A microhygrometer has been developed at JPL's Microdevices Laboratory based on the principle of dewpoint/frostpoint detection. The surface acoustic wave device used in this instrument is approximately two orders of magnitude more sensitive to condensation than the optical sensor used in chilled-mirror hygrometers. In tests in the laboratory and on the NASA DC8, the SAW hygrometer has demonstrated more than an order of magnitude faster response than commercial chilled-mirror hygrometers, while showing comparable accuracy under steady-state conditions. Current development efforts are directed toward miniaturization and optimization of the microhygrometer electronics for flight validation experiments on a small radiosonde balloon.
Citation: Hoenk, M., Cardell, G., Price, D., Watson, R. et al., "Surface Acoustic Wave Microhygrometer," SAE Technical Paper 972393, 1997, https://doi.org/10.4271/972393. Download Citation
Author(s):
M. E. Hoenk, G. Cardell, D. Price, R. K. Watson, T. R. VanZandt, D. Y. Cheng, W. J. Kaiser
Affiliated:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, University of California
Pages: 8
Event:
International Conference On Environmental Systems
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Also in:
SAE 1997 Transactions - Journal of Aerospace-V106-1
Related Topics:
Acoustics
Balloons
Humidity
Optics
Sensors and actuators
Optimization
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