The HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter is a GE Panametrics product.
GE Panametrics has joined other GE high-technology sensing businesses
under a new name—GE Sensing.
September 2007
Warranty
Each instrument manufactured by GE Infrastructure Sensing,
Inc. is warranted to be free from defects in material and
workmanship. Liability under this warranty is limited to
restoring the instrument to normal operation or replacing the
instrument, at the sole discretion of GE. Fuses and batteries
are specifically excluded from any liability. This warranty is
effective from the date of delivery to the original purchaser. If
GE determines that the equipment was defective, the warranty
period is:
• one year from delivery for electronic or mechanical failures
• one year from delivery for sensor shelf life
If GE determines that the equipment was damaged by misuse,
improper installation, the use of unauthorized replacement
parts, or operating conditions outside the guidelines specified
by GE, the repairs are not covered under this warranty.
The warranties set forth herein are exclusive and are in lieu
of all other warranties whether statutory, express or
implied (including warranties or merchantability and fitness
for a particular purpose, and warranties arising from course
of dealing or usage or trade).
iii
September 2007
Return Policy
If a GE Infrastructure Sensing, Inc. instrument malfunctions
within the warranty period, the following procedure must be
completed:
1. Notify GE, giving full details of the problem, and provide the
model number and serial number of the instrument. If the
nature of the problem indicates the need for factory
service, GE will issue a RETURN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER
(RAN), and shipping instructions for the return of the
instrument to a service center will be provided.
2. If GE instructs you to send your instrument to a service
center, it must be shipped prepaid to the authorized repair
station indicated in the shipping instructions.
3. Upon receipt, GE will evaluate the instrument to determine
the cause of the malfunction.
Then, one of the following courses of action will then be taken:
• If the damage is covered under the terms of the warranty,
the instrument will be repaired at no cost to the owner and
returned.
• If GE determines that the damage is not covered under the
terms of the warranty, or if the warranty has expired, an
estimate for the cost of the repairs at standard rates will be
provided. Upon receipt of the owner’s approval to proceed,
the instrument will be repaired and returned.
The GE Sensing HygroTrace is a compact moisture transmitter
designed for measuring ultra-low water content in the ultra high
purity and semiconductor markets and related applications. The
HygroTrace measures water content in nitrogen or argon gas in
the range of 0 to 100 ppb
calibrated range. The unit features an integrated display and a sixbutton keypad, and is housed in an aluminum enclosure. The
HygroTrace operates on 24 VDC and provides 4-20 mA analog
and RS485 digital outputs.
The HygroTrace uses an aluminum oxide sensor manufactured
with semiconductor techniques. The patented measurement
technique enables the HygroTrace to respond very quickly to
both dry-to-wet and wet-to-dry situations. The technique applies
a temperature pulse to ‘dry’ the sensor. Then, the re-adsorption
rate is measured while holding a constant sensor temperature.
This measurement is proportional to the moisture concentration
in the sample gas. As a result, the HygroTrace offers the
sensitivity and response time needed to effectively measure parts
per billion levels of moisture.
with trending analysis beyond the
v
Installation
Sample System Guidelines
The HygroTrace transmitter is typically installed in a sample
system or on the bypass stream of an ultra-high purity gas
distribution system. The factory recommends that the unit be
installed in a sample system to protect the sensor from coming in
contact with damaging elements in the process, and to allow the
transmitter to be removed for service without interrupting the
main process gas flow.
Before constructing a sample system, consult a GE Sensing
applications engineer and adhere to the guidelines below. See
Figure 1 on page 2 for an example of a sample system.
HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter1
September 2007
Sample System Guidelines (cont.)
• A sample system should be kept very simple. It should
contain as few components as possible and all or most of
those components should be located downstream of the
measurement location.
• Sample system components should not be made of material
that will affect measurement. Most common filters and
pressure regulators are not suitable for sample systems
because they have wetted parts that may adsorb or release
moisture, etc. into the sample system. They may also allow
ambient contamination to enter the sample system. If
possible, use stainless steel material for all wetted parts.
• The transmitter should be installed perpendicular to the
sample inlet. For dimensions and other requirements see
Specifications on page 26.
Note: A typical sample system for the hygrometer will use VCR
components.
Note: At least 5 feet of 1/4” tubing, if vented to the atmosphere,
should be installed on the outlet to prevent back diffusion
of ambient moisture into the sample tee cell of the
HygroTrace.
• Sample systems should be leak-tested prior to operation to
verify the integrity of the connections, components and
fittings. Tighten any loose fittings.
IMPORTANT:Caution must be taken when pressurizing or
depressurizing the sample system to prevent
damage to the moisture sensor.
Figure 1: Sample System Example
2HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter
September 2007
Insertion into the Sample System/Process
!CAUTION!
If the HygroTrace is being installed directly into
the process line, consult the factory for proper
installation instructions and precautions before
beginning the following procedure.
!CAUTION!
No maintenance of the sensor can be performed in the
field. Accessing the sensor chamber will break the VCR
seal and should be done only at the factory.
To install the transmitter, refer to Figure 2 below and use a
wrench to thread the female 1/4” fittings of the sample system or
process line onto the 1/4” male VCR fittings of the tee sample
cell configuration.
1/4” VCR (Male)
2 places
Tee Sample Cell
Figure 2: HygroTrace Installation
HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter3
September 2007
Standard Wiring Connections
Note: The HygroTrace is not certified for use in Hazardous
(Classified) locations.
This procedure is for those units not connected to a computer.
The transmitter must be wired using the factory-supplied cable
(two meters in length). If an alternate length is required, please
contact the factory for assistance.
Note: If cables need to be lengthened, r efer to Table 1 on page 5
to splice an extension onto the existing cable. Connect
positive to positive and negative to negative.
Use the following steps to wire the transmitter to the system.
1. Align the red dot with the red mark (see Figure 3 below) and
push the connector on the transmitter cable into the mating
connector on the transmitter module. Make sure the pins are
properly aligned. Once it is inserted, push the cable connector
until it locks into place.
Figure 3: Transmitter Cable Connection
4HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter
September 2007
Standard Wiring Connections (cont.)
2. Using the flying leads at the other end of the transmitt er cable,
connect the transmitter to the power supply and data
acquisition system (DAS) as shown in Figure 4 on page 6.
Refer to Table 1 below for a description of the leads in the
factory-supplied cable.
Table 1: Cable Lead Connections - No PC
LeadConnection Description
Red(+) 24VDC 1 AMP
Black(–) 24VDC 1 AMP
Orange(+) 4-20mA Output
Blue(–) 4-20mA Output
Cable BraidSystem Ground
3. Trim any unused leads back to the outer cable jacket in order
to remove the bare tinned wire and prevent accidental short
circuits.
The HygroTrace is now ready for operation.
Note: To remove the probe cable, pull back the spring-loaded
sleeve and pull the cable out of the connector.
HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter5
September 2007
+24V 1 AMP
+
RS232
TO PC
RS232
RS485 TO
CONVERTER
POWER
SUPPLY
–
+
4-20mA
METER
–
COMMON
+ RS485
– RS485
SYSTEM
GROUND
RED
BLACK
ORANGE
BLUE
WHITE
GREEN
BRAID
CABLE
Figure 4: Standard Wiring Connections (ref. dwg #702-684)
6HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter
September 2007
Digital Communications Wiring Connections
If the unit is to be operated using PanaView™ instrumentation
software installed on a computer, an RS232/RS485 converter
must be used and the wiring must be set up as follows.
The transmitter must be wired using the factory-supplied cable
(two meters in length).
Note: To lengthen cables, refer to Table 2 below to splice an
extension onto the existing cable. Connect positive to
positive, negative to negative, and ground to ground.
Note: EMI ferrite shielding may be required for communication
through an ungrounded serial port. Please consult the
factory for guidance.
Use the following steps to wire the transmitter to the system.
1. Align the red dot with the red mark (see Figure 3 on page 4)
and push the connector on the transmitter cable into the
mating connector on the transmitter module. Make sure the
pins are properly aligned. Secure the connectors by pushing
the cable connector until it locks in place.
2. Using the flying leads at the other end of the transmitt er cable,
connect the transmitter to the power supply, the data
acquisition system (DAS) and the computer as shown in
Figure 4 on page 6. Refer to Table 2 below for a description of
the leads in the factory-supplied cable.