TRUST BUT VERIFY – PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO HUMIDITY GENERATION AND MEASUREMENT
Bob Hardy
Abstract:
Construction of humidity generators is a common undertaking in many of today's national metrology institutes and commercial calibration laboratories. A generator based on theoretical methods and statistical uncertainty expectations is often trusted as a laboratories primary humidity reference. While it is important to follow sound design theory, and compute statistical estimates of the output from a generator, verification is an equally powerful tool that can help to make even the weakest of designs more trustworthy. Generator designs will be reviewed in an effort to avoid common obstacles while capitalizing on a few simple and practical improvements. Testing and verification will also be considered with a focus on condensation hygrometry.
