Separation III

Chapter 1: Humidification
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
DR LIM MEE WEI
(LIMMEEWEI@SEGI.EDU.MY)

1
Objectives
At the end of this chapter, you are expected to understand
the following terms and conduct the calculations for:
 Humidity definitions
 Vapour pressure of water
 Humidity chart
 Adiabatic saturation temperatures
 Wet-bulb temperature

2
 Drying principles
What is drying?
Removal small amount of water/other liquid from solid
material by air.
[Solids point of view]

Output: Solids becomes dry (reduced water/liquid

concentration)

3
Humidification principles
What is humidification?
Transfer of small amount of water/other liquids from
liquid phase into a gaseous mixture of air and water
vapour
[Air point of view]

Output: Air becomes wet (increased water concentration)

4
 Humidification principles
What is dehumidification?
Removal of small amount of water/other liquids from
gaseous mixture of air and water vapour to liquid state

[Air point of view]

Output: Air becomes dry (reduced water concentration)

5
Humidification principles
 Humidification and dehumidification refers to the
concentration of water vapor in air under various
conditions of temperature and pressure
 Essential to estimate the efficiency of separation and
transport processes
 Humidity can refer to vapor mixtures of other materials
such as benzene, but practical applications occur with
water.
 From this point, humidification is related to vapor
pressure of water

6
VAPOR PRESSURE OF
WATER

7
Vapor Pressure of water
 Three physical states of pure water:
 Solid (ice)
 Liquid
 Gas (vapor)
Phase
 Physical state depends on: diagram
 Pressure
 Temperature

8
Phase Diagram (Water)

Line A-D: Solid and

liquid coexist
Line A-E: Liquid and
Liquid vapor coexist

Solid
Gas
F
Line A-F: Solid and
vapor coexist

9
Phase Diagram (Water)
Line (1)-(2)
• Ice heated at
constant pressure
Liquid • As the line crosses
(1) (2) A-D, solid melts
• As line crosses A-E,
Liquid vaporizes

Solid Line (3)-(4)

• Ice heated at
Gas
constant pressure
• As the line crosses
(3)
(4) A-F, ice sublimes
F (vaporizes) directly
to vapor

10
Phase Diagram (Water)

Line A-D: Solid and

liquid coexist
Line A-E: Liquid and
Liquid vapor coexist
Vapor-pressure line

Solid
Gas
F
Line A-F: Solid and
vapor coexist

11
Phase Diagram (Water)
 Vapor-pressure: Measure or tendency of molecules to escape as gas
from liquid
 Boiling occurs when the vapor pressure of water = total pressure above
the water surface (ambient pressure)
 Example:
 At 100 oC, vapor pressure of water is 101.3 kPa (1 atm). This means that
water would boil at 101.3 kPa at 100 oC
 At 65.6 oC, vapor pressure of water is 25.7 kPa (Steam table). This means that
water would boil at 25.7 kPa at 65.6 oC
 Question: In a room of 101.3 kPa (1 atm) and water temperature of 65.6 oC,
will the water boil? Justify in terms of vapor pressure.
Answer: At water temperature of 65.6 oC, the vapor pressure is again at 25.7 kPa.
Since the vapor pressure is below the total (room) pressure, therefore the water
would not boil. This suggests that the vapor pressure of the water is independent
of the total pressure of the system.

12
HUMIDITY DEFINITIONS

13
Humidity
 We known that humidification and dehumidification is related to
either removal or addition process of water vapor concentration in
the air
 HUMIDITY (H) = Measure of water content in air.
 Mass (kg) of water vapor per unit mass (kg) of dry air [kg water/kgdry air]
 Absolute humidity, humidity ratio

 Study of relationships between air and its associated water is known

as psychrometry (humidity chart)

14
Humidity
(1) HUMIDITY, H (kg of water vapor contained in 1 kg of dry air)
• Partial pressure of water, pA
• Total pressure, P (assumed to be 101.325 kPa abs, 1.0 atm, or
760 mmHg)

kg H 2O p A kg mol H 2O 18.02 kg H 2O 1
H   
kg dry air P  p A kg mol air kg mol H 2O 28.97 kg air / kg mol air

18.02 p A
H
28.97 P  p A

15
Humidity
(2) SATURATED HUMIDITY, HS
• Air is saturated with water vapor at given temperature and
pressure
• partial pressure of water vapor in air-water mixture = saturation
vapor pressure of water at that temperature
• Vapor pressure of water, pAS
kg H 2O p AS kg mol H 2O 18.02 kg H 2O 1
HS    
kg dry air P  p AS kg mol air kg mol H 2O 28.97 kg air / kg mol air

18.02 p AS
HS 
28.97 P  p AS

16
Humidity
(3) PERCENTAGE HUMIDITY, HP
• 100 times the actual humidity H of the air divided by saturation
humidity, HS at the same pressure and temperature
H
H P  100
HS

(4) PERCENTAGE RELATIVE HUMIDITY, HR

• Amount of saturation of an air-water vapor mixture
pA
H R  100
p AS

17
Tutorial 1, Question 1
The air in a room at 26.7ºC and a pressure of 101.325 kPa
and contains water vapor with partial pressure pA = 2.76
kPa.
Calculate the following:
a) Humidity, H
b) Saturation Humidity, HS
c) Percentage Humidity, HP
d) Percentage relative humidity, HR

18
Humidity
(5) DEW POINT OF AN AIR-WATER VAPOR MIXTURE, Td
• Temperature at which a given mixture of air and water vapor would
be saturated (saturation temperature), H = 100%
• Known as the temperature where first dew (condensation) is formed
• Example:
• At 26.7 oC, saturation vapor pressure of water, PAS is 3.5 kPa.
• Dew point of a mixture containing water vapor having a partial pressure of
3.5 kPa is 26.7 oC.
• If an air-water vapor mixture is at 37.8 oC (dry-bulb temperature,
measured by thermometer); and contains waster vapor of PA = 3.5 kPa,
mixture is not saturated.
• Upon cooling to 26.7 oC, air would be saturated (dew point).

19
Humidity
  HUMID HEAT OF AN AIR-WATER VAPOR MIXTURE, c S
(6)
• Amount of heat in J or kJ required to raise the temperature of 1 kg
of dry air plus the water vapor present by 1 K or 1 oC
• Heat capacity is assumed to be constant over the temperature
ranges
• Heat capacity of dry air: 1.005 kJ/kg dry air.K
• Heat capacity of water vapor: 1.88 kJ/kg water vapor. K

[Unit:

20
Humidity
 (7) HUMID VOLUME OF AN AIR-WATER VAPOR MIXTURE, vH
• Total volume in m3 of 1 kg of dry air plus the vapor it contains at
1 atm abs and the given air temperature

[Unit: m3/kg dry air]

• For saturated air-water vapor mixture, H = HS and vH is the

saturated volume

21
Humidity
(8) TOTAL ENTHALPHY OF AN AIR-WATER VAPOR MIXTURE, Hy
• Total enthalpy of 1 kg of air plus its water vapor in kJ/kg dry air

Hy (kJ/kg dry air) = cS (T - T0) + H 0

• If the enthalphy is referred to a base temperature T0 of 0oC, the

equation for Hy becomes:

Hy (kJ/kg dry air) = (1.005 + 1.88 H) (T C – 0) + 2501.4 H

22
HUMIDITY CHART

23
Humidity (Psychrometric) Chart
•• Convenient
Convenient chartchart ofof all
all the
the
properties
properties of of air-water
air-water vapor
vapor
mixtures
mixtures at
at 11 atm
atm abs
abs pressure
pressure

•• Humidity,
Humidity, H
H is
is plotted
plotted versus
versus dry
dry
bulb
bulb temperature
temperature

24
Tutorial 1, Question 4
Air entering a dryer has a temperature (dry bulb temperature) of 60 oC
and a dew point of 26.7 oC. Using the humidity chart, determine the
following:
a) actual humidity, H
b) Percentage humidity, Hp
c) Humid heat, cs
d) Humid volume, vH

25
Tutorial 1, Question 4 (Working, part (a))
Given
Given TTdew = 26.7 ooC
dew = 26.7 C

Note:
Note: TTdew is the temperature
dew is the temperature
when
when the
the given
given mixture
mixture isis at
at
100%
100% saturation
saturation

ACTUAL
ACTUAL HUMIDITY,
HUMIDITY,
part
part(a),
(a), HH==0.0225
0.0225
kg
kgHH22O/
O/kg kg dry
dryair
air

TTdew = 26.7 ooC

dew = 26.7 C

26
Tutorial 1, Question 2 (Working, part (b))
Given
Given TTdry = 60 ooC
dry = 60 C

RELATIVE
RELATIVE HUMIDITY
HUMIDITY Note:
Note: 0.0225
0.0225 kg kg HH22O/
O/ kgkg
(part
(part (b)), HHRR == 15%
(b)), 15% dry air is the actual
dry air is the actual
Linear interpolation
Linear interpolation humidity
humidity ofof the
the air
air at
at 60
60ooCC
between
between 10 10 & & 20%
20%
HH == 0.0225
0.0225 kgkg
HH22O/ kg dry air
O/ kg dry air

TTdry = 60 ooC
dry = 60 C

27
ADIABATIC SATURATION
TEMPERATURES

28
Adiabatic Saturation Temperatures
• Consider the process where the entering gas of air-water vapor
mixture is contacted with a spray of liquid water

• The gas leaves at a different humidity and temperature and the

process is adiabatic

• Temperature of water that is being recirculated reaches a steady

state temperature  Adiabatic Saturation Temperature, TS

29
Adiabatic Saturation Temperatures
Gas = air-water vapour mixture

Inlet Gas, H, T Outlet Gas, HS, TS

cooled water vapour

Make-up
water, TS Recirculation water, TS
(ADIABATIC SATURATION
TEMPERATURE)

30
Adiabatic Saturation Temperatures
• An enthalpy balance (heat balance) over the process with datum Ts is used
• Enthalpy of makeup water = 0
• Total enthalpy of the entering gas mixture = enthalpy of the leaving gas
mixture.
cs  T  Ts  s  cs  T  Ts   H s s

• Rearranging for cs will yield:

H  Hs cs 1.005  1.88 H
 
T  Ts s s

• This is the equation for the adiabatic humidifaction curve on the

psychrometric curve

31
Humidity (Psychrometric) Chart

32
Adiabatic Saturation Temperatures
• When the contact between entering gas and water spray is
ENOUGH (sufficiently long time):
• Gas and liquid is at equilibrium
• Leaving air is saturated at TS and HS
• Can be obtained from the 100% saturation curve

• When the contact between entering gas and water spray is NOT
ENOUGH (insufficient time):
• Leaving mixture at percentage saturation <100% but on the
same line

33
Tutorial 2, Question 1
An air stream at 87.8 oC is having a humidity of H=0.03 kg H2O/kg dry air
is contacted in an adiabatic saturator with water. It is cooled and
humidified to 90% saturation.
a) Determine the final values of H and T
b) For 100% saturation, what would be the values of H and T?

34
Tutorial 2, Question 1 (Working, part (a))
Final
Final values
values of
of H
H and
and TT
after
after 90%
90% humidification
humidification

Note:
Note: Cooled
Cooled and
and humidified
humidified
to
to 90% (Follow the adiabatic
90% (Follow the adiabatic
saturation
saturation curve)
curve)

(a)
(a) HHnew = 0.0475
new = 0.0475
kg
kg HH22O/
O/ kg
kg dry
dry air
air
HH==0.03
0.03kg
kg HH22O/
O/
kg
kgdry
dryair
air

(a)
(a) TTnew = 42.5ooC
new = 42.5 C
TT == 87.8
87.8ooCC

35
Tutorial 2, Question 1 (Working, part (b))
Final
Final values
values of
of H
H and
and TT
after
after 100%
100% humidification
humidification

Note:
Note: Cooled
Cooled and
and humidified
humidified
to
to 100% (Follow the adiabatic
100% (Follow the adiabatic
saturation
saturation curve)
curve)

(b)
(b) HHnew = 0.050
new = 0.050
kg
kg HH22O/
O/ kg
kg dry
dry air
air

HH==0.03
0.03kg
kg HH22O/
O/
kg
kgdry
dryair
air

(b)
(b) TTnew = 40ooC
new = 40 C
TT == 87.8
87.8ooCC

36
WET BULB
TEMPERATURE

37
Wet Bulb Temperature
• Temperature indicated by a
moistened thermometer bulb
exposes to air flow
• Measured using a thermometer with
bulb wrapped in wet muslin
• Represents adiabatic evaporation of
water from thermometer and
cooling effect is indicated by wet
bulb temperature lower than dry
bulb temperature in air

38
Wet Bulb Temperature
• Rate of evaporation from wet bandage on bulb and
temperature difference between dry bulb and wet bulb
depends on humidity of air
• Evaporation is reduced when air contains more water
vapour
• Wet bulb temperature is always lower than dry bulb
temperature, but will be identical withy 100% relative
humidity, air is at saturation line
• In a psychrometric chart, the adiabatic saturation lines
can also be used as wet bulb lines with reasonable
accuracy

39
Tutorial 2, Question 4
A water vapor-mixture having a dry bulb temperature of T =
60 oC is passed over a wet bulb, and the wet bulb
temperature obtained is Tw = 29.5 oC. What is the humidity
of the mixture?

40
Tutorial 2, Question 4 (Working)
H
H of
of mixture
mixture

Adiabatic
Adiabatic
saturation
saturation lines
lines ==
Wet
Wet bulb
bulb curves
curves

HHmixture = 0.015 kg
mixture = 0.015 kg
HH22O/
O/ kg dry
kg dry air
air

TTww == 29.5
29.5ooCC TTdd== 60
60ooCC

41
COOLING &
DEHUMIDIFICATION

42
Cooling & Dehumidification of
Air (Tutorial 2, Question 7)
Air having a dry bulb temperature of 37.8 oC and a wet bulb
temperature of 26.7 oC is to be dried by first cooling to 15.6
oC to condense water vapor, and then heating to 23.9 oC.

a. Calculate the initial humidity and percentage

humidity
b. Calculate the final humidity and percentage humidity
after cooling and heating

43
Tutorial 2, Question 7 (Working, Part (a))
Initial
Initial H
H&&H
Hpp

Adiabatic
Adiabatic
saturation
saturation lines
lines ==
Wet
Wet bulb
bulb curves
curves

HHpp == 40%
40%

HHmixture = 0.0175
mixture = 0.0175
kg
kg HH22O/
O/ kg
kgdry
dry air
air

26.7ooCC TTdd== 37.8

TTww == 26.7 37.8ooCC

44
Tutorial 2, Question 7 (Working, Part
(b))
Final
Final H
H&&H
Hpp

Sensible
Sensible cooling
cooling
Latent
Latent cooling
cooling

Heating
Heating
HH == 0.0125
0.0125 kg kg
HH22O/ kg dry air
O/ kg dry air

TTcooled = 15.6ooC TTheated = 23.9ooC HHpp == 57%

57%
cooled = 15.6 C heated = 23.9 C TTdd == 37.8
37.8ooCC

45
Learning Checklist
 Review and understand phase diagram
 Vapor pressure versus physical states
 Understand and discuss terms:
 Humidification and dehumidification
 Humidity, % humidity, % relative humidity, humid heat, humid volume,
dew point, total enthalpy, wet bulb temperature

 Solve calculations and problems using the psychrometric chart:

 Humidity
 Adiabatic saturation temperature
 Wet bulb temperature

46
References
Books :
1. Geankoplis C. J., Transport Processes and Separation Process
Principles, 4th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2003.
2. McCabe W. M., Smith J. C. and Harriott P., Unit Operations of
Chemical Engineering, 7th Ed., McGraw Hill, 2005.

47