Case study for a high temperature ultraviolet absorption hygrometer

Technical Report · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:7267683

Gersh, M E; Bangert, M ^[1]; Matthew, M W ^[2]; Lowe, R ^[3]

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1. EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (USA)
2. Spectral Sciences, Inc., Burlington, MA (USA)
3. Pacer Systems, Inc., Billerica, MA (USA)

The motivation for this program is the observation that the use of reliable and accurate hygrometers to monitor or control the processes in industrial drying chambers could result in a significant reduction in the energy usage of the United States. At the present time, there are no commercially available hygrometers which have the required characteristics of a measurement capability at simultaneously high temperature and humidity, along with the ability to operate for long periods in a severely contaminating and/or particle-laden environment. The goal of this program was the development of an industrial hygrometer which can be employed to monitor the humidity during industrial drying operations. This requires a device which can operate at temperatures up to 500{degree}C, at high humidity (50--100%), and in environments containing particulates and/or fouling or corrosive vapors. The approach taken by Spectral Sciences, Inc. (SSI) for the development of a practical hygrometer for these operational conditions is the use of the differential absorption of light by water vapor. Light absorbed at two ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths determines the absolute humidity (measurement of temperature by conventional means also permits the determination of relative humidity). Due to the use of this principle to measure the humidity, we have termed this instrument an Ultraviolet Absorption Hygrometer (UVAH). 11 figs.

• Research Organization: Spectral Sciences, Inc., Burlington, MA (USA); Pacer Systems, Inc., Billerica, MA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: FC07-85ID12557
• OSTI ID: 7267683
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID/12557-3; ON: DE90007358
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
42 ENGINEERING
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
HYGROMETRY
USES
ABSORPTION
ACCURACY
AGRICULTURE
CALIBRATION
COMMERCIALIZATION
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
COOLING SYSTEMS
DATA PROCESSING
DESIGN
DRYERS
FIBER OPTICS
FREQUENCY ANALYSIS
HEAT TRANSFER
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HUMIDITY
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURING METHODS
PRESSURE EFFECTS
PROBES
PROCESS CONTROL
RELIABILITY
STRESS ANALYSIS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VAPORS
CONTROL
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUIDS
GASES
INDUSTRY
PROCESSING
RADIATIONS
TESTING
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420500 - Engineering- Materials Testing
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440600 - Optical Instrumentation- (1990-)