Conductivity Probes and Conductivity Sensors
What is Conductivity?
In chemistry, Conductivity is a fundamental measurement of the dissolved acids, bases, salts, and other dissolved solids in a liquid solution. Electrical conductivity is a good indication of the purity (or lack thereof) of the liquid. Conductivity probes are frequently deployed for assessing pure water quality to determine the presence of contaminants.
Conductivity is also a valuable tool for gauging acid or base concentration. The relationship between the concentration of an added acid or base to pure water is graphically represented by a conductivity-versus-concentration curve. Such measurements are crucial in formulating solutions like NaOH for clean-in-place applications.
2-Pole Conductivity Probes
4-Pole Conductivity Probes
Single-Use Conductivity
What is a Conductivity Sensor?
A conductivity sensor, or conductivity probe, is often used to detect the ion concentration of a liquid solution. This includes testing water purity, the concentration of an acid or base, or whether a liquid contains contaminants. There are two types of conductivity probes, contacting and inductive, that each have their ideal use cases and measurement ranges.
Which conductivity probe style is right for me?
Selecting a conductivity probe is highly dependent on the application and measurement range. There are two main technologies currently available to choose from for conductivity sensors.
What are 2-Pole Conductivity Sensors?
What are 4-Pole Conductivity Sensors?
Specific Applications
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App Note - Intelligent Sensors 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. -
Quick Guide - Arc Module Cond-P SU
Quick Guide for Arc Module Cond-P SU
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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 two 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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