GE HygroTrace User manual

GE
Sensing
HygroTrace
Moisture Transmitter
User’s Guide

GE
Sensing
HygroTrace
Moisture Transmitter
User’s Guide
916-102A3
September 2007
The HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter is a GE Panametrics product.
GE Panametrics has joined other GE high-technology sensing businesses
under a new name—GE Sensing.

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September 2007
Warranty
Each instrument manufactured by GE Infrastructure Sensing,
Inc. is warranted to be free from defects in material and
workmanship. Liability under this warranty is limited to
restoring the instrument to normal operation or replacing the
instrument, at the sole discretion of GE. Fuses and batteries
are specifically excluded from any liability. This warranty is
effective from the date of delivery to the original purchaser. If
GE determines that the equipment was defective, the warranty
period is:
•one year from delivery for electronic or mechanical failures
•one year from delivery for sensor shelf life
If GE determines that the equipment was damaged by misuse,
improper installation, the use of unauthorized replacement
parts, or operating conditions outside the guidelines specified
by GE, the repairs are not covered under this warranty.
The warranties set forth herein are exclusive and are in lieu
of all other warranties whether statutory, express or
implied (including warranties or merchantability and fitness
for a particular purpose, and warranties arising from course
of dealing or usage or trade).

September 2007
iv
Return Policy
If a GE Infrastructure Sensing, Inc. instrument malfunctions
within the warranty period, the following procedure must be
completed:
1. Notify GE, giving full details of the problem, and provide the
model number and serial number of the instrument. If the
nature of the problem indicates the need for factory
service, GE will issue a RETURN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER
(RAN), and shipping instructions for the return of the
instrument to a service center will be provided.
2. If GE instructs you to send your instrument to a service
center, it must be shipped prepaid to the authorized repair
station indicated in the shipping instructions.
3. Upon receipt, GE will evaluate the instrument to determine
the cause of the malfunction.
Then, one of the following courses of action will then be taken:
•If the damage is covered under the terms of the warranty,
the instrument will be repaired at no cost to the owner and
returned.
•If GE determines that the damage is not covered under the
terms of the warranty, or if the warranty has expired, an
estimate for the cost of the repairs at standard rates will be
provided. Upon receipt of the owner’s approval to proceed,
the instrument will be repaired and returned.

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September 2007
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Sample System Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Insertion into the Sample System/Process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Standard Wiring Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Digital Communications Wiring Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Powering Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Using the HygroTrace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Keypad Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Default Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Unlocking the Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Accessing the Menus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Entering Numeric Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Setting Up the Transmitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4-20 Analog Output and Error Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
User. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
LOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Menu Item Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Moisture Sensor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter 1
September 2007
Introduction
The GE Sensing HygroTrace is a compact moisture transmitter
designed for measuring ultra-low water content in the ultra high
purity and semiconductor markets and related applications. The
HygroTrace measures water content in nitrogen or argon gas in
the range of 0 to 100 ppbvwith trending analysis beyond the
calibrated range. The unit features an integrated display and a six-
button keypad, and is housed in an aluminum enclosure. The
HygroTrace operates on 24 VDC and provides 4-20 mA analog
and RS485 digital outputs.
The HygroTrace uses an aluminum oxide sensor manufactured
with semiconductor techniques. The patented measurement
technique enables the HygroTrace to respond very quickly to
both dry-to-wet and wet-to-dry situations. The technique applies
a temperature pulse to ‘dry’ the sensor. Then, the re-adsorption
rate is measured while holding a constant sensor temperature.
This measurement is proportional to the moisture concentration
in the sample gas. As a result, the HygroTrace offers the
sensitivity and response time needed to effectively measure parts
per billion levels of moisture.
Installation
Sample System Guidelines
The HygroTrace transmitter is typically installed in a sample
system or on the bypass stream of an ultra-high purity gas
distribution system. The factory recommends that the unit be
installed in a sample system to protect the sensor from coming in
contact with damaging elements in the process, and to allow the
transmitter to be removed for service without interrupting the
main process gas flow.
Before constructing a sample system, consult a GE Sensing
applications engineer and adhere to the guidelines below. See
Figure 1 on page 2 for an example of a sample system.

September 2007
2 HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter
Sample System Guidelines (cont.)
•A sample system should be kept very simple. It should
contain as few components as possible and all or most of
those components should be located downstream of the
measurement location.
•Sample system components should not be made of material
that will affect measurement. Most common filters and
pressure regulators are not suitable for sample systems
because they have wetted parts that may adsorb or release
moisture, etc. into the sample system. They may also allow
ambient contamination to enter the sample system. If
possible, use stainless steel material for all wetted parts.
•The transmitter should be installed perpendicular to the
sample inlet. For dimensions and other requirements see
Specifications on page 26.
Note: A typical sample system for the hygrometer will use VCR
components.
Note: At least 5 feet of 1/4” tubing, if vented to the atmosphere,
should be installed on the outlet to prevent back diffusion
of ambient moisture into the sample tee cell of the
HygroTrace.
•Sample systems should be leak-tested prior to operation to
verify the integrity of the connections, components and
fittings. Tighten any loose fittings.
IMPORTANT: Caution must be taken when pressurizing or
depressurizing the sample system to prevent
damage to the moisture sensor.
Figure 1: Sample System Example

HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter 3
September 2007
Insertion into the Sample System/Process
!CAUTION!
If the HygroTrace is being installed directly into
the process line, consult the factory for proper
installation instructions and precautions before
beginning the following procedure.
!CAUTION!
No maintenance of the sensor can be performed in the
field. Accessing the sensor chamber will break the VCR
seal and should be done only at the factory.
To install the transmitter, refer to Figure 2 below and use a
wrench to thread the female 1/4” fittings of the sample system or
process line onto the 1/4” male VCR fittings of the tee sample
cell configuration.
Figure 2: HygroTrace Installation
1/4” VCR (Male)
2 places
Tee Sample Cell

September 2007
4 HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter
Standard Wiring Connections
Note: The HygroTrace is not certified for use in Hazardous
(Classified) locations.
This procedure is for those units not connected to a computer.
The transmitter must be wired using the factory-supplied cable
(two meters in length). If an alternate length is required, please
contact the factory for assistance.
Note: If cables need to be lengthened, refer to Table 1 on page 5
to splice an extension onto the existing cable. Connect
positive to positive and negative to negative.
Use the following steps to wire the transmitter to the system.
1. Align the red dot with the red mark (see Figure 3 below) and
push the connector on the transmitter cable into the mating
connector on the transmitter module. Make sure the pins are
properly aligned. Once it is inserted, push the cable connector
until it locks into place.
Figure 3: Transmitter Cable Connection

HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter 5
September 2007
Standard Wiring Connections (cont.)
2. Using the flying leads at the other end of the transmitter cable,
connect the transmitter to the power supply and data
acquisition system (DAS) as shown in Figure 4 on page 6.
Refer to Table 1 below for a description of the leads in the
factory-supplied cable.
3. Trim any unused leads back to the outer cable jacket in order
to remove the bare tinned wire and prevent accidental short
circuits.
The HygroTrace is now ready for operation.
Note: To remove the probe cable, pull back the spring-loaded
sleeve and pull the cable out of the connector.
Table 1: Cable Lead Connections - No PC
Lead Connection Description
Red (+) 24VDC 1 AMP
Black (–) 24VDC 1 AMP
Orange (+) 4-20mA Output
Blue (–) 4-20mA Output
Cable Braid System Ground

September 2007
6 HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter
Figure 4: Standard Wiring Connections (ref. dwg #702-684)
RED
BLACK
ORANGE
BLUE
+24V 1 AMP
4-20mA
POWER
METER
SUPPLY
+
–
+
–
WHITE
GREEN
COMMON + RS485 – RS485
RS485 TO
RS232
CONVERTER
RS232 TO PC
CABLE
BRAID SYSTEM
GROUND

HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter 7
September 2007
Digital Communications Wiring Connections
If the unit is to be operated using PanaView™ instrumentation
software installed on a computer, an RS232/RS485 converter
must be used and the wiring must be set up as follows.
The transmitter must be wired using the factory-supplied cable
(two meters in length).
Note: To lengthen cables, refer to Table 2 below to splice an
extension onto the existing cable. Connect positive to
positive, negative to negative, and ground to ground.
Note: EMI ferrite shielding may be required for communication
through an ungrounded serial port. Please consult the
factory for guidance.
Use the following steps to wire the transmitter to the system.
1. Align the red dot with the red mark (see Figure 3 on page 4)
and push the connector on the transmitter cable into the
mating connector on the transmitter module. Make sure the
pins are properly aligned. Secure the connectors by pushing
the cable connector until it locks in place.
2. Using the flying leads at the other end of the transmitter cable,
connect the transmitter to the power supply, the data
acquisition system (DAS) and the computer as shown in
Figure 4 on page 6. Refer to Table 2 below for a description of
the leads in the factory-supplied cable.
Table 2: Cable Lead Connections - with PC
Lead Connection Description
Red (+) 24VDC 1 AMP
Black (–) 24VDC 1 AMP
Orange (+) 4-20mA Output
Blue (–) 4-20mA Output
White (+) RS485
Green (–) RS485
Cable Braid System Ground

September 2007
8 HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter
Digital Communications Wiring Connections (cont.)
3. Trim any unused leads back to the outer cable jacket in order
to remove the bare tinned wire and prevent accidental short
circuits.
The HygroTrace is now ready for operation.
Note: To remove the probe cable, pull back the spring-loaded
sleeve and pull the cable out of the connector.
Powering Up
After the HygroTrace is wired as described in the previous
sections, power may be applied to the unit. The transmitter takes
up to 60 seconds to initialize and begin normal operation. If the
sensor has been exposed to ambient conditions of less than
10% RH for less than 72 hours, the HygroTrace will meet its
specified accuracy within 24 hours following startup.

HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter 9
September 2007
Using the HygroTrace
Keypad Features
Figure 5: HygroTrace Keypad
The HygroTrace has only six keys: four arrow keys, a Cancel
key and an Enter key.
Use the arrow keys to navigate among menu choices, and to
increment/decrement numeric entries.
Use the Cancel key to cancel a numeric entry change, or exit
a menu.
Use the Enter key to accept a numeric entry or select a menu
option.
Cancel
Left
Up
Down Right
Enter
8
9
8
9

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10 HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter
The Default Display
Figure 6 on page 11 shows the normal, default display of the
HygroTrace/TFM.
•Menu Prompt Area - Titles, prompts, status displayed here.
•Measurement - 3 ½ digits (0 - 1999). Automatic decimal
placement based on range.
•Unit Symbol - ppb = Parts Per Billion water by volume.
•Keypad Lock Indicator - Unlock sequence required to modify
settings.
•Measurement Progress Bar - HygroTrace takes
~2 minutes to acquire data and complete the measurement.
The progress bar gives a visual indication of the measurement
status.
•Warning/Error Indicator - In the absence of an error, this
region is blank. Errors that effect the quality of the
measurement (e.g. heater failure) are indicated in ALL
CAPITAL letters. Warnings that indicate problems detected
with the measurement are indicated in Mixed Case letters.
Refer to Table 3 below.
Table 3: Warning/Error Messages
No. Label Type Description
0Status OK ---- No Errors detected.
3Sns Ovr Rng WARN
The calculated PPBv value is greater
than the highest calibration point,
and is an extrapolation.
12 Acquiring... WARN
Displayed at startup while the
HygroTrace collects data for the first
measurement.
101 HTR FAIL LO ERROR The heater failed to reach the desired
temperature in the time allotted.
102 HTR FAIL HI ERROR The heater exceeded 200°C.
204 Sns Too Wet WARN The sensor is exposed to excessive
moisture conditions.

HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter 11
September 2007
Figure 6: Default Display
Unlocking the Keypad
After power-on, the HygroTrace keypad is locked. It is necessary
to enter the keypad unlock sequence to make any changes to the
HygroTrace.
Similar to a mobile phone, the HygroTrace will prompt the
operator to unlock if any key is pressed. A passcode is required to
use certain factory service features only.
To unlock the keypad, press Cancel , Enter , Cancel in
sequence.
Accessing the Menus
After successfully unlocking the keypad, the HygroTrace will
display the Main Menu (see Figure 7 on page 12). Use the arrow
keys to highlight the menu item desired. Refer to the Menu Map,
Figure 9 on page 23.
Press Enter to select the highlighted item. Many menu items
will display another menu. Use Cancel to return to the
previous menu page. Pressing Cancel from the Main Menu
will return the screen to the Measurement Display.
Warning/Error Indicator
Measurement
Progress Bar
Menu Prompt Area
Measurement Units Symbol Keypad Lock
Indicator
8
9
8
9
8
8

September 2007
12 HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter
Accessing the Menus (cont.)
Note: Menu items displayed with an ellipsis (…) will bring up
more choices, while those without take immediate action.
Figure 7: Main Menu
Entering Numeric Values
Since the HygroTrace has no numeric keypad, numeric values
are entered using a “combination lock” style of entry:
Use the left arrow key and right arrow key to select the
digit to change. The digit selected will be indicated with a .
Use the up arrow key and down arrow key to increment
or decrement the digit.
Note: If incrementing or decrementing a digit would cause the
numeric value to exceed its allowable range (maximum/
minimum value), the digit will not change.
Press Enter to save the new value and return, or Cancel to
return, leaving the original value intact.
Figure 8: Numeric Entry

9
8

HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter 13
September 2007
Setting Up the Transmitter
After proper installation, the HygroTrace Transmitter can be set
up to accommodate the user’s requirements. Typically, the user
may need to configure the analog outputs, trim the analog
outputs, and program the digital outputs. Refer to the Menu Map,
Figure 9 on page 23, and complete the following steps. Upon
startup, the HygroTrace proceeds through several displays until a
screen similar to the following appears:
The symbol in the lower right corner
indicates that the screen is locked.
To unlock the screen, press
Cancel, Enter, Cancel.
Note: In most instances; use the Enter key to save an entry and/
or move ahead to the following screen; use the Cancel key
to reject an entry and/or return to the previous screen.
Display
When the screen is unlocked, the
Main Menu appears with several
options. To set up the display, select
Display... and press Enter. The
following screen appears:
To show the primary ppbvdisplay,
select Measurement and press
Enter. A screen similar to the
following appears:
Press Cancel to return to the Main
Menu.
Diagnostics - has limited access. The service passcode is
required. For a description, see Diagnostics on page 29.
8
9
8

September 2007
14 HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter
4-20 Analog Output and Error Reporting
The HygroTrace has a single 4-20 mA analog (recorder) output.
Normally, the output reports the measurement in ppbvusing a
user-specified range. The default range is 0-100 ppbv;
that is, 4 mA represents the zero (0 ppbv), and 20 mA represents
the span (100 ppbv) value.
The recorder output can exceed this range, within limits. A
measurement greater than the span will be reported up to
20.5 mA, and a reading below the zero will be reported down to
3.8 mA. Faults are indicated by readings outside this range.
These faults will be indicated by a 3.5 mA signal:
•No Data - transmitter has not completed a measurement cycle,
so it cannot report.
•No Calibration - transmitter was not programmed with
calibration data.
•Out of Range - measurement cannot be determined with the
given calibration.
These faults will be indicated by a 21.1 mA signal:
•Heater Fail Low - heater failed to reach the operating setpoint.
•Heater Fail High - heater exceeded its operating limit.
Limits are taken from the NAMUR Recommendation NE 043.
Measurement is valid from 3.8 mA to 20.5 mA.
Fault is indicated by ≤3.6 mA or ≥21.0 mA.
The HygroTrace has a special operating mode used to dry the
sensor (see Sensor Dry Down on page 19). When in Dry Down
mode, the unit will report a fixed output of 20.5 mA, the
maximum valid measurement. When returned to normal
operation, the output returns to reporting the actual measurement.
In the case of a measurement exceeding the maximum calibration
value, the output will be limited to the maximum valid signal,
20.5 mA. The HygroTrace will never produce a negative reading
(less than 0 ppb).

HygroTrace Moisture Transmitter 15
September 2007
Outputs
To set up outputs, from the Main
Menu select Output... and press
Enter. The following screen
appears:
Recorder Zero
To specify the ppb reading
equivalent to 4 mA, select Rcd Zero
and press Enter. A screen similar to
the following appears:
Use the arrow keys to change the
output value. Press Enter to save (or
Cancel to keep the previous value),
and return to the Output Menu.
Recorder Span
To specify the ppb reading
equivalent to 20 mA, select Rcd
Span and press Enter. A screen
similar to the following appears:
Use the arrow keys to change the
output value. Press Enter to save (or
Cancel to keep the previous value),
and return to the Output Menu.