Everything You Need to Know About a Psychrometer

This article will talk about everything you need to know about a psychrometer. If you’re a complete newbie in the field of scientific research and analytics, you might have not even heard about what a psychrometer is and what it does. However, we’re here to show you what exactly is this Instrument Choice scientific instrument about and why you should learn more about it.

 

Introducing the Psychrometer!

A psychrometer is a type of scientific instrument that measures the relative humidity in the atmosphere of a particular area. It does its measurements using two types of thermometers.

 

A dry-bulb thermometer is used to measure the temperature through exposure to the air.

A wet-bulb thermometer is used to measure the temperature by having the bulb dipped in liquid.

 

By comparing and contrasting both temperatures, you will determine the relative humidity of the surrounding area. You can do that by measuring and calculating the difference between the temperature variants produced by the two types of thermometers, as mentioned earlier.

 

How Does It Work Exactly?

When you read the definition of an Instrument Choice psychrometer, you can already get an idea as to how it works and what it can do. However, just for more emphasis, here’s how a psychrometer works:

 

The Basics of Evaporations

When water starts to evaporate, it cools whatever surface it touches. For example, sweat cools the body when it starts to evaporate. However, the air can only hold a certain amount of water. Once the air becomes saturated, it turns as it’s filled with too much water that it can contain. Due to the incredibly high number, the water doesn’t evaporate quickly. The psychrometer uses the very same idea.

 

Design & Build

A psychrometer is the simplest form of a Hygrometer.  It’s a handheld device that measures humidity.  As said earlier, the device features two thermometers that measure different types of situations. The dry bulb is exposed to air when measuring the temperature, while the wet-bulb is covered with a cloth that’s then dipped in water until it’s ready.

 

Using a Psychrometer

Remove the wet-bulb from the water. Depending on the design of your psychrometer, the wet-bulb will either remain still or swing around. Once the water starts evaporating, it cools the web bulb. By measuring the cooling of the web bulb, you can determine the amount of water that evaporates. The results will then tell the humidity level of the air. Moist air allows for limited water to evaporate, while dry air absorbs more moisture, which cools the wet bulb to some degree. Visit the official Instrument Choice website to know more about the psychrometer.