8/27/2019 Enthalpy of Moist Air

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Enthalpy of Moist Air

The enthalpy of humid air consists of sensible and latent heat
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Moist air is a mixture of dry air and water vapor. In atmospheric air water vapor content varies from 0 - 3% by mass. The enthalpy of moist and
humid air includes the

enthalpy of the dry air - the sensible heat

enthalpy of the evaporated water in the air - the latent heat

The total enthalpy - sensible and latent - is used when calculating cooling and heating processes.

Specific enthalpy - h - (J/kg, Btu/lb) of moist air is defined as the total enthalpy (J, Btu) of the dry air and the water vapor mixture - per unit
mass (kg, lb) of dry air.

Specific Enthalpy of Moist Air

Specific enthalpy of moist air can be expressed as:

h = h a + x hw (1)

where

h = specific enthalpy of moist air (kJ/kg, Btu/lb)

ha = specific enthalpy of dry air (kJ/kg, Btu/lb)

x = humidity ratio (kg/kg, lb/lb)

hw = specific enthalpy of water vapor (kJ/kg, Btu/lb)

Specific Enthalpy of Dry Air - the Sensible Heat

Assuming constant pressure conditions the specific enthalpy of dry air can be expressed as:

ha = cpa t (2)

where

cpa = specific heat of air at constant pressure (kJ/kgoC, kWs/kgK, Btu/lboF)

t = air temperature (oC, oF)

For air temperature between -100oC (-150oF) and 100oC (212oF) the specific heat can be set to

cpa = 1.006 (kJ/kgoC)

= 0.240 (Btu/lboF)

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Note! - that the enthalpy is 0 kJ/kg at 0oC. This is not correct according the definition of enthalpy in the thermodynamics , but for practical
purposes in air psychrometrics this assumption is good enough since our interest is the enthalpy difference.

Specific Enthalpy of Water Vapor - the Latent Heat

Assuming constant pressure conditions the specific enthalpy of water vapor can be expressed as:

hw = cpw t + hwe (3)

where

cpw = specific heat of water vapor at constant pressure (kJ/kgoC, kWs/kgK)

t = water vapor temperature (oC)

hwe = evaporation heat of water at 0oC (kJ/kg)

For water vapor the specific heat can be set to

cpw = 1.84 (kJ/kgoC)

= 0.444 (Btu/lboF)

The evaporation heat (water at 0oC, 32oF) can be set to

hwe = 2501 (kJ/kg)

= 1061 (Btu/lb)

Using (2) and (3), (1) can be modified to

h = cpa t + x [cpw t + hwe] (4)

(1b) in metric units

h = (1.006 kJ/kgoC) t + x [(1.84 kJ/kgoC) t + (2501 kJ/kg)] (5)

where

h = enthalpy (kJ/kg)

x = mass of water vapor (kg/kg)

t = temperature (oC)

(1b) in Imperial units

h = (0.240 Btu/lboF) t + x [(0.444 Btu/lboF) t + (1061 Btu/lb)] (6)

where

h = enthalpy (Btu/lb)

x = mass of water vapor (lb/lb)

t = temperature (oF)

Note! - the "reference" points for the metric and imperial enthalpies are different.

for eq. (5) metric units - the "reference" point for enthalpy h = 0 (kJ/kg) is t = 0 oC (32oF) and x = 0 kg/kg
for eq. (6) imperial units - the "reference" point for enthalpy h = 0 (Btu/lb) is t = 0 oF (-17.8oC) and x = 0 lb/lb. The evaporation heat for
water at 0 oF is 1061 Btu/lb as used in eq. (6).

You can not convert from metric to imperial enthalpy or vice versa directly.

Example - Enthalpy in Moist Air

The enthalpy of humid air at 25oC with specific moisture content x = 0.0203 kg/kg (saturation), can be calculated as:

h = (1.006 kJ/kgoC) (25oC) + (0.0203 kg/kg) [(1.84 kJ/kgoC) (25oC) + (2501 kJ/kg)]

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= (25.15 kJ/kg) + [(0.93 kJ/kg) + (50.77 kJ/kg)]

= 76.9 (kJ/kg)

Note! - the latent heat due to evaporation of water is the major part of the enthalpy. The sensible heat due to heating evaporated water vapor
can be almost neglected.

Enthalpy of Moist Air containing Water as Fog

If the air contains more water than limited by saturation, some of the water exists as droplets - as fog. The enthalpy of moist air with fog can
be expressed as:

h = cpa t + xs [cpw t + hwe] + (x - xs) cw t (7)

where

xs = humidity ratio at saturation (kg/kg)

cw = 4.19 - specific heat water (kJ/kgoC)

Enthalpy of Moist Air containing Ice or Snow

If the air contains water as ice or snow, the enthalpy of air can be expressed as:

h = cpa t + xs [cpw t + hwe] + (x - xs) ci t - (x - xs) him (8)

where

ci = 2.05 - specific heat ice (kJ/kgoC)

him= 335 - melting heat of ice (kJ/kg)

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Related Topics
Air Psychrometrics - The study of moist and humid air - psychrometric charts, Mollier diagrams, air-condition temperatures and
absolute and relative humidity and moisture content

Related Documents
Air - Specific Heat at Constant Pressure and Varying Temperature - Online calculator, figures and tables showing how specific
heat (Cp and Cv) of dry air vary with temperature at different pressures, SI and imperial units
Air - Thermophysical Properties - Thermal properties of air - density, viscosity, critical temperature and pressure, triple point,
enthalpi and entropi, thermal conductivity and diffusicity, and more
Air Heating Systems - Using air to heat buildings - temperature rise diagram
Air Humidity measured by Dry and Wet Bulb Temperature - Estimate moist air relative humidity by measuring dry and wet bulb
temperature
Cooling Tower Efficiency - Maximum cooling tower efficiency is limited by the wet-bulb temperature of the cooling air
Dry Bulb, Wet Bulb and Dew Point Temperatures - Dry Bulb, Wet Bulb and Dew Point temperatures are important to determine the
state of humid air
Drying Force of Air - The drying force of air can be expressed with moisture holding capacity of air and the evaporation capacity from
water surface to air
Evaporation from Water Surface - Evaporation of water from a water surface - like a swimming pool or an open tank - depends on
water temperature, air temperature, air humidity and air velocity above the water surface - online calculator
Evaporative Cooling - An evaporative cooling tutorial
Great Sensible Heat Factor - GSHF - Great Sensible Heat Factor is the ratio between sensible and total heat in a cooling coil
Heat Recovery Efficiency - Classification of heat recovery efficiency - temperature efficiency, moisture efficiency and enthalpy
efficiency - online heat exchanger efficiency calculator
Heat Removed with Cooled Air - Heat removed when air is cooled to storage room conditions
Heat-Recovery - Ventilation and heat-recovery calculations, sensible and latent heat -online calculators - imperial units
Heating Humid Air - Enthalpy change and temperature rise when heating humid air without adding moisture
Humidifying Air by Adding Steam or Water - Air can be humidified by adding water or steam
Humidifying Air with Steam - SI units - Use steam to humidify air
Humidity Ratio of Air - The ratio between the mass of water vapor present in moist air - to the mass of dry air
Latent Heat Flow - Latent heat is the heat, when supplied to or removed from air, results in a change in moisture content - the
temperature of the air is not changed
Maximum Moisture Carrying Capacity of Air - Maximum water content in humid air depends on temperature
Mixing Humid Air - The state of mixed moist air - enthalpy, heat, temperature and specific humidity
Moist Air and Daltons Law of Partial Pressure - Pressure in a mixture of dry air and water vapor - humid or moist air - can be
estimated by using Daltons Law of Partial Pressures
Moist Air and Degree of Saturation - Humidity ratio of moist air to humidity ratio of saturated moist air

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Moist Air Properties - Psychrometric table with humid air properties
Mollier Diagram for Water-Steam - Enthalpy-entropy diagram for water and steam
Psychrometric Table - 29.92 Inches of Mercury - Dry and wet bulb temperature, pressure and weight saturated water vapor and air
saturated with water vapor
Psychrometric Terms - Dry and Wet Bulb Temperature, Specific Volume, Relative Humidity, Enthalpy and more ..
Relationship between Specific and Relative Humidity of Air - Calculating specific humidity of moist air - knowing relative humidity,
water vapor and air density
Removing Heat with Air - Estimating heat removed with air using wet bulb temperature
Water - Thermophysical Properties - Thermal properties of water - density, freezing temperature, boiling temperature, latent heat of
melting, latent heat of evaporation, critical temperature and more

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