Humidity Chamber Explained: Working Principle, Applications & Diagram

The execution of environmental tests proves essential for product development, together with quality assurance activities and research activities. The field requires humidity chambers as essential tools, alongside their purpose as environmental chambers to imitate actual atmospheric conditions between humidity and temperature.

Organizations depend mainly on humidity chambers to measure how materials function when they encounter changing environmental conditions during durability and reliability tests. Brown and white bayonet joints enable these devices to successfully serve various industries such as pharmaceuticals and electronics and textiles, and packaging. This blog will explain the operating concept of humidity chambers while presenting diagrams as well as applications and relevant HSN codes and their crucial role in laboratory work.

What is a Humidity Chamber?

A humidity chamber operates as an instrumentation device which controls both temperature and humidity conditions over time periods. The primary purpose of these chambers is to monitor material responses to changing environmental factors.

As the heart of environmental chamber systems, this tool evaluates the effects that humidity has on several critical factors.

• Product stability
• Corrosion resistance
• Adhesive strength
• Electrical performance

Common Industries Using Humidity Chambers:

• Pharmaceuticals: For drug stability testing
• Plastic & Polymers: For deformation and chemical stability.
• Textile and Packaging: Materials durability assessment combined with packaging reliability testing takes place within the Textiles & Packaging industry segments.
• Electronics: For corrosion and insulation resistance testing

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Humidity Chamber Working Principle

Every application requires a humidity chamber with the appropriate working principle, for which reason understanding these fundamentals helps users select the right model.

Main Components Involved:

• Heaters & Coolers: Adjust internal chamber temperature
• Water Reservoir & Humidifier: A water reservoir combined with a humidifier enables the system to control and maintain correct humidity levels.
• Sensors & Controllers: The devices, called sensors and controllers, perform the dual tasks of humidity measurement and temperature tracking along with system operation control.

 Science behind the working of humidity chamber

The science behind the working of a humidity chamber is thermodynamically operated and humidity controls with Wet and dry bulb thermometers. 

• Temperature controlling: Presto Temperature and humidity chamber has capacities from -70 to 180 degrees Celsius. The vapour transmission and refrigeration system (compressor) is used to maintain the cool temperature. The refrigerant used is also environmentally sustainable with minimal global warming potential i.e. R404A, R508. 
  For heating high-grade Nichrome heaters are being used to maintain the high temperatures. The characteristics of Nichrome heaters are prominent due to its high melting points and accurate heating. The principles are based on latent heat during evaporation and condensation. 

• Humidity control system: The Relative humidity (RH in %) is shown in the humidity chamber. The usage of water tanks and steam generators or humidifiers are used to maintain the accurate humidity levels in the chamber. The role of wet bulb and dry bulb becomes very important during the analysis of humidity. The dry bulb is used to determine the actual amount of temperature in dry air. The Wet bulb is properly covered with a wick (Muslin cloth soaked in water) to determine the evaporating water or moisture content. The relative humidity is the difference between these temperatures only. The dew point and vapour pressure analysis happens with the help of Wet bulb.

• PID microprocessor-based controlling: Proportional-integral-derivative control loops help in maintaining the heating and cooling at steady and dynamic states. It helps in managing the controlling of fluctuations occurring during the system.
• Arrhenius principle: the temperature and Relative humidity of the Environmental chamber are determined. It helps accelerate the ageing process by increasing the exposure of parameters. The effect the user will observe after many years; can be simulated within days of testing. 
• Psychrometric chart for Humidity analysis: It helps in analyzing the air properties at specific temperatures and humidity. The dry bulb temperature is in the X axis and RH is in the Y axis depicting the wet bulb temperatures. Hence the psychrometric chart is very useful for this.

These are also some prominent standards for performing humidity test ASTM D 618, ASTM D 1776, ASTM D 885, and ASTM D 7269.

Material	Temperature	Humidity	ASTM standard
Plastic	23°C ± 2°C	50% ± 5%	D 618
Textile	21°C ± 1°C	65% ± 5%	D 1776
Rayon, Polyster, Polyamide	20°C ± 2°C	65% ± 2%	D 885
Aramide	20°C ± 2°C	65% ± 2%	D 7269

5. How to perform testing in a Humidity chamber?
Preferring standard conditions as per product will be the best way to analyze the atmospheric simulation on the device under test (DUT). There are many IEC standards for electrical components like IEC 60068-2-78 and ASTM standards for coating, textiles and other industries that want to perform testing like ASTM D1776. Many ISO standards can also work for it.

Let us understand how to perform testing as per IEC 60068-2-78 for electronic components.

By referring to a researched standard it will help in comparing the items more formally and scientifically. This helps in ensuring correct results. The Standard mentions a severity condition with duration to be provided to DUT. 

(30 ± 2) °C	(93 ± 3) % RH
(30 ± 2) °C	(85 ± 3) % RH
(40 ± 2) °C	(93 ± 3) % RH
(40 ± 2) °C	(85 ± 3) % RH

Preferred duration of testing are: 12 h; 16 h; 24 h; and 2, 4, 10, 21 or 56 days.

The Presto’s Temperature and humidity chambers are capable of maintaining relative humidity 20 % to 95% and with temperature controlling of -70°C to 180°C. The sizes are available as per DUT and specimen size of the industry.  

6. Factors affecting the accurate humidity testing
The accuracy and uniformity of environmental simulation depend on many factors like inner chamber material, calibration of parameters, and standardized conditions to be set. The accessories and units used should be high-grade. 

• Inner chamber material construction: High-grade Stainless steel body with 304 or 306 with polyurethane foam (PUF) insulation can help in maintenance and uniformity. 

INNER VIEW OF PRESTO HUMIDITY CHAMBER

Temperature and humidity sensors: Using Nichrome heaters and high-grade refrigerants in compressors can ensure sustainable and accurate environmental conditions. PT 100 advanced sensor uniformly analyses the precise temperatures in the chamber. 

• Calibrated machine: The parameters temperature and humidity determine the efficiency and accuracy in test performance which is possible only in a calibrated machine. Master temperature sensors are used to calibrate the sensors used in machines and it is required to have accreditation of an institution working for master gauges. Hence, the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration laboratories is an organization to audit the parameters.

Working Process Explained:

1. The chamber establishes its temperature setpoints through its heating or cooling components.
2. The built-in water tank produces steam vapor through a combination of steam generators or ultrasonic units. 
3. The relative humidity level collected by the humidity sensor feeds back to the controller unit.
4. A control system modifies the vaporous output through airflow while monitoring input from connected sensors.
5. The air circulation fan distributes both temperature and humidity equally in every space of the chamber.
6. The self-regulating system creates steady, controlled environments for performing dependable product tests.

Humidity Chamber Diagram

An illustration of the internal humidity chamber depicts the steam humidifier system together with sensor devices, while showing necessary air movement elements.

The block diagram of this humidity chamber includes essential parts that include:

Temperature & Humidity Sensors

• Steam Humidifier
• Air Circulation Fan
• Water Reservoir
• Digital Control Panel

Users who understand this arrangement will achieve superior equipment maintenance, which ensures their testing methods remain accurate and consistent.

Humidity Chamber Uses

Humidity chambers offer versatile testing capabilities across various sectors. Such are the most typical applications of humidity chambers:

1. Accelerated Aging Tests

The device predicts product lifespan by performing simulations of both material exposure to high heat and prolonged humidity conditions.

2. Packaging Integrity Tests

Packaging undergoes testing as it withstands the challenges of humidity impact during distribution and storage periods.

3. Electronics Testing

The system determines the risk of corrosion, short circuiting and material swelling in PCBs and electronic components.

4. Pharmaceutical Stability Testing

These test procedures follow ICH guidelines to establish product shelf life, together with performance characteristics needed under regulated storage environments.

5. Automotive Component Testing

A test procedure checks the ability of dashboard elements and sensors, and wiring to resist weather conditions.

Humidity Chamber in Laboratory Applications

The laboratory field frequently uses humidity chambers for their exact control of testing environments and their ability to deliver dependable results. These devices serve as fundamental assets during research work and satisfy compliance requirements.

Key Laboratory Applications:

• Biotech and Pharmaceutical research organizations need stability testing solutions to study vaccine stability and biological materials, as well as medicine stability.
• The field of Material Science focuses on three aspects, which include studying metal corrosion as well as plastic deformation, and stress testing.
• Food Testing Labs use shelf-life simulation testing along with package evaluation as their primary services.

Textile Labs: Colorfastness testing, shrinkage analysis, and fabric performance under moisture.

The laboratory models of humidity chambers at Presto offer the following features:

• Programmable microprocessor-based controllers
• Safety interlocks for over-temperature protection
• Auto water refilling system
• Uniform air circulation for consistent RH levels

The industrial processes utilize humidity chambers as essential equipment that confirms products satisfy criteria for safety and quality, and durability standards. Knowledge of this instrument’s main features through its working principle and diagram, together with applications in labs and its HSN code, will help increase the reliability of your testing methods.

Looking for the best Humidity Chamber price at competitive rates? Get in touch with us today!

• Call Now: 9210903903
• Email: info@prestogroup.com
• Visit Us: Plot No. I, 42, NH-19, Block C, DLF Industrial Area, Sector 32, Faridabad, Haryana 121003

We’ll help you find the ideal Humidity Chamber price and the perfect solution!