EFFECT OF

TEMPERATURE OF
WATER INJECTION ON
HUMIDIFICATION
PROCESS
the schematic representation of an air washer. It involves the flow of air through a spray of water.
During flow, the air may be cooled or heated, humidified or dehumidified, or simply adiabatically
saturated, depending on the mean surface temperature of water. The water is, accordingly, externally
cooled or heated or simply recirculated by a pump. Make-up water is added for any loss in the case of
humidification of air. Eliminator plates are provided to minimize the loss of water droplets.

Figure 15.13 shows the thermodynamic changes of state of air along paths 1-2 in an air washer,
depending on the mean surface temperature of water droplets t_s which is equal to the actual
temperature of water t_w.

Thus, the droplets of water act as wetted surface, and both sensible and latent heat transfers take place.
Their directions depend on the temperature and vapor pressure potentials. The following processes are
possible:
 Process 1-2 A: Heating and humidification (t_s > t1):
The mean surface temperature of water is greater than the dry bulb
temperature of air, the water is externally heated.

Process 1-2B: Humidification (t_s = t1)

The mean surface temperature of water is equal to the dry bulb temperature
of air, the enthalpy of air increases. Hence the water is required to be
externally heated.

Process 1-2C: Cooling and humidification (t1’ < t_s <

t1)
The mean surface temperature of water is less than the dry bulb temperature
of air but greater than the wet bulb temperature of air. Though the air is
cooled, its enthalpy increases as a result of humidification. The water is,
therefore, required to be externally heated.

Process 1-2D: Adiabatic saturation (t1 ‘= t_s)

This is the case of pumped recirculation of water without any external heating
or

cooling as discussed in Sec. 14.5. The recirculated water reaches the

equilibrium

temperatures which is equal to the thermodynamic wet bulb temperature of

air.

Process 1-2E: Cooling and humidification (td < t_s< t1’)

The process is similar to 1-2C with the difference that the enthalpy of air

decreases in this case. Accordingly, water is required to be externally cooled.

Process 1-2F: Cooling (t_s = td)

The temperature of water is equal to the dew point temperature of air. Water
is
 required to be cooled.

Process 1-2G: Cooling and dehumidification (t_s< td)

The mean water surface temperature is lower than the dew point temperature
of

air. Air is simultaneously cooled and dehumidified. The process is exactly

similar to that of a cooling and dehumidifying coil. Again, the limiting process is
along the condition line tangent to the saturation line drawn from initial state
1.

It is thus seen that the air washer affords means for a year-round air-
conditioning

system.
 Conclusion
1. If the spray water is heated external to the washer, the WBT of
air increases.
2. If the spray water is cooled external to the washer, the WBT of
air decreases.
3. If the spray water is neither heated nor cooled external to
washer, the WBT of air is not changed. It is an adiabatic
saturation process.

Reference
4. Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning by C P Arora 3rd edition
5. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by S. N. SAPALI