Topıc Application of Temperature, humidity, moisture and other

thermal measurements
Oral/Poster Presentatıon Poster

DETERMINATION OF HOMOGENEITY AND STABILITY OF

HUMIDITY TEST CHAMBERS

Ahmet T. İnce¹ ,Gülden Aslanbay¹ , Aynur Davut²

¹Yeditepe Universıty, İstanbul, Turkey

²Turkish Standards Instıtution, Istanbul, Turkey

E-mail: aince@yeditepe.edu.tr
ABSTRACT
Calibration of measuring instruments must be carried out regularly. Calibration is the set of operations that
establishes the relationship between values of quantities indicated by a measuring instrument or measuring
system represented by a reference material and the corresponding values realized by standards.

In this work, humidity and temperature is observed and the measuring system is prepared for the calibration of
humidity and temperature measurements. In a test chamber, relative humidity measurements are performed
between %20 and %80 at 15ºC and 40 ºC, respectively. The homogeneity and stability of the test chamber is
determined by the experimental setup and uncertainty budgets of humidity and temperature are prepared for
calibrations.

In a humidity calibration laboratory, some basic reference instruments are used for calibration. The humidity
generator is the most commonly used instrument fore humidity calibration laboratory. The stability and
homogeneity of the humidity generator have to be known in order to utilise the humidity generator as a reference
instrument for calibrations.

It is essential that a standard humidity generator be evaluated for its performance. The method of determining
uncertainty in relative humidity and temperature produced by the humidity generator is described. Using
comparison measurement tests for relative humidity and temperature in the humidity generator system at
thermodynamic equilibrium, analytical observations are obtained that were used to calculate the expanded
uncertainty of the humidity and temperature.

KEYWORDS
Relative humidity, absolute humidity, specific humidity, dew point temperature, uncertainty.
1. INTRODUCTION

For many operations the quality of the calibration needs to be known and is quantified by an uncertainty estimate
for the calibration. This is so important for the scientific community and manufacturing operations that it has
been proposed that an evaluation of the measurement uncertainty was added as part of the calibration process.

The best measurement capability is one of the parameters that is used to define the scope of an accredited
calibration laboratory, the others being physical quantity, calibration method or type of instrument to be
calibrated and measurement range. Best measurement capability is normally stated in the accreditation schedule
or in other documentation that supports either the decision on accreditation or the accreditation certificate which
in many cases is issued as evidence of accreditation. Occasionally it is stated both in the accreditation schedule
and in the supporting documents. Best measurement capability is one of the essential pieces of information to be
found in directories of accredited laboratories that are regularly issued by accreditation bodies and is used by
potential customers to accredited laboratories to judge the suitability of a laboratory to carry out particular
calibration work at the laboratory or on site [1].

2. EXPERIMENTAL SET-Ups
There are two experimental set-ups in this work. The first experimental set-up is for determining homogeneity of
the humidity generator and the second experimental set-up is for determining stability of the humidity generator.
The values of the stability and the homogeneity of the humidity generator are used to calculate total uncertainty
budget. Therefore, the humidity generator could be used as a reference instrument in the humidity calibration
laboratory.

The data concerning stability and homogeneity in catalogues of different manufacturers are not explicitly
defined, therefore calibration laboratories have to perform their own evaluation. Although accredited calibration
laboratories evaluate their calibration instruments using their own procedures, though non are uniformly
determined and accepted as a standardized evaluation procedure. It would be an advantage, if an internationally
accepted and standardized procedure existed for evaluation of calibration instruments. This could then be used to
estimate stated data about stability and homogeneity of instruments in catalogues. This would be of benefit also
for manufacturers, whose products are of the best quality with trustworthy performance characteristics.

2.1 Homogeneity Measurement Procedure of the Humidity Generator

Pict. 1:. The humidity generator that used for homogeneity measurement procedure.

The environmental conditions of the humidity calibration laboratory are 24ºC (±2ºC) & 40%RH (±15%RH) .The
humidity generator is set to the value of 20ºC for 50%RH. In Figure 1,the data are taken for 9 different points in
the humidity chamber during approximately six hours.
 5 6

7 8

1 2

3 4

Figure 1: Determined 9 points in the test chamber.

There are three different instruments used for homogeneity application.

These instruments are temperature-humidity indicators and are used as reference instruments. The reference
instruments are calibrated in a primary level calibration laboratory and are certificated. The reason for using
three reference instruments is to reduce time needed for the homogeneity application of the humidity generator.
The results of readings from the reference instruments are compared to the result of the value of the humidity
generator.

Each temperature-humidity indicator is fixed respectively on the points to be determined in Figure . In the test
chamber of the humidity generator in Pict.2, and data was taken for approximately 1,5 hours for each point.

Pict. 2.1: The sensors of the reference Pict.2.2: The sensors of the reference
instruments at the 1,2, and 0 instruments at points 3,4, and 0

Pict. 2.3: The sensors of the reference Pict.2.4: The sensors of the reference
instruments at points 5,6, and 0 instruments at points 7,8, and 0

Pict. 2: Sensors of the reference instruments at the determined points in the test chamber of the humidity
generator.

Homogeneity is an important uncertainty component of the uncertainty budget for determining the total
uncertainty. There are two homogeneity values in this work. One of these is for humidity measurements of the
humidity generator and the second one is for temperature measurements of the humidity generator.
 52

51

50

49

48
humidity

tes to400 %RH

47

46 Almemo%RH

45
optidewmeter%RH
44
humidity
43
generator%RH
42

41
0

80

160

240
time(minute)

Graph 1. Time variation of humidity in the test chamber of the humidity generator.

23

22,5

22

21,5
perature

tes to400 ºC
21

AlmemoºC
tem

20,5

optidewmeterºC
20
humidity
19,5 generatorºC

19

18,5
0

80

160

240

time(minute )

Graph 2. Time variation of temperature in the test chamber of the humidity generator

Homogeneity value of humidity for the humidity generator 1,85 %RH

Homogeneity value of temperature for the humidity generator 0,59 ºC
Data table 1. Stability values of the humidity generator.

2.2 Stability Measurement Procedure of the Humidity Generator

The environmental conditions of the humidity calibration laboratory are 24ºC (±2ºC) & 40%RH (±15%RH).
Relative humidity range of the humidity generator is from 10%RH to 95%RH.Chamber temperature range of the
humidity generator is from 0 ºC to 70 ºC. The data are taken for 3 different points in the test chamber of the
humidity generator in Pict.3. [2] .
Pict. 3: The test chamber of the humidity generator.

There are 3 different instruments used for homogeneity application.

These instruments are temperature-humidity indicators and are used as reference instruments. The reference
instruments are calibrated in a primary level calibration laboratory and are certificated. The reason for using 3
reference instruments is reducing time needed for the homogeneity application of the humidity generator. Each
temperature-humidity indicators are fixed respectively on the determined points in Pict.3, in the test chamber of
the humidity generator and taking data during approximately 6 hours for each point.
The humidity generator is set values of 15ºC and 40ºC for 20%RH

15ºC and 40ºC for 40%RH

15ºC and 40ºC for 60%RH

15ºC and 40ºC for 80%RH

The data are taken at 15ºC for determined humidity set point during 2 hours. Then, for the same humidity set
point, the temperature set point is increased from 15ºC to 40ºC in the test chamber of the humidity generator.
This increase of temperature is during approximately 1,5 hours. Then again the data are taken at 40ºC for
determined humidity set point over 2 hours.

Stability value of humidity for the humidity generator 0,192 %RH

Stability value of temperature for the humidity generator 0,53 ºC
Data table 2. Stability values of the humidity generator.

Stability testing, together with homogeneity testing is crucial in the process of certifying reference instrument. It
is important that the property value should be constant during the lifetime of the certified reference instrument is
the humidity generator. These stability and homogeneity testing are applied to the humidity generator would be
used as a reference instrument for calibrations of different instruments in a humidity calibration laboratory.

2.3 HUMIDITY and TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT

When taking humidity measurements there are many ways of approaching the situation. It is generally assumed
that the water vapour content of the air is uniform throughout the chamber. This is a reasonable assumption, and
people who have performed measurements of humidity at multiple points in a chamber can confirm that this is
normally the case. However, this does not mean that the relative humidity is uniform [4].

2.4 BUDGET FOR UNCERTAINTY OF MEASUREMENTS

An expanded uncertainty of measurement U, obtained by multiplying the standard uncertainty u(y) of the output
estimate y by a coverage factor k,

U = k.u(y)

In cases where a normal (Gaussian) distribution can be attributed to the measurand and the standard uncertainty
associated with the output estimate has sufficient reliability, the standard coverage factor k = 2 shall be used. The
assigned expanded uncertainty corresponds to a coverage probability of approximately 95% [1].
The evaluation of the overall uncertainty of a measurement or calibration is a three-step process:

- Each uncertainty source is identified, quantified and represented as a standard uncertainty.

- The combined effect of the individual components is found as the square root of the sum of their
squares. This is known as the combined standard uncertainty.
- This, in turn, is then multiplied by a coverage factor of k=2 to give the expanded uncertainty, which
may be interpreted as a confidence interval that will include the true value of the measured quantity
with a probability of 95% [4].
-

3. SUMMARY
In a humidity calibration laboratory, some basic reference instruments are used for calibrations. The humidity
generator is the most common one utilised in the humidity calibration laboratory. The stability value and the
homogeneity value of the humidity generator have to be known if the humidity generator is to be utilised as a
reference instrument for calibrations.

It is essential that a standard humidity generator be evaluated for its performance. The method of determining
uncertainty in relative humidity and temperature produced humidity generator is described. Using the
comparison measurement tests for relative humidity and temperature in the system of humidity generator at
thermodynamic equilibrium, analytical observations are obtained for calculating the expanded uncertainty of the
humidity and the temperature.

The two-pressure humidity generator covered relative humidity range of %10RH to %95RH and temperature
range of 0ºC to 70ºC. The results show that the value of uncertainty components of homogeneity are 1,85%RH
for humidity and 0,59ºC for temperature in the humidity generator. The results show that the value of uncertainty
components for stability are 0,192%RH for humidity between %20RH and %80RH, and 0,53ºC for temperature
between 15ºC and 40ºC.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was supported in the calibration department in Turkish Standards Instıtution(TSE) in Gebze. The
author is grateful to Prof. Dr. Ahmet T. İnce for valuable suggestions and discussions, and deems dutiful to
remember the manager of calibration department in TSE is Aynur Davut and the accountable of the temperature
calibration laboratory in TSE is Şenar Kenar, thanking to share ideas and her permission for using the humidity
calibration laboratory and related equipments in TSE.
REFERENCES
[1] EA-4/02 Expression of the Uncertainty of Measurement in Calibration.

[2] Operation and Maintenance Manual for Series 2500 Benchtop Two-Pressure Humidity Generator.

[3] The Institute of Measurement and Control, NPL(UK),1996. “A Guide to the Measurement of Humidity”.

[4] IEC CEI 60068-3-11

[5] The International Temperature Scale of 1990, ITS-90

Address of the Authors:

¹ Prof. Dr. Ahmet T. İnce; Dean of Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Head of Physics Department in Yeditepe
University
İnönü Mah. Kayışdağı Cad. 26 Ağustos Yerleşimi;34755 Kadıköy – İstanbul/TURKEY
Tel:+9(0216) 578 08 10 Fax: +9(0216) 578 06 72 E-mail: aince@yeditepe.edu.tr

¹ Gülden Aslanbay; Physicist in OYAK-RENAULT in Bursa/ TURKEY

Tel: +9(0 507)228 68 96 E-mail: gulden.aslanbay@renault.com
+9(0 535)862 52 14

² Aynur Davut ; Director of Calibration Laboratory

Turkish Standards Instıtution Gebze Calibration Laboratory
Çayırova Tren İstasyonu Yanı GEBZE-KOCAELI/TURKEY
Tel:+9(0 262) 653 07 51-2410 Fax:+9(0 262) 653 08 53 E-mail: adavut@kampus.tse.org.tr