Automated Continuous-Flow Gravimetric Hygrometer as a Primary Humidity Standard

Published

May 1, 2008

Author(s)

Christopher W. Meyer, Joseph T. Hodges, R W. Hyland, Gregory E. Scace, J Valencia-Rodriguez, James R. Whetstone

Abstract

A new primary gravimetric hygrometer has been completed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This apparatus determines the humidity in a steadily flowing gas stream by first separating the water from the carrier gas using desiccants and afterwards independently measuring the water mass and carrier gas mass. These combined measurements yield the mixing ratio r (the ratio of the measured water mass to the measured dry-gas mass) averaged over the collection time interval. The new gravimetric hygrometer design employs an automated, continuous-flow gas-collection and water-collection system for determination of the mixing ratio. The gas-collection system monitors the rate of gas flow by interferometrically measuring the displacement of pistons in two, precision-bore glass tubes. The mass of the water is determined by weighing the system s water-collection tubes before and after passage of the total amount of gas through the hygrometer. System automation enables gas collection at flow rates up to 3 L min 1 for time periods limited only by the patience of the operator, thus enabling the measurement of lower humidity levels than the previous NIST gravimetric hygrometer. The total expanded relative uncertainty (k=2) of the new gravimetric hygrometer is approximately 0.1 % for atmospheric-pressure dew or frost-point temperatures higher than 35 C (r = 250 g/g). Below this frost-point temperature the total expanded relative uncertainty gradually increases to approximately 1 % at 55 C (r = 13 g/g). The hygrometer has measured the humidity of air and N2 samples produced by the NIST Two-Pressure Generator and the NIST Low Frost-Point Generator, respectively.

Proceedings Title

International Symposium on Humidity and Moisture (ISHM) | 5th | | National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality

Conference Dates

May 2-5, 2006

Conference Location

Rio de Janeiro, BR

Conference Title

Proceedings for the International Symposium on Humidity and Moisture

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

gravimetric, humidity, hygrometer, mixing ratio, primary standard

Citation

Meyer, C. , Hodges, J. , Hyland, R. , Scace, G. , Valencia-Rodriguez, J. and Whetstone, J. (2008), Automated Continuous-Flow Gravimetric Hygrometer as a Primary Humidity Standard, International Symposium on Humidity and Moisture (ISHM) | 5th | | National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality, Rio de Janeiro, BR, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=830962 (Accessed December 21, 2024)