Conductivity Sensors
Why Measure Conductivity On-line?
Conductivity is a general measurement of the dissolved acids, bases, salts, and other dissolved solids in a liquid solution. Electrical conductivity is a good indication of purity (or lack there of) of the liquid. For this reason, it is commonly used in pure water measurements to determine the presence of contaminants. Conductivity is also an effective tool to measure the concentration of an acid or a base. The relationship of the concentration addition of an acid or base to pure water can be charted by a well defined curve of conductivity versus concentration. These measurements are often used to create solutions such as NaOH for clean-in-place applications.

2-Pole

4-Pole

Inductive
Which conductivity sensor style is right for me?
Selection of conductivity sensors is highly dependent on the application and measurement range. There are three main technologies to currently available to choose from.
2-Pole Conductivity
4-Pole Conductivity
Inductive Conductivity
Specifications
Conducell UPW | Conducell 2DC | Conducell 4UxF | Conducell 4US | Conducell I | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Measuring Range | 0.01 - 1500 µS/cm | 10 µS/cm - 20 mS/cm | 1 µS/cm - 300 mS/cm | 0.1 µS/cm - 500 mS/cm | 100 µS/cm - 2000 mS/cm |
Measurement Principle | 2-pole | 2-pole | 4-pole | 4-pole | Inductive |
Operating Temperature Range | -10 - 140 °C (Arc: analog 0 – 110 °C, digital 0 – 130 °C) |
-5 – 80 °C | -20 – 150 °C (Arc: analog 0 – 110 °C, digital 0 – 130 °C) |
-20 – 135 °C | -10 – 125 °C |
Pressure Range (bar g) | 0 – 10 bar (130 °C) | 0 – 6 bar | -1 – 20 bar (135 °C) -1 - 10 bar (140 °C) |
0 – 6 bar | 0 – 8 bar (125 °C) 0 - 12 bar (90 °C) |
Hygienic Aspects | Autoclavable, CIP, SIP | -- | Autoclavable, CIP, SIP | CIP, SIP | CIP, SIP |
Cell Constant | < 0.1/cm | 1/cm | 0.36/cm | 0.147/cm | 6.3/cm |
Electrode Material | Stainless Steel 1.4435 | Graphite | S=Stainless Steel 1.4435 H=Stainless Steel 2.4602 T=Titanium Pt=Platinum |
Stainless Steel 1.4435 | Toroids (embedded in PEEK Body) |
O-ring | EPDM | EPDM | EPDM | EPDM | -- |
Specific Applications
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App Note - Intelligent Sensor in Pure Water Production
Arc sensors for conductivity, pH and ORP measurement in pure water treatment
Resources
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Brochure - BioPharma
Innovative solutions for process analytics in biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries. -
Flyer - Conducell UPW
Overview of the features of the conductivity sensor Conducell UPW for Ultra pure water applications. -
Manual - Conducell 4UxF Sensors
Manual for Conducell 4UxF sensors.
Do conductivity sensors have shelf life?
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Does temperature affect conductivity measurement?
Yes, temperature has a direct impact on conductivity. Increasing temperature increases the mobility of ions within a solution and results in higher conductivity measurements. Temperature compensation can be performed using empirically derived temperature coefficients, which may be different for various solutions. -
Which liquid conductivity standard should I use for calibration?
A conductivity standard should be chosen that most closely matches the anticipated conductivity range of the process. -
What can I use to clean the conductivity sensor electrodes if fouling occurs?
The metal electrodes of 2 and 4-pole sensors can be cleaned with water and mild detergents and washed with deionized water after cleaning. Care should be taken to not use cleaning agents that can impact the material of the electrodes. Click to reference the knowledgebase article on cleaning for more information.
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Conductivity Sensor Selection
There are three basic styles of conductivity sensors. This article discusses which products are the best fit for the application. -
Documentation and Certificates for Sensors and Liquid Solutions
What documentation and certificates can I expect with my sensor or probe? This article provides examples of the types of paper documents that normally come with Hamilton products. -
Understanding Surface Finish
This article explores the topic of surface finish on wetted components for Hamilton sensors, housings, and other products.

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