An experimental evaluation of duct-mounted relative humidity sensors: Part 1, test and evaluation procedures
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abstract
Relative humidity sensors are common components in building heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and their performance can significantly impact energy use in these systems. Therefore, a study was undertaken to test and evaluate the most commonly used relative humidity sensors in HVAC systems, namely, the capacitive and resistive types. The procedures presented here provide a methodology to test and evaluate duct-mounted relative humidity sensors for accuracy, linearity, hysteresis, and repeatability. The test and evaluation procedures presented in this paper are all inclusive in that they range from procuring the humidity sensors to comparing the accuracy of humidity sensors. Specifically, a procedure is presented to both procure humidity sensors from the manufacturers and to maintain quality control by controlling the storage, handling, and movement of the sensor while documenting time and date at each step. Further, it describes the apparatus and instrumentation, along with test conditions, used to perform experiments on humidity sensors. Additionally, it outlines a detailed experimental procedure to evaluate the accuracy of humidity sensors. Finally, a discussion is presented on analyzing and comparing the accuracy of humidity sensors by using test data. The results of the accuracy test and evaluation of the humidity sensors and the results of the linearity, repeatability, and hysteresis evaluation will be presented later. 2005 ASHRAE.
