EVALUATION OF MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY FOR THE MOISTURE EVALUATION OF MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY FOR THE MOISTURE

CONTENT
T. Sinhaneti, P. Phuauntharo
Humidity Laboratory, Thermometry Metrology Department Humidity Laboratory, Thermometry Metrology Department
National Institute of Metrology (Thailand) National Institute of Metrology (Thailand)
ABSTRACT
The moisture content is normally estimated from a measurement of mass of
ABSTRACT
The moisture content is normally estimated from a measurement of mass of
wet sample, mass of dry sample and mass of container. A well-known method
is the loss on drying method based on the weight loss of substance after a is the loss on drying method based on the weight loss of substance after a
drying process. Therefore an uncertainty of the measurement is depended on
an accuracy of weighting of the three parameters as well as a method
precision. In this work, the moisture content of a sample is measured based on
two loss on drying methods i.e. oven method and moisture analyzer method.
Then the measurements uncertainty is evaluated for the moisture content both Then the measurements uncertainty is evaluated for the moisture content both
on dry basis and wet basis. For dry basis, the document NATA Guide to
measurement uncertainty is approached, while an analytical method based on measurement uncertainty is approached, while an analytical method based on
the document Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement
(GUM) is applied for wet mass basis. Based on facilities of National Institute (GUM) is applied for wet mass basis. Based on facilities of National Institute
of Metrology (Thailand), all sources of uncertainty especially accuracy and
weighting precision of the weighting instrument are analyzed. The overall
uncertainty for moisture content of the sample is estimated to be within 0.07
% d.b. and 0.2 % w.b. with the confidence level of the measurement of 95%.
PRINCIPLE
Moisture content through loss-on-drying methods can be defined as a
percentage of its wet mass wet basis or dry mass dry basis percentage of its wet mass wet basis or dry mass dry basis
(1)
% 100 % 100 .) basis(w.b wet content Moisture
w

+
= =
w
m m
m
m
m
(2)
% 100 % 100 .) basis(w.b wet content Moisture
m

+
= =
d w
m m m
% 100 % 100 (d.b.) basis dry content Moisture
w
= =
d m
m m m
(2)
% 100 % 100 (d.b.) basis dry content Moisture
d
w
= =

d
d m
m
m m
m
m
Molecule of sample m
w
Heating
Molecule of water
m
m
m
m m
d
Figure 1: Moisture content measurement by loss on dying method.
MEASUREMENT METHODS
Classical oven method: Classical oven method:
Widely used as reference method
Using a high accuracy balance for Using a high accuracy balance for
mass measurement of sample
Drying a sample in a separate oven Drying a sample in a separate oven
at temperature above 100 C until
reaching a constant final mass.
Typical uncertainty: 3 % of reading Typical uncertainty: 3 % of reading
Figure 3: Weighting the sample Figure 3: Weighting the sample
Moisture analyzer method :
Combines an infrared heating element
and a top pan balance in a single unit.
Real time display of moisture content Real time display of moisture content
Typical uncertainty: 9 % of reading
Figure 2: Moisture Analyzers
Source: Sartorius Source: Sartorius
EVALUATION OF MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY FOR THE MOISTURE EVALUATION OF MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY FOR THE MOISTURE
CONTENT
Phuauntharo, U. Norranim
Humidity Laboratory, Thermometry Metrology Department Humidity Laboratory, Thermometry Metrology Department
National Institute of Metrology (Thailand) National Institute of Metrology (Thailand)
EVALUATION OF UNCERTAINTY EVALUATION OF UNCERTAINTY
A sample was used to measure its moisture content by means of the two methods.
Using a moisture analyzer, the moisture content of the sample is 4.85 % d.b. and
4.62 % w.b. For oven method, the results of 5.02% d.b. and 4.78% w.b are found.
The uncertainty of measurement can be evaluated in two different methods which
For dry basis (according to NATA guideline)
The uncertainty of measurement can be evaluated in two different methods which
are given below :
For dry basis (according to NATA guideline)
Source of uncertainty
Standard uncertainty
Oven method
Standard uncertainty
Moisture analyzer Source of uncertainty Oven method
+ ( % d.b.)
Moisture analyzer
+ ( %d.b.)
Accuracy balance of mass of container (ma)
(0.00012 g for balance and a0.002 g for analyzer balance)
0.00001 0.00024
(0.00012 g for balance and a0.002 g for analyzer balance)
0.00001 0.00024
Repeatability of balance reading at ma
(0.0001 g for balance and 0.0006 g for analyzer balance)
0.00001 0.00007
(0.0001 g for balance and 0.0006 g for analyzer balance)
Accuracy balance of mass of container with wet sample
(mb)
0.0003 0.0050
Repeatability of balance reading at mb 0.0002 0.0015 Repeatability of balance reading at mb 0.0002 0.0015
Accuracy balance of mass of container with dry sample (mc) 0.0003 0.0052
Convection current (0.01% of dry material) 0.0006 0.0006 Convection current (0.01% of dry material) 0.0006 0.0006
Absorption of moisture during cooling (0.04% of md) 0.0024 0.0025
Achieving constant mass 0.0318 0.0324 Achieving constant mass 0.0318 0.0324
Weighing resolution
(0.0001 g for balance and 0.001 g for analyzer balance)
0.0002 0.0026
Combined standard uncertainty 0.0319 0.0334 Combined standard uncertainty 0.0319 0.0334
Expanded uncertainty 0.064 0.067
Table 1: Uncertainty budget of moisture content in dry basis using the oven method and
the analyzer method (1 % of reading)
For wet basis (According to GUM)
Standard uncertainty Standard uncertainty
Source of uncertainty
Standard uncertainty
Oven method
+ (% w.b.)
Standard uncertainty
Moisture analyzer
+ (% w.b.)
Repeatability of balance reading at ma
0.001 0.023
Repeatability of balance reading at ma
(0.0001 g for balance and 0.0006 g for analyzer balance)
0.001 0.023
Weighing resolution
(0.0001 g for balance and 0.001 g for analyzer balance)
0.002 0.023
(0.0001 g for balance and 0.001 g for analyzer balance)
Accuracy balance of mass of container with wet sample(mb)
(0.00012 g for balance and a0.002 g for analyzer balance)
0.003 0.045
Weighing resolution 0.002 0.024 Weighing resolution 0.002 0.024
Accuracy balance of mass of container with dry sample (mc) 0.003 0.048
Weighing resolution 0.000 0.001
Accuracy balance of mass of container (ma) 0.000 0.002
Method precision 0.028 0.027
Combined standard uncertainty 0.028 0.082
Expanded uncertainty 0.06 0.16
Table 2: Uncertainty budget of moisture content in wet basis using the oven method
(1 % of reading) and analyzer method (3 % of reading) (1 % of reading) and analyzer method (3 % of reading)
CONCLUSION
For dry basis, the both method yield the same level of uncertainty (1 % of
reading) due to the component of achieving mass component.
CONCLUSION
reading) due to the component of achieving mass component.
For wet basis, the oven method yields about 3 times better uncertainty comparing to
the analyzer method (3 %of reading) due to higher weighting accuracy.
A comparison to indirect methods will be performed with purpose of providing
FUTURE WORK
A comparison to indirect methods will be performed with purpose of providing
traceability to physical method of moisture content measurement.
Improving the measurement facility to provide measurement service for customers. Improving the measurement facility to provide measurement service for customers.
Studying the reproducibility of moisture content for agriculture products.
REFERENCES REFERENCES
1. GUM Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement
2. NATA Guide to Measurement Uncertainty for Construction Materials Testing 2. NATA Guide to Measurement Uncertainty for Construction Materials Testing
3. Filomena C. Mouro, Sandra C. Calisto, Maria A. Trancoso , XIX IMEKO World Congress 2009; 2630-2633