Humid air volume/dry air volume ppm, Effect of pressure on dewpoint, Using a condensation hygrometer – Vaisala DM500 User Manual

Page 134

Advertising
background image

User's Guide ______________________________________________________________________

132 _________________________________________________________________ M210205EN-D

x

x

T

h

+

+

=

5

.

2

)

00189

.

0

01

.

1

(

(9)

where
x

=

mixing ratio (g/kg)

T

=

temperature (ºC)

h

=

enthalpy

Humid Air Volume/Dry Air Volume PPM

v

Parts per million (PPM) by volume is the ratio of the partial pressure
of the water vapor to the partial pressure of dry gas. This can be
calculated with a reasonable accuracy with following formula:

6

10

))

-

/(

(

=

w

tot

w

v

P

P

P

PPM

(10)

where
P

w

=

water vapor pressure

P

tot

=

total pressure

Effect of Pressure on Dewpoint

Changing the total pressure of a gas changes the partial pressures of
the component gases according to Dalton’s law, and therefore changes
the dewpoint/frostpoint temperature of the gas. This can be
represented as follows:

2

2

1

1

/

/

Pw

Pt

Pw

Pt

=

(11)

where
P

t

=

total pressure of the gas

P

w

=

partial pressure of water vapor

Using a Condensation Hygrometer

It is useful to consider the behavior of water vapor when working with
any condensation hygrometer. Keep the following in mind when
making measurements:

Contamination – Water soluble contaminants, such as salt, can have a
significant effect on saturation vapor pressure. Some gases will also
go into solution with water. Water soluble contaminants cause a
lowering of vapor pressure known as Raoult Effect, and a
corresponding measurement error.

Advertising