HUMIDIFICATION:

An approach to
the process

Alejandro
Castillo Vlez
Mass Transfer
Operations
Department of
Chemical Engineering
Universidad de
Antioquia
Medelln, 2015

HUMIDIFICATION
Is an operation that is used to increase
the amount of steam present in a gas
stream
HU-MI-DI-FI-CA-TION What did you say?

For example, when the rain wets

the air. Before, the air was drier.
After, the air will be wetter

A further example: when you dry your clothes

under the Sun. Who does the hardest part,
the "dirty job"? The dry air It robs or catches an
important part of clothing's moisture

How can I use this unit

operation in a chemical
process?
The humidification and dehumidification operations
involving mass transfer between a pure liquid phase
and a permanent gas. There is no chemical reaction,
so it is "easy" to carry out.

The processes taking place in the humidifying operation are:

1. A stream of hot water is contacted with dry air
(or low moisture content).
2. Part of the water evaporates and cools the interface.
3. The body of liquid then transfers heat to the interface,
and thus cools.
4. In turn, the evaporated water is transferred to the air
interface, so that humidified

Cooling Tower
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O336i2HMdQM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQRlO5LQYng

Air Conditioning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lFUlA1PZ8U

Psychrometric chart

Advantages and Disadvantages

- Low cost and maintenance
- Low energy consumption
- Great devices and spaces (for a cooling tower)
- If the devices use a refrigerant (R-12, R-134A, etc) can produce
toxic and dangerous residues

Thanks to everyone!