Degree Minutes
Some products and materials change their characteristics or degrade, if they are exposed to temperatures outside the ideal conditions for extended periods. For example, some products may experience freezer burn if they experience an extremely cold condition or experience a colder than ideal temperature for a long period of time. LogTag® Analyzer will automatically display the results of two separate Degree Minutes calculations. The result of the first is based on the readings recorded below the "ideal conditions", the second on the readings above the "ideal conditions". The "ideal conditions" used in the calculation of the Degree Minutes formula are represented by the non-alert range based on the upper and lower alert values entered during configuration of the LogTag®.
Mathematically the formula for calculating the degree minutes above alert can be expressed as illustrated.
Formula for degree minutes
|
deg min |
Total Degree Minutes spent above/below the alert threshold. |
|
ti |
The temperature that was above/below the alert threshold. |
|
a |
The alert temperature threshold. |
|
s |
The duration of time, in minutes, the temperature was sustained. |
For example, if there were 5 data points to calculate the degree minutes of and they were, 12.3, 15.9, 16.2, 14.7 and 14.9 degrees, each of these temperatures were recorded at 2 minute intervals and the high alert temperature threshold was 12.6 degrees, then the degree minutes temperature above the upper alert threshold would be 22.6 degree-minutes.