THE EFFECTS OF OPERATING ENVIRONMENT ON PERFORMANCE OF RADIOMETRIC CALORIMETERS

Year
1985
Author(s)
R.L. Mayer - Monsanto Research Corporation
Abstract
An experimental program was conducted to assess the effects of changes in operating environment on calorimeter performance. An environmental chamber was used to permit bath temperature stability, room temperature stability, room humidity, and the humidity to which the calorimeter's sample chamber is exposed to be varied independently of one another. The resulting effects on the mean and standard deviation of the error for standard measurements were studied. The results of analysis indicated that the interaction of bath and room temperature stability has a significant effect on error standard deviation, while the humidity to which the sample chamber is exposed most significantly affects mean error. This information can be used as part of a measurement assurance program by checking the product of bath and room temperature stability for significant changes with each sample measurement, and by checking for major shifts in humidity to which the sample chamber is exposed.