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OPERATION
Transpiration and Sampling Materials
All materials are permeable to water vapor, as the water molecule is extremely small
compared to the structure of solids, even when compared to the crystalline structure
of metals. The graph above shows the dew point inside tubing of different materials
when purged with very dry gas, where the exterior of the tubing is in the ambient
environment.
Many materials contain moisture as part of their structure, particularly organic materials
(natural or synthetic), salts (or anything which contains them) and anything which
has small pores. It is important to insure that the materials used are suitable for the
application.
If the partial water vapor pressure exerted on the outside of a compressed air line is
higher than on the inside, the atmospheric water vapor will naturally push through the
porous medium causing water to migrate into the pressurised air line. This effect is
called transpiration.
Adsorption and Desorption
Adsorption is the adhesion of atoms, ions, or molecules from a gas, liquid, or dissolved
solid to the surface of a material, creating a film. The rate of adsorption is increased at
higher pressures and lower temperatures.
Desorption is the release of a substance from or through the surface of a material. In
constant environmental conditions, an adsorbed substance will remain on a surface
almost indefinitely. However, as the temperature rises, so does the likelihood of
desorption occurring.
In practical terms, as the temperature of the environment fluctuates, water molecules
are adsorbed and desorbed from the internal surfaces of the sample tubing, causing
small fluctuations in the measured dew point.
Sample Tubing Length
The sample point should always be as close to the critical measurement point as possible,
in order to obtain a truly representative measurement. The length of the sample line
to the sensor or instrument should be as short as possible. Interconnection points and
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1
2
Time (hours)
Material permeability comparison
Figure 22
Optisure Remote User's Manual
nylon
copper
polyethylene
PTFE
nickel
stainless steel
3
4
5
March 2018
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