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Kimberly
Robert
Hygrometers

Response speed of HTU21D and Si7021
Introduction

In most respects the specifications and interfaces of these two devices are
virtually the same. The big difference is response speed where the
Measurement Specialties device claims 5sec and Silicon Labs offers 17sec.
Results in my large group test confirmed that the HTU21D was indeed one
of the fastest available and the Si7021 the slowest by a large margin. This
test looks at that difference in more detail.

A second matter of interest is to what extent the optional protective PTFE

cover over the sensor affects response speed. My selection of devices
includes two Si7021 with covers and two HTU21D without covers. I moved
a cover from a Si7021 onto one of the HTU21D so that I have one of each,
both with and without covers. Note however that my HTU21D is using the
membrane from an Si7021, not the actual membrane that would be
provided as stock from Measurement Specialties.

Manufacturers' Specification
HTU21D Si7021
Operating Range 0100 0100
Absolute accuracy 3% (20-80%) 3% (0-80%)
(%RH, 25C) 5% (<20, >80%) 5% (>80%)
Repeatability (%) - 0.025
Long term stability
0.5 0.25
(% per year)
18 (with cover)
1/e Response (sec) 5
17 (without)
Voltage supply (V) 1.53.6 1.93.6
The table lists values taken from datasheets. Where available I quote the
maximum tolerances though the datasheets also offer better 'typical'
specifications.

My method for this test was to allow the devices to stabilise in one of my
saturated solution test jars, then remove it quickly and monitor the
reponse as the device is exposed to the uncontrolled open atmosphere.
The upwards step reponse was investigated by going from NaOH (RH7%)
to ambient and the downwards step was KCl (RH84%) to ambient.
Results

The figures below show the results. In each case the raw data are in the
left panel and for the right panel the values have been scaled and aligned
for easier comparison. For both upwards and downwards step the HTU21D
reaches 63% of the change value in 3sec compared to the 5sec
specification. The Si7021 is a lot slower than the 17sec specification at
around 30sec. I am not sure why my results are so much slower than the
datasheet suggests. The datasheet does specify a 1m/s air stream and
though I had a fan running it was not calibrated to deliver any particular
flow rate.

Figure 1. Response of the sensors to an upwards step change in humidity from

7% in the NaOH calibration cell to unregulated free atmosphere. Left panel are
raw data as read from the sensors. The right panel simply scales the max and
min levels to align the curves for easier comparison. The dotted magenta line
marks the 63% of the change point at which the reponse speed is defined.
 Figure 2. Response of the sensors to a downwards step change in humidity
from 84% in the KCl calibration cell to unregulated free atmosphere. Left
panel are raw data as read from the sensors. The right panel simply scales the
max and min levels to align the curves for easier comparison. The dotted
magenta line marks the 63% of the change point at which the reponse speed
is defined.

I suspect this is a deliberate design choice and the Si7021 may even be
using an internal digital smoothing filter to elliminate high frequency
spikes and wobbles in the humidity. For most purposes, especially
meteorology or atmospheric control such as air conditioning, this slow
response is probably desirable. You do not want to see and respond to
every tiny waft of humid air that drifts over the sensor and would most
likely add a data smoothing function of your own anyway. Inspection of
the curves above, especially the downwards curve in Figure 2 makes it
clear that all those bumps and wiggles are real. They are detected in all
four devices. Though the Si7021 has heavily smoothed over them, you can
see small features that align with the spikes in the HTU21D.

In summary, the Si7021 is obviously much slower to respond than the

HTU21D but I do not see that as problem. Depending on your application it
might be an advantage. At far less than a minute it is amply fast enough
to trace the variations expected in normal atmosphere. The speed of the
HTU21D may be important if you are trying to do something specialised
like monitoring rapid fluctuations in a forced air flow. Note also that the
Bosch Sensortec BME280 includes a configurable smoothing filter so you
can select high or low reponse rate depending on your requirements.

Influence of the Protective Cover

The PTFE cover membrane seems to have almost no effect on speed of

response. The Si7021 datasheet says the device is 1sec slower with the
cover in place. That is exactly what I see here. For both kinds of devices,
in both upwards and downwards changes, the device with the cover lagged
the device without by about 1sec.

It seems to me that if the cover provides any protection whatsoever from

environmental contamination then it is well worth leaving it installed.

Go to the HTU21D, Si7021, BME280, AM23xx(DHT22) comparison test.

Back to the index of all my hygrometer testing.

2017-03-26 5:21 PM

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