor to that of the dry air

For example, if the absolute humidity is 0.0150 kg H2O/kg DA then for every kilogram of dry air
there is 0.0150 kg H2O water vapor for a total of 1.0150 kg. The mass fraction of water is 0.0150 of
H20/1.0150 kg humid air = 0.0148 kg H20/kg
• Relative humidity:
It is the ratio of partial pressure of vapor to that of vapor pressure of water

For example, A relative humidity of 40% signifies that partial pressure of water vapor equals 4/10th
of vapor pressure of water at the system temperature.
• Relationship between the density, temperature and pressure of an ideal gas can
be obtained by relating the specific molar volume (volume/mole) to density
Humidity Measurement Technique
• Psychrometer – (Wet and Dry bulb Method)
• Hygrometer – (Mechanical and Electrical)
• Dew Point method

PSYCHROMETER
• A psychrometer measures humidity by taking both a wet- bulb and a dry-bulb temperature reading.
• With those two values known, the other properties of the air, including its moisture content, can be
determined by computation or by reading a psychrometric chart.
• In commercial buildings, psychrometers are seldom if ever used for control, but they are occasionally
used to check the calibration of humidistats or relative humidity sensors.
Humidity Measurement Technique – Psychrometer (wet--dry--bulb temperature)

• It has been a popular method for monitoring humidity, primarily due to its simplicity and inherent
low cost.
• A typical industrial psychrometer consists of a pair of electrical or pressure spring type
thermometers is shown in the figure
• Air is passed over both the thermometers.
• The resultant evaporating cooling produces a wet bulb temperature approximately equal to the
thermodynamic wet bulb temperature.
• The difference between dry--bulb temperature and wet--bulb temperature is called wet bub
depression which determines the humidity level.
• The depression of temperature of the wet bulb versus the dry bulb can be correlated with water vapor
pressure using the equation

e = vapor pressure of water in gas (air)

ew = saturation vapor pressure of water at temperature tw
P = atmospheric pressure
Ta =Dry bulb temperature
Tw =wet bulb temperature
❖ This equation is valid if the thermometers are in gas stream of sufficient velocity say 200
meters per minute

Humidity Measurement Technique – Hygroscopic

❖ Electrical

• Lithium chloride is used as the primary element (hygroscopic) and gains moisture until it is in
equilibrium with the partial pressure of the liquid vapor in the gas surrounding the element.
• The electric conductivity between the wires depends on the moisture content of the film.
By measuring the electrical resistance of the element (Lithium electrode conductor) with a form of wheat
stone bridge. The relative humidity can be indicated.
Advantages
• It is fast in response
• The moisture equilibrium between the salt film on the element and the surrounding gas is reached
quickly.
LITHIUM CHLORIDE SENSOR(CONTD)
• Also known as dew-point sensors or comes under dew point sensors
• Most accu-rate type of humidity sensor, but they are also the most expensive.
• At steady state , temperature of the solution is indicative of the dew-point of the air
• The accuracy of the sensor can be better than 2.5F.
• Newer versions use lith-ium chloride solution on a grid with an integral heater.
• The lithium chloride is hygroscopic and attracts moisture lowering the grid resistance.
• This lowering resistance increases the heater output which lowers the resistance.
• The balance between wetter lower resistance and heater higher resistance provides the sig-nal for the
dew-point.

❖ Mechanical
 • This method employs linear contraction and expansion of a hygroscopic material like hair, wood,
animal membrane or paper.
• The most commonly used element are the hair element and the wood element.
• A typical hygrometer which uses hair as the primary element is shown in the picture.
• The hair element is made from a bundle of human hairs set in a fixture with one end fixed
• The other end is arranged to operate directly the pointer of the instrument
• The element is maintained under light
• tension by a spring.
• The movement made by the free end of the spring operates the instrument pointer.
Advantages:
The mechanical type hygrometers are most satisfactory for measuring relative humidity of air when dry bulb
temperature does not vary widely.
Disadvantage:
The accuracy of the mechanical hygrometer is not very high since hair and wood element are temperature
sensitive

Humidity Measurement Technique:

• This method is used to measure absolute humidity, partial pressure of vapor and dew point.
• The electrical conductivity between the wires is directly proportional to the moisture in the salt taken
from the surrounding gas.
 • To convert from the dew point temperature (Td) in *C to other expressions for humidity, first
calculate the vapor pressure (e).

TO CALCULATE SATURATED VAPOR PRESSURE ES AT TEMPURATE T OF AIR

Humidity analysis in paper and lumber

• The moisture problem in paper and textile industries is obtaining a uniform moisture in the
finishedproduct.
• The amount of moisture determines the weight and quality of the product
• Two methods are commonly used to detect the moisture in paper industries to meet the finished
product specifications:
(1) Moist--O--Graph and (2)Verigraph