Quick-response dew point hygrometer

In the hygrometer design proposed, the sensitive element consists of an 0.7-mm glass plate and a 3 by 10 mm, 2-micron thick platinum foil. The plate is in thermal contact with the foil on one of its sides, and with the cooler on the other side. Electric cooling insures a temperature gradient on the order of 40 C at the plate. A theory developed for this hygrometer is verified experimentally, using a laboratory model. It is shown that by using optimal parameter values, it should be possible to obtain a time constant for which errors induced by sluggishness could be eliminated in the measurement of moisture transport.