An Inexpensive, Stable, and Accurate Relative Humidity Measurement Method for Challenging Environments

• Main Authors: Wei Zhang, Hong Ma, Simon X. Yang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016-03-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: drying rooms; measurement accuracy; relative humidity; psychrometric sensors
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/3/398

In this research, an improved psychrometer is developed to solve practical issues arising in the relative humidity measurement of challenging drying environments for meat manufacturing in agricultural and agri-food industries. The design in this research focused on the structure of the improved psychrometer, signal conversion, and calculation methods. The experimental results showed the effect of varying psychrometer structure on relative humidity measurement accuracy. An industrial application to dry-cured meat products demonstrated the effective performance of the improved psychrometer being used as a relative humidity measurement sensor in meat-drying rooms. In a drying environment for meat manufacturing, the achieved measurement accuracy for relative humidity using the improved psychrometer was ±0.6%. The system test results showed that the improved psychrometer can provide reliable and long-term stable relative humidity measurements with high accuracy in the drying system of meat products.