Measurement of air humidity

The humidity of air is an important environment's property in many industrial processes and technologies, as well as it affects a men's health. There is always some moisture in the air. Absolute humidity of air refers to water vapor in 1 m3 volume of air
= mp V

(1)

where mp is the mass of water that is contained in the air of volume V. As it follows from equation [1], the SI unit of absolute humidity is kg/m3. Amount of water vapor contained in the air is delimited by the point of vapor saturation at each temperature. The humidity reaches its maximal value max at this point. As can be seen from the table bellow, maximal value of humidity as well as vapor pressure that corresponds to vapor saturation point increases with the temperature. When the temperature of air with maximal value of humidity decreases, excess amount of water vapor condenses (transforms its phase) into liquid water such that air humidity is equal to its maximal value. Relative humidity of air is the ratio of absolute humidity to its maximal value max

max
100 max

(2)

Relative humidity is typically expressed in percents as

% = (3)

Minimal value of relative humidity (0 %) corresponds to the dry air and maximal value (100 %) corresponds to vapor saturated air. Relative humidity of air that falls between 50 and 70 % represents most pleasant environment for men.

Air humidity measured by psychrometer

We will learn how to use Assmann's psychrometer (Fig. 1) to measure the air humidity. It consists of two mercury thermometers; first of them is called dry thermometer and it is used to measure the temperature of surrounding environment t1. The bulb of second thermometer, called the wet thermometer, is covered with a wet fabric. Evaporation from the wet thermometer lowers the temperature of surrounding air t2 (i.e. t2 < t1) by the latent heat of liquid-to-vapor phase transition. Difference between the two temperatures (t1 - t2), psychrometric difference, therefore depends on the air humidity. Evaporation increases with decreasing humidity, which causes an increase in temperature difference. For precise measurement, Assman's psychrometer includes a fan that prevents water vapor from the formation of saturated vapor environment.

fan dry thermometer temperature difference wet thermometer

flowing air wet fabric

air intake nasvan vzduch

Fig. 1. Assmann's psychrometer

Water vapor contributes to atmospheric pressure by the partial pressure. It is defined as the pressure of a vapor in dynamic equilibrium with its liquid form. Partial pressure of saturated vapor is constant for each particular temperature. Tab. 2 shows its values for several different temperatures. Relative humidity of air determined by the Assmann's psychrometer can be then calculated from the partial pressure of water vapor p1 (at the temperature t1) and partial pressure p2 (at the temperature t2) via relation
p 2 Ab(t1 t 2 ) p1

(4)

where b is an atmospheric pressure in pascals (Pa) and A is a psychrometric constant. Its value for psychrometer used in our laboratory is A=0,00066 K-1.

Equipment: Assmann's psychrometer, barometer, test-tube with distilled water.

Experimental procedure: 1. Read the temperature t1 of the dry thermometer. 2. Wet the fabric that covers the bulb of wet thermometer by placing the test-tube with distilled water into the opening underneath the thermometer for about 10 seconds. Spin the string of fan in top part of psychrometer such that it will rotate during the entire measurement. Watch the continuous decrease of temperature of the wet thermometer and write down the value t2 after it becomes steady. 3. Wait until fan stops moving and temperature of wet thermometer increases again. Repeat the measurement two more times and record all the values into the table. 4. Read the atmospheric pressure b of the barometer. 5. Calculate relative humidity according to the equation (4) and express it in percents (%). Calculate absolute humidity using the equation (2) and values from the Tab. 2. Determine average values of % and using all three measurements.

Tab. 1. Temperature of dry thermometer t1, temperature of wet thermometer t2, partial
pressure of water vapor p1 at temperature t1 and partial pressure p2 at temperature t2, relative humidity , maximal humidity max and absolute humidity of air at the laboratory temperature t1. measurement 1 2 3 t1 [C] t2 [C] p1 [Pa] p2 [Pa]
max [kg/m3] [kg/m3]

Tab. 2. Temperature dependence of the partial pressure of water vapor p and maximal
humidity of air max.

t [C]
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

p [Pa]
1307 1400 1493 1600 1707 1813 1933 2066 2173 2333 2493 2640 2813 2986 3173

max [kg/m3]

10.010-3 10.710-3 11.410-3 12.110-3 12.810-3 13.610-3 14.510-3 15.410-3 16.310-3 17.310-3 18.310-3 19.410-3 20.610-3 21.810-3 23.010-3

References: 1. 2. Kopeck, F.: Physics for Students of Pharmacy I. Bratislava, UK 1999. 184 s. (in Slovak). Edition of Department of Physical Chemistry: Laboratory Practice in Physics for Students of Pharmacy. Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Bratislava, UK 1991. Oremusov J., Vojtekov M.: Determination of air humidity by psychrometer. Manual for laboratory practice. (in Slovak)

3.

Manual written by RNDr.J.Gallov, CSc. English version prepared by N. Kuerka, PhD.