CONDUCTIVITY

BY

AFTAB AHMAD MAZARI

CONDUCTIVITY ANALYZER

DEFINATION

Conductance Is Reciprocal of Resistance

Electric Conduction in a Solid Charge

Carrier Electrons

Electric Conduction in a Liquid Charge

CarrierIons
CONDUCTIVITY ANALYZER

When a liquid contains more ions per unit

volume, the number of charges that is
transported in a unit time, is greater and the
the liquid has a higher conduction.

On the other hand, if the concentration of

ions in the solution is smaller, then the
conductance is also low.
Units of Conductance
As it is defined that conductance is a reciprocal of
Resistance
G=1/R
where G – Conductance
R – Resistance
As the unit of Resistance is Ohms then the unit of
Conductance or G = ohm-1
But ohm-1 is defined as = mho
But mho is the old and formal unit. The new unit is
Siemens which is = mho
Units of Conductance….
Siemens is wide range unit and this range is
seldom used in industries. So a smaller unit
is µsiemens.
But this unit will be defined as
µsiemens / cm
For example, the conductivity of Boiler feed
water is
10 µsiemens / cm
Working Principle

To measure the conductance of a liquid:

Two electrodes / or two plates immersed in

a single housing

Then with the help of an electronic circuit

The resistance or in other words the

conductance of the liquid is measured.
Material of Electrode
Construction

Titanium – Palladium Electrode

Chloro-trifluoroethelene insulation

Graphite

Connection:
1 / 2” or 3 / 4” NPT
Cell Constant

Suppose there are two electrodes a & b

Both are in equal size
Area of the electrode is A = 1 cm2
Distance between two electrodes is denoted
as L and it is also 1 cm
Then the formula for Cell Constant is
C = L / A2
Cell Constant Unit
Putting the values
cm 1 −1
= = cm
cmxcm cm

So; cell constant = cm –1

Cell Constant…….
Very Important Factor
Cell Constant……..
Cell Constant…….

Suppose the Readings are

L = 1 m, A = 1 m2

Then the Cell Constant will be m–1

But practically, the area of Electrode A= 1 m2

and the distance between two electrodes
L = 1 meter is not possible.
Cell Constant…….
So the cell constant will depend upon the
nature of process.
Suppose, the conductivity of pure water is
being measured, then the electrodes should
be close to each other or cell constant
should be 0.01 cm-1 or 0.1 cm-1.
Where as the conductivity of boiler feed
water is more than pure water and cell
constant can be 1 cm–1.
Cell Constant……

Practically and usually the shape of electrodes

is round, so the size of electrodes or the
distance between two electrodes can vary.

The area of electrode can be 2 cm2 where as

distance between them may be 0.5 cm.

Cell constant may vary from 0.01 to 100 cm-1.

Influence of Temp. on Conductivity

The mobility of the ions increases at high

temperature of liquid.

With the increase in temperature, the conductivity

of solution varies.

The change in conductivity due to temperature can

be rectified with the help of

Auto temperature compensator.

Construction of Cell
The cell consists of two electrodes plus
temperature-compensator.
Usually temperature-compensator is a
thermo-resistance.
The temperature of the sample is tried to
be kept at ambient temperature with the
help of coolers, but a thermo-resistance is
must in the cell to correct any variation in
the sample temperature.
Electrode-less Conductivity Analyzer

Conductivity can also be measured with the

help of Electrode-less sensors.
One way to eliminate electrode-polarization
effect is to eliminate the electrodes.
Operationally, it resembles a transformer.
Two encapsulated toroids when immersed in
an electrolyte, form a conductive loop of
solution shared by both.
Electrode-less Conductivity Analyzer…

One toroid radiates an electric field in this

loop, and the other detects a small (induced)
electric current.

Practically speaking, the two toroids are the

coils of a transformer interconnected by the
resistance of the electrolyte .
Electrode-less Conductivity Analyzer…

The radiated field is typically 20 kHz, and the

induced current, which is proportional to the

conductivity, is amplified, rectified, and

displayed.
Electrode-less Conductivity Analyzer
Electrode-less Conductivity
Analyzer
Electrode-less Conductivity Analyzer
Electrode-less Conductivity Analyzer
The Maintenance Of Sensors

The following points must be borne in mind.

The surface of the electrode must not be

treated with sharp objects. This can alter
the cell constant.
The Maintenance of Sensors…..

If an extra layer has been applied to the

electrode in the cell in the form of Rhodium
or Platinum black, this layer must not be
damaged

Lime deposits on the electrodes can be

easily removed by placing the cell in a dilute
acid solution and heating to about 70°C.
Conductivity Standard Solutions

Conductivity Standard solutions are used for

calibration of the instrument.

Their conductivity may also be checked and

updated periodically from Laboratory.

Standard Solutions
Conductivity Probe

Conductivity
Probe
Conductivity Probe
Recommended Cell Constants for
various conductivity Ranges

Conductivity Ranges Cell Constant cm-1

µ s/cm
0.05—20 0.01

1—200 0.1

10—2,000 1

100—20,000 10

1000—200,000 100