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What is a hygrometer?
The hygrometer is an instrument to detect the amount of humidity or water vapour present in the soil, air, etc., in meteorological science. In many cases, humidity measuring instruments are built around other parameters, such as temperature, pressure, or mass. They may also be based on a mechanical or electrical change in a material that occurs due to moisture absorption.
A hygrometer is essential in industrial enterprises, hospitals, incubators, agricultural production and storage, humidors, and any other environment where humidity is a critical factor to be measured and monitored. A hygrometer is also known as a humidity probe, moisture sensor, psychrometer, and humidity meter.
Principle of Working of the hygrometer
Hygrometers work on the principle of evaporative cooling. When water evaporates from a surface, it gets cold because the water molecules absorb heat from the surface during the process of evaporation. As a result of this phenomenon, the wet-bulb temperature is constantly lower than that of the dry bulb. The same idea applies to the immediate cooling effect that occurs during bathing.
It is possible that the combination of dry air and low humidity could result in significant evaporation, which will result in a fall in wet-bulb temperature. It is less important for the temperature of the wet-bulb to fall in a humid environment because evaporation from the wet bulb is low in a humid environment with high humidity.
The dry bulb and wet bulb may indicate the same temperature in the situation of 100 percent humidity; This is because there is very little water evaporation from the wet bulb, and as a result, there is no cooling effect.
Types of Hygrometer
There are plenty of hygrometers but the following are the main ones:
1. Mechanical Hygrometer
Mechanical hygrometers are based on the premise that organic material, especially finer substances such as human hair, contract and expand in response to changes in humidity. When the hair element in a mechanical hygrometer contract and expands, the spring moves the needle on the dial, indicating the presence or absence of moisture.
2. Electrical Hygrometer
An electrical hygrometer analyzes humidity by analyzing the fluctuation in the electrical resistance of a semiconductor device’s thin layer. In contrast, other types of hygrometers detect changes in the transparency, weight, or volume of substances due to changes in moisture content.
In electrical hygrometers, the change in electrical resistance of a thin coating of lithium chloride, or the change in electrical resistance of a semiconductor device, as the humidity varies, is measured. Other types of hygrometers detect changes in the weight, volume, or transparency of various substances due to changes in relative humidity.
3. Dew Point Hygrometer
The dew-point hygrometer is typically composed of a polished mirror (generally made of metal) that is cooled at a specified pressure and vapor content until moisture just starts to settle on it. The dew point is the temperature at which condensation starts to form on a metal surface.
4. Psychrometer
The psychrometer is a hygrometer that is made up of two thermometers: a wet-bulb thermometer and a dry-bulb thermometer. By measuring evaporation, they can calculate relative humidity. A wet cloth is wrapped around the enlarged side of the wet-bulb thermometer. The temperature will fluctuate if you completely rotate both thermometers or blow air over the bulbs for a long period of time. The difference in temperature between the wet bulb and the dry bulb may be used to determine the amount of humidity in the atmosphere.
Uses of Hygrometer
Lower Chances of Health Risk
Experiencing inadequate amounts of humidity has been linked to a number of health problems. As a result, maintaining the proper humidity level is critical. It is quite likely that germs and mold will grow in your house if there is an excessive amount of moisture present in it. There are certain of these objects that are toxic and may be exceedingly deadly to both people and animals. It is particularly important to use extra caution if you have young children. Maintaining low humidity levels is essential in order to prevent generating an ideal environment for viruses to grow.
Prevents valuable property from being harmed
Extremely high humidity levels might cause harm to your musical instruments as well as your furnishings. As a result, avoid them at all costs. It’s important to remember that excessive moisture promotes the formation of algae, mildew, and mold. Moisture and warmth in the air provide the ideal circumstances for calamity to strike, particularly since mold can grow almost everywhere in the world. You must maintain a well-ventilated house by removing any excess humidity, and then use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity at a comfortable level. A hygrometer is useful for controlling the amount of moisture in your house. When the humidity levels are too low, the same situation occurs as before. When the humidity level is too low, furniture may easily bend and/or fracture. It is possible to save much on repairs and/or replacement of your household appliances simply by investing in a hygrometer (humidity meter).
In Pharmaceutical industry
Pharmaceutical Storage and production systems typically make use of hygrometers to regulate humidity. The majority of pharmaceutical drugs are hygroscopic, which means that changes in humidity may cause changes in their chemical compositions.
For exotic flora and fauna
High temperatures and humidity may adversely impact exotic pets. If you want to maintain centipedes, insects, lizards, tarantulas, or some animal species, you should thoroughly study the most favourable temperatures for their survival. Otherwise, you risk losing them to illnesses or making them ill. In this situation, the best course of action is to separate the pets from the others and keep those that can live in comparable temperatures together in the same room. Then, with the help of a simple hygrometer, you may adjust the temperatures as needed.
Conclusion
A hygrometer is a device used to measure the amount of water vapour present in the atmosphere. It is generally used in meteorological science and daily life. Industries like Pharmaceutical industries, paper, and clothes industries are highly affected by humidity so using a hygrometer is the best choice to prevent any damage.
