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Long-term tests of capacitive humidity sensors

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1994 Meas. Sci. Technol. 5 1294
(http://iopscience.iop.org/0957-0233/5/10/015)
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Meas. Sci. Technol. 5 (1994) 1294-1302. Printed in the UK

Long-term tests of capacitive humidity


sensors
G J W Visscher and J G Kornet
Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (IMAG-DLO), PO Box 43,6700 AA,

Wageningen, The Netherlands

Received 11 February 1994, accepted for publication 6 June 1994


Abstract. Capacitive air humidity sensors have emerged in increasing numbers, makes
and qualities. Of all hygrometers available at present, it is estimated that 70-75% employ
a capacitivetype of sensor. In this paper the results of outdoor experiments over a period
of more than one year are summarized for most of the commercially available types.

1. Introduction

During the last decade both supply of and demand for


humidity sensors have shown a large increase. The rise
has been due to an increase in volume in traditional
areas as well as to the emergence of numerous new
applications. Industry needs sensors for automation,
energy saving and quality control. Agriculture, and in
particular greenhouse management, has come to depend
increasingly on measurement data for automatic control
of growing conditions. Air-conditioning has welcnmed
the advent of maintenance-free sensors. Domestic applications provide a new and growing market, as will,
probably, the automotive industry.
Numerous instruments, incorporating every conceivable method of humidity measurement, are being offered
under a great variety of trade names and prices. It has
been reported, however, that, at present, of all
hygrometers sold, 70-75% employ a sensor of the thinfilm capacitive type (Scholz 1992). These sensors have
undergone rapid development since their first appearance in 1973 (Suntola 1973). Main problems for application of thin-film sensors in a wide range of humidities
have been long-term stability and a (reversible) drift at
humidities above 85 or 90% relative humidity (rh).
Since the responsibility of IMAG-DLO is for instrumentation of a~riculturalresearch, hygrometry has been
a primary concern for the three decades of TFDL's
existence. (Since January 1994 the Instrumentation
Division has been part of IMAG-DLO.) Much effort
has been and still is being spent on keeping the humidity
calibration facilities up to date. The scope has been
wider, though services being offered as the national
Dutch facility since 1974, with NKO certification since
1984. NKO is one of the signatories of the Multilateral
Agreement of the Westem European Calibration
Cooperation (WECC) for mutual recognition of calibration certificates.
0957-0233/94/101294 t o 9 519.50 Q 1994 IOP Publishing Lid

It has long been felt that, in addition to calibrations,


long-term tests of instruments are indispensable. A calibration shows the performance of an instrument under
idealized conditions at a certain point in time. Only
long-term tests can reveal to what degree and for how
long the user can be confident in his instrument readings
in a specific application. After some years of tests with
various instruments, mainly determined by their availability (Schurer 1981, 1985. 1986), attention was focused
on the performance of thin- film capacitive sensors
(Delapierre et al 1983).
It is known from the literature and from previous
experience that humidity sensors may respond in widely
diverging ways to different atmospheres. In particular,
sulphur-containing compounds in the atmosphere (from
stables, cheese storage and ofices) often had a detrimental effect on humidity sensors. Fruit storage also
proved dificult at times. Most sensors could not handle
wet conditions (condensation, rain, fog or spraying).
Therefore, the first experiments served the double purpose of assessing the performance of the current range
of sensors and of determining the adverse effects of
various atmospheres. The results showed large differences between products from various manufacturers. It
was also found that the atmosphere in a stable or a
store room provided an agreeable environment for
capacitive sensors, whereas a greenhouse and even more
an outdoor louvred screen offered very severe conditions
(Visscher and Schurer 1985). It is for this reason that
further long-term tests have been conducted in the free
atmosphere with only the protection of a louvred screen.
As manufacturers appreciated the importance of these
tests, the first season (Visscher and Kornet 1989) has
been followed by a more or less regular succession of
6-12 month tests to assess the most recent improvements. Though this development has by no means come
to a standstill, the present results seem to justify a more
detailed account.

Long-term tests of capacitive humidity sensors

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Polymer humidity sensors


The first design of a capacitive sensor was made by
Vaisala (Suntola 1973). The sensor consisted of a thin
polymer film a few micrometres thick between two
electrodes, fixed on a glass substrate for ruggedness. The
new capacitive sensor soon became a serious competitor
for the, a t that time, well-known types of resistance
humidity sensors like Dunmore and Pope elements.
Better linearity, smaller temperature coefficient and
response time and insensitivity to wash-out made its
potential very promising. To overcome initial ups and
downs in production, and drift and hysteresis at high
humidities, development continued. After Vaisala, manufacturers like Rotronic, Coreci (Delapierre et al 1983),
Valvo ( 1979), Steinecker, Endress + Hauser, Flucon,
Hycal (Clayton et al 1985), Panametrics, EE-Elektronik
and Testo presented sensors based on several different
polymers. They used a variety of electrode materials,
such as gold, silver, chromium, platinum, tantalum,
molybdenum, nickel and copper to snit various applications. Different electrode geometries were utilized,
such as parallel-plate electrodes, coplanar interdigitated
electrodes and coplanar series-connected electrodes.
Substrate materials are glass, alumina or ceramics
or the substrate is omitted, as is done by Rotronic,
Steinecker and Valvo.
Some manufacturers, like Coreci, Valvo, Panametrics
and EE-Elektronik make their bare sensors available to
suppliers of transmitters or instruments, who build their
own electronics. This may lead to confusion in the
technical specifications if sensor and electronics are not
specified separately.
2.2. Other sensors
Not all older types of humidity sensors have been pushed
aside by capacitive types. The Pope elements of PCRC
are still available, as well as the electrolytic sensor of
Rotronic (Lafarie 1985). The RHT-2 of General Eastern
is also a resistance-type sensor; it is, in fact, the only
resistance-type sensor that participated in the present
stability tests. As such it is the exception in tables 2 and
3 later.
2.3. The experimental set-up
Sensors under investigation were stationed in a louvred
Stevenson screen (0.45m x 0.70 m x 0.40 m) according to
DIN 58 656 on an inner court of our one-story building.
A type of psychrometer, made by TFDL, an instrument
in general use in greenhouse research, was used as a
reference. In fact, two psychrometers have been used to
improve reliability. The conditions inside the screen were
kept homogeneous (within 2% rh) by an extra fan. The
output signals of all instruments were collected by a
Campbell data-logger, model CR7X.
Every 30 s all signals were scanned simultaneously,

and the averages over a period of 10 min were stored in


the logger memory.
Ten years ago we often used our own electric circuits
in combination with a handful of bare sensors that
manufacturers sent us (Visscher and Schurer 1985). To
avoid any discussion about disappointing test results,
the later experiments have all been made with complete
transmitters and instruments, preferably in two-fold
measurements.

3. Results
3.1. Calibration

Before and after a long-term test the sensors were


calibrated in a climate cabinet with an internal volume
of about 0.5 m3, with the two psychrometers mentioned
above as references. The calculated absolute accuracy is
k 1.5% rh, which value is mainly caused by the uncertainty in the psychrometer coefficient used. As the same
references were used before, during and after the stability
tests, a drift of less than 1.5% rh could nevertheless be
detected. The air speed in the psychrometers and the
calibration of the platinum resistances of dry and wet
bulbs were tested before and after the investigation
period. After test A both reference psychrometers were
calibrated against a standard mirror dew-point meter.
Figures l(a)-(d) show data of the calibration of a
group of sensors (table 1) at the beginning of a test that
lasted from July 1992 until June 1993, referred to as
test A. Figure l(e) shows the initial calibration lines of
four sensors that bad participated in a previous test B.
The data are shown only to demonstrate the ability of
different manufacturers and instrument suppliers to
carry out their own calibration. In columns 3 and 4 of
table 3 later the differences between the average of the
two reference psychrometers and the output signal of
the various transmitters at 50% and 90% rh at 20C
are given.
3.2. Conditions during the test
Data from the logger were off-loaded every three or four
days. A rough approximation of the conditions in the
screen during the conrse of the test can be made by
calculation of the averages of relative humidity and
temperature during those three or four day periods.
Figure 2 gives an impression of how conditions varied
during test A. Figures 2(a)-(d) give the differences
between the average of the two references and the sensors
under investigation. Panametrics and EE-Elektronik
participated three months after the test had started. For
some sensors (Panametrics, EE-Elektronik and Vaisala
HMDSOU, which was not meant to be used for this
purpose) there is a clear correlation between average rh
and temperature; for others there is no correlation. Testo
showed a minor effect. Prior to recording, data were
processed according to the initial calibration lines. This
is illustrated by the fact that all figures start around zero.
1295

G J W Visscher and J G Kornet

c
3

30

40

50

60

60

70

.
.
30

$00

90

40

50

rh in %
rokl

- - - ma2

--

70

60

80

90

100

r h In %

-.

rmsci

- "a151 - - -

lmY2

--

"als2

te*tot

-.

tes1.32

100,
100

- 1

90
90
c

80

.-2

70
60
50
40

30

CO

50

60

80

70

90

100

30
30

40

50

rh In %

- EEl

30

40

- i?El
Figure 1.

---

50

EE2

60

--

70

60

BO

90

100

r h in %

--

Pant

70

PW2

90

80

- mrec, - - -

--

stern

-.

EiU

100

rh in %

- - - GEZ

-- Hycal

-.

Hycail

(a)-(e)Calibration lines before the start of the tests.

3.3. Stability

memory of the sensor and its close environment for its

Figures 3(4-(4 give the shift of the calibration Lines


after the period of one year of outdoor measurements
of test A. The lines were calculated by subtracting the
second-order polynomial lines of the calibration lines of
1993 and 1992. Results of a similar test (B)in 1991 are
summarized in the last two columns of table 2.

past. Thus, hysteresis depends on the range and duration


of a cycle, somemanufacturers
give one
for hysteresis, others specify it in
detail,
In the climate cabinet group A was subjected, at
20 OC, to a cycle of 40-60-80-95% rh and back, with a
transition time of about 1 h between two subsequent
points. Except for the Testo sensors, no filters or caps
were removed. The values for the hysteresis at 70% rh
can be found in column 5 of table 3.
Examples of the effect of hysteresis in our practical
situation are shown in figures 4(u)-(e). Over a period of
three days relative humidity and temperature varied

3.4. Hysteresis
Hysteresis is an important component of the overall
accuiacy of a sensor. The essence of hysteresis is the
1296

Long-term tests of capacitive humidity sensors


Table 1. Sensors participating in a test from July 1992 to June
1993. Note that HMDSOU, unlike HMP35 and HMM30D, is not
meant to be used for meteorological purposes. ss is stainless
steel.
~

Manufacturer

Type

Sensor
type

Coreci

Transmicor

5000

Filter
None

TI 20

EE-Elektronik

TFUA5A2

HC 500

PTFE

foil
Endress+ Hauser

rhplus 2250

'Silicon-based
polymer'

ss

Panametrics

MC-1-11

MC2

ss

MC2

sinter
None

Hygromer

PTFE

143~178

sinter
SS

Rense
Rotronic

RVT-379RH
YA-1OOC

sinter

Steinecker
Testo

42
0637.9764

Ceramic

Vaisala

HMD5OU
HMM30D

lntercap
Humicap

200

260

320

380

440

500

560

days

-m

None

tMD

Figure 2. Average conditions during test A.

sinter
None
General Eastern and Hycal were derived from a similar
period during test B.

PTFE

foil

H0062

3.5. Influence of temperature


according to figure4. The data include the effect of
filters as mentioned in table 1. A relatively heavy sinter
filter of stainless steel influences the actual rh at the
sensor, as can he seen in figure 4(d), where the hysteresis
of the bare sensor at one temperature is also given. A
sintered Teflon filter absorbs water under wet conditions
or condensation and is able to hold the water for a few
hours or more, giving the sensor the impression of a
high humidity. A polluted filter may have a similar effect.
The values for the hysteresis at 70% rh for the various
sensors are mentioned in column 6 in table 3. Those for

After the stability test the sensors were calibrated at 5,


20 and 35 "C at relative humidities of 35, 50,65,80 and
95% and back, with a transition time of about 45 min
between two subsequent set-points. At each temperature
the hest straight line through the measuring points was
calculated. The temperature coefficients at 50% rh are
given in column 7 of table 3.
It has to be kept in mind that these coeficients
include temperature effects from both sensor and
electronics and that the temperatures of sensor and
electronics did not differ. In a dynamic situation one

Table 2. Sensors participating in a stability test from June 1991 to February 1992. The last two columns give the drift after more than
200 days. SS is stainless steel.
Manufacturer

Type

Sensor
type

Filter

Coreci
General
Eastern
Hycal

CHRTA
UHT-2

CCH
RH-8

CT-880-C
CT-839-A

Ultra HI1

ss

HC 100'

No
No
No

Rotronic

FTF11
FTF 13
MO-378
YA-IOOC

Testo

84

Ceramic

Vaisala

HMP35A

Elka
hP5

Drift
at 60% R H

Drift

No

t2.0

f 4.0

No

-2.5
- 4.5
+1.5
2.5
+5/+12
2.0

f5.0'
fl.O
f0.5
2.5

+
+

+
+6/+13'

+7.0
f0.5

f7.5
f 2.5

ss

t1.0
+1.0
+0.5

f2.5
f1.5
f1.5

Humicap H

FTFE

f1.0

fl.O

foil

foil
No

Humico?
~

Hyqromer

ss

094P196

Valvo

Oh90 RH

0.0
f1.5

f4.0

fl.O

+ 7.0

' Sensors polluted.


Sensor EE-Elektronik.
' Sensor Coreci.

'Sensor Panametrics.

Experimental model by Rense Instruments.


Output highly unstable.
1297

G J W Visscher and J G Kornet


averages

(b)

......................................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..........
................................................ #.............

L:

*
E

Figure 2. (a)-(@ Differences between processed outputs and the average of the two

may expect quite different results. First, the mass of the


filter determines the response time of the direct environment of the sensor. Second, the mass of the probe and
its electronics may very well affect the accuracy of the
output, because the temperatures of sensor and eleo
tronics differ. It would go beyond the scope of this paper
(and require extensive measurements) to go into detail.
An illustration of the effect of a change in temperature
at constant relative humidity 50% is given in figure 5,
with four identical probes and three different protection
filters. The difference between the reference psychrometer
and the bare sensor remains within 2% rh, whereas the
differences of 12-19% of the other sensors depend on
the kind of filter used, namely a stainless steel wire filter,
a Teflon filter or a sintered stainless steel filter.

3.7. Cleaning

3.6. Condensation

4. Discussion

The effect of condensation or wetting is a difficult and


complicated problem. It depends on the amount of
water, where it has condensed and for how Ion& the
presence of a filter, the kind of filter and so on. A big
droplet of water on the sensor can change its indication
to 80% (not necessarily more) instead of 50%. Within
the scope of the present tests no explicit experiments on
effects of wetting have been made.
1298

referencepsychrometers.

At the end of the tests all sensors of test A were


cleaned with distilled water and left to dry overnight.
Recalibration after one day did not show any significant
differences, except for the Panametrics sensors. Their
negative drift had disappeared and the calibration curves
were almost identical to those of a year ago. Another
recalibration a few weeks later brought to light that this
was caused by wetting rather than by cleaning, because
the sensor had drifted back.
One Testo sensor was cleaned with isopropyl alcohol.
It showed a surprisingly short recovery time (seconds);
no influence on the readings was observed. Similar
experiments with other sensors have not been made.

4.1. Calibration

If the (experimental) Rense sensors are omitted from


table 3 then the average difference between the results
of 18 sensors and the psychrometer is (+ 1.6&2.8)% rh
at 50% rh and (+1.3+3.0)% rh at 90% rh. Our
experience from the many calibrations that we have
made during the last few years is that the accuracy at

Long-term tests of capacitive humidity sensors

,t

.s

-?OL.

'

30

'

'

'

40

" "

'

"

50

- iotr1 - - -

"

" "

'

60

70

m in

"

--

row.

" ' " " ' ' " '


BO
90

ren*e*

-.

-10

IOC

" ' " " " ' " ' " " " " " " ' ' ' " ' '

30

40

- "am?

tense2

60

50

eo

70

loo

90

rh in %
---

--

"am2

:es:o1

-.

lest02

(4
'-

E
N

m
I

6:
-io/.,
30

"

'

40

- EEI

" "

" "

'

" "

60

50

"

"

'

"

"

eo

70

"

"

'

90

'

-10

100

rv in YO

---

EE2

--

-.

Pan,

30

40

Pad

50

r"
Corecl

---

eo

70

60
In

HM30

too

90

--

S:ein

-.

E+H

Figure 3. (a)-(@ Shift in calibration lines after one year.

Table 3. Data concerning initial calibration, hysteresis and temperature-dependence.

Manufacturer
Coreci
EE-Elektronik
Endress+ Hauser
Panametrics

TVDe
..

Calibration
error at
50% rh

Calibration
error at
90% rh

Transmicor

+ 3.2

+ 2.0

TFUA5A2

+3.6
+2.6
+1.8
1.6
+3.4
+7.83
+8.4
0.4
0.8
+0.5
+3.2
+3.2
f0.5

. .-"

~i
m

rhplus 2250
MC-I -1 1

Rense

RVT-379RH

Rotronic

YA-1OOC

Steinecker
Testo'

42
84

Vaisala

HMD5OU

General
Eastern
Hycal

Hysteresis at
70% rh
in cab

Hvsteresis at
76% rh
fiuure
- 4

% RHT?

0.8

Ifl.2

+0.07

+1.6

1.o

+0.9
f4.6
-0.7

1.4
1 .I

f0.5
+3.2

1.I

1.2
1.5
3.0
2.8
2.5
2.6

0.8

+ 7.2

1.8
1.7
0.4

+1.0

0.5

+ 0.6
-0.7
+3.2
f3.0

t0.5

t2.5

f2.5

HMM30D
RHT-2

+2.0
-1.7

CT-880-C
CT-839-A

+1.0
0.0
+0.5

+2.5
-2.1
-1.6
-0.2

0.6

0.4
0.4
0.6
1.o

+1.0

3.0

1.2
1 .o
2.5
2.2
1.4
1.1
1.9
1.o
3.0

-0.05
-0.08
f0.07
-0.03
+0.06
-0.14
- 0.05
0.06
- 0.06

-0.09
-0.13

+ 0.05
+

+0.03
0.07

3.0
1.5
2.0

' Three identical sensors with a more sophisticated electronics appeared to be within the specifications of 1 2 % relative humiditv.
while their temperature coefricient was less than +0.04% relative humidity per kelvin (see figure 5).
Not measured because of problems in the electronics of the probe.
The manufacturer knew, at that time, that he had not calibrated his sensors in the right way.

1299

G J W Visscher and J G Kornet

m e

4-6.

1993

100 I

0l
6

-.i

-4

-0
0 " " "
0

'

'

24

"

"

40

-10'
30

72

'

'

'

40

'

'

'
70

60

50

hours

- w1

- - - DS2

--

.""-2 1

Panametrln

io(

%rh

- re2

t2

90

80

valsals ,nte<cap

(bl

(4

.-

ai

6 -

4 -

L
c
'-

4 -

2-

II

=f

-2

::I,

-4

._.

-<n

30

50

40

a0

90

.,,

'

loo

-10'

30

50111501

'

50

'

'

60

70

'

'

'

80

90

100

80

SQ

100

% rh

Cmec

10

10

6
4

2
0

2
0

-2
-4

-2
-4

-6

-6

-0

-10

'

40

(4

f
.D

- Vfi 1
re5i0 2

*
.E

0 -

-2

%rh

- re2 wNm
Pan.

70

60

,I

2-

40

30

50

60

70

80

90

-a
100

-10

30

40

X rh

.,

re510 2

- bare

m o r

with filter

- Cor

50

70

60

xm

Figure 4. Period of three days from which the hysteresis CUNeS in (a)-(e)were derived.

delivery is typical for the supplier rather than for the


sensor. Unlike some years ago, their stability and reproducibility make it possible to distinguish (groups of)
sensors that have been calibrated in different ways or
under different circumstances.
The fact that the average differed from the reference psychrometers raised the question of whether
there might be a systematic error in the psychrometric measurement. Comparison with our calibrated
1300

(+0.05 K) Michell dew-point meter showed an average


difference of about 0.5% rh in the range of interest, with
the psychrometer readings the higher.
4.2. Measurements in the screen

From figures 2(a)-(d) the conclusion can be drawn that


the drift of the sensors of Rotronic, Coreci, Vaisala
(HMM3OD) and Endress +Hauser showed no corre-

Long-term tests of capacitive humidity sensors

55

so

0
0

.-c

25

20

+
15
10
*C

.-

5
0

-5'
0

'

'

'

30

'

'

'

'

60

'

'
90

'

'

'

120

minutee
Figure 5. The effect of a filter on the accuracy in actual relative humidity reading.

lation with the average temperature and rh. Testo sensors


showed a slight correlation. The Panametrics sensors
showed a long-term (a week or more) drift at high
humidities. After such a 'wet' period a hysteresis loop
similar to that of figure 4(b)was obtained, but at a level
6% or 7% rh higher. The EE-Elektronik sensors showed
a similar phenomenon, but of smaller magnitude. The
values are in complete agreement with calibration data
before and after the test.
4.3. Stability

All capacitive sensors tend to drift in the same direction,


except Panametrics that proves the rule with three of its
four sensors. An earlier type of Panametrics device, MC1
in table 2, behaved normally. EE-Elektronik has made
progress either in sensor or in electronics: see Elka in
table 2. The electronics of Elka seems to be acceptable
if a comparison is allowed between Coreci and Elka in
table 2. The Rotronic sensors of test B appeared to be
more stable than those of test A, the ' 0 in the 1991
type was supposed to indicate an 800 times better
resistivity against sulphur dioxide. Vaisala (Humicap)
was also more stable in test B than in test A. The
HMM30D device had been built in a protecting case
with forced ventilation along the sensor. It proved to
have accumulated rather a lot of dirt at the end of the
test. The Testo sensors that participated in test A were
the same specimen as those in test B. Test 1 was partly
influenced by the air stream caused by one of the
reference psychrometers, resulting in a polluted filter on
one side that made the sensor rather slow.
The average drift of the sensors of test B, except for
the General Eastern device, is (+ 2.0 ? 1.9)% rh at 60%
rh i n d (+2.9f2.0)% rh at 90% rh. Striking but not

surprising is the negative drift of the General Eastern


sensor. It is in agreement with our own experiences in
the development of similar sensors and with the behaviour of Pope elements.
4.4. Temperature coefficients

The ideal situation is of course a sensor without any


temperature-dependence. In case there is a temperaturedependence that has to be compensated for, the response
times of the humidity and temperature sensor have to
be equal. During our calibrations we encountered
temperature sensors with response times of 20 min or
more instead of the 20s that the manufacturer had
specified, due to the heat sink of the probe and sensor
connections. In rapidly changing atmospheres one has
to be suspicious about this kind of relative humidity
measurement.

5. Conclusions

(i) In the development of capacitive humidity sensors the trend towards better stability has continued. A stability of 2-3% relative humidity
over a year is within the reach of more than one
manufacturer. However, a constant quality
cannot yet be taken for granted.
(ii) All capacitive types investigated, except for one,
drifted to a higher output.
(iii) A good stability in time is not enough to guarantee accurate measurements. The combined influence of hysteresis and temperature resulted in
1301

G J W Visscher and J G Komet

misreadings of 5-10% rh in our practical


situation.
(iv) The difference between the average of the output
signals of 18 humidity transmitters from ten
manufacturers and the reference psychrometers
was at delivery about 1.5% rh, with an uncertainty ( 2 4 of 3% rh. Calibration at delivery
remains necessary.

The aim of this work was to give results of long-term


outdoor measurements rather than to point out the best
sensor. To our knowledge there is, at least at this
moment, no such thing as 'the best' sensor. A sensor
with an excellent long-term stability in relatively clean
air may have poor characteristics if measurements are
made in atmospheres containing SO,. NO, or NH, or
in high or fluctuating temperatures, due to the type of
polymer used in the various sensors. Development is
continuing. Experiences of different users are often contradictory, and in most cases it is hard, even for the
manufacturer, to find out the reasons for a deviation.

References

Clayton W A, Freud P J and Baxter R D 1985 Contamination


resistant capacitive humidity sensor Proc 1985 Int Symp on
Moisture and Humidity, Washington DC, April 15-18
(Instrument Society of America) pp 535-44
Delapierre G et a1 1983 Polymer-based capacitive humidity
sensor: characteristicsand experimental results Sensors
Actuators 4 97-105
Grange H and Delapierre G 1991 Polymer-basedcapacitive
hygrometers Chem. Sensor Techno/.3 147-62
Lafarie J-P 1985 Relative humidity measurement: a review of
two state-of-the-art sensors Proc. 1985 lnt. Symp. on
Moisture and Humidity, Washington DC, April 15-18
"n 527LR1
rr
"_
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Scbolz G 1992 Sensoren und MeBgerate ftir Gasfeuchte Techn.


Messen 3 88-109

Schurer K 1981 Humidity Sensors A22 156-61


Schurer K 1986 Water ahd plants Adaunced Agricultural
Instrumentation. Proc. of the NATO Adunnced Study
fnsritute, Italy, May 27June Ed W G , Gender pp 429-56
Schurer K 1985 Comparison of sensors for measurement of air
humidity Properties of Water in Foods ed D Simatos and
J L Multon Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff pp 641-60
Suntola T 1973Thin film humiditv sensor CIMO VI Scientific
Discussions, Helsinki

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr Kees Schurer for his keen interest and his


constant encouragement. The authors also acknowledge
all participating companies and manufacturers for their
cooperation.

1302

Valvo 1974 VALVO Technische Informationen fir die


Industrie 790423
Visscher G J Wand Schurer K 1985 Some research on the
stability of several capacitive thin film (polymer)humidity
sensors in practice Proc. 1985 Int. Syntp. on Moisture and
Humidit]: Washington DC,April f5-18 pp 515-23
Visscher G J Wand Kornet J G 1989
LuchtvochtigheidsmetingKoude Klintanr 3 23-7 (in
Dutch)
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