Refinement of Thermal Conduction-Based Dew Condensation Detection on Target Solid Surface by Galvanic Arrays Sensor Chip

Abstract

ABSTRACT A reliable early detection of dew condensation can efficiently protect target solid surfaces from numerous negative effects such as surface fogging and corrosion. Achieving this goal beneficially requires a specially designed moisture sensor whose surface needs to be thermally identical with the target surface via a thermal conductor. However, the effect of the geometrical shape of the thermal conductor on the thermal conduction process is yet to be experimentally emphasized. In this study, we examined the potential detection of dew condensation events at our recently developed moisture sensor chip (MSC) under an effective control of its surface temperature via an attachment with Al-based thermal conductors. Precise and practical dew condensation detections were carried out in a multi-step and a one-step temperature-controlling modes, respectively. The experimental results revealed that the MSC response current (as a measure of dew condensation detection) increased when its surface temperature was dropped below the dew point. Moreover, the geometrical shape of thermal conductor attached to the backside of MSC can affect its thermal resistivity leading to a remarkable improvement in dew condensation detection. Therefore, it can be concluded that the geometrically designed thermal conductor can work effectively to minimize the temperature difference between MSC and target surface. This finding is believed to enable MSC to detect the target surface condition precisely in real time.