HUMIDIFICATION & DEHUMIDIFICATION OPERATION

UNIT-3

Introduction

Humidification operations involve simultaneous transfer of heat and mass between

a gas and a liquid when the gas is brought into contact with a liquid in which it is
insoluble.

Humidification is a general term and includes humidification, dehumidification and

cooling of gases as well as cooling of liquid.

The air water contact is practiced in four major areas as follows

A Adiabatic operations

1 Humidification (humidity increases)

Transfer of mass from liquid to gas by vaporization + heat transfer.

It is used for producing air of specific moisture content as required for some
processes like drying of certain solids under controlled conditions.

2 Dehumidification (humidity decreases)

Transfer of mass (vapor) from gas to liquid by condensation.

This is commonly used in air conditioning. Moist warm air is dehumidified by

contacting with water at a lower temperature.

In both the cases diffusion of water vapor through air is involved.

3 Water cooling

Transfer of sensible heat from liquid to gas + evaporation

Warm water from coolers and condensers is cooled by air-water contact before
reuse. Water cooling is the most widely used process involving air- water contact.

4 Gas cooling

Transfer of sensible heat from gas to liquid + evaporation

A hot air stream can be cooled by bringing it in contact with water.

B Non adiabatic operations

1 Evaporative cooling
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A liquid or gas inside a pipe is cooled by water flowing in a film outside, the later in
turn being cooled by direct contact with air.

2 Dehumidifying the gas

A gas-vapor mixture is brought into contact with refrigerated pipes and the vapor
condenses upon the pipes.

Terminology in Humidification

Humidity

The term humidity is used to indicate the concentration of the vapor in a gas vapor
mixture. For the air water vapor system it is defined as the amount of water vapor
present per unit quantity of dry air and can be expressed on a mole basis or a
mass basis.

The molal humidity is defined as the number of moles of water vapor present per
one mole of dry air.

Let there be nA moles of water vapor and nB moles of dry air in a given sample of
air water vapor system, Then

Molal humidity = moles of water vapor/ moles of dry air = n A/nB----1

Assume that the air water vapor mixture behaves as an ideal gas, the following
equations can be used to determine the number of moles of the constituents

nA = pA V/RT and nB = pB V/RT----2

Where V is the Volume of the mixture and T is the temperature. Combining

equation 1 and 2 we get

Molal humidity Y = nA/nB = p A/pB = pA/p-pA ----------3

If the gas were saturated with the vapors the molal humidity would corresponds to
molal saturation humidity YS = PAS/ (P-PAS) ------4

Where PAS is the vapor pressure of water.

Absolute humidity

It is defined as the mass of vapor present per unit mass of vapor free gas. For the
air water vapor system. It is the kilograms of water present per one kg of dry air. If
mA and mB are the are the weight of the vapor and the vapor free gas then absolute
humidity Y’ = mA/mB------5

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Relation between absolute humidity and molal humidity

Absolute humidity Y’ = mA/mB = nAMA / nBMB = Yx MA/MB ---6

Where MA and MB are the mol wt of A and B respectively. Combining with equation
3 and noting that for air the average molecular weight is approximately 29 and the
molecular weight of water is 18, the absolute humidity of the air water vapor system
can be related to the partial pressure as

Absolute humidity Y’ = p A/(P-pA)x 18/29----7

The absolute saturation humidity(Y’S)

It denotes the kg of water vapor that one kg of dry air can hold at saturated
conditions.

We can write Absolute saturation humidity Y’S = PAS/(P-PAS)XmA/MB----8

At the boiling point of the liquid the vapor pressure becomes equal to the total
pressure so that the denominator in equation 8 becomes equal to zero. It means
that as the boiling point of the liquid is approached the saturation humidity tends
to infinity.

Relative humidity

The degree of unsaturation of a gas vapor mixture can be expressed in two ways
the first is the percent relative humidity and second is the percent humidity.

Percent relative humidity

It is the ratio of the actual partial pressure exerted by the vapor to its vapor pressure
at the same temperature.

Percent relative humidity= pA/PAs x 100 ------9

Percent humidity

It is the ratio of molal humidity and molal humidity at saturation

Percent humidity = (nA /nB) / (nA/nB)S x 100 = Y/YS x 100% ----10

or it can be defined as the ratio of existing humidity of the mixture to the humidity
if the gas mixture is saturated with the vapors.

Percent humidity = Y/YS x 100% = Y’/Y’S x 100 ---11

A percent humidity of 50% means that the water content present in the given
system per one kg of dry air is only half of the water that one kg dry air will contain
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if the air is saturated with water vapor at the same temperature. On the other hand
the relative humidity of 50% means that the partial pressure of water in the air
water vapor mixture is only one half of the vapor pressure of water at the
temperature of the system.

Relation between relative humidity and percent humidity

We substitute eq 3 and eq 4 into eq 11

We get Percent humidity = Y/YS x 100 %

We know that Y = pA / (P-pA) and YS = PAS/P-PAS

Then Percent humidity = (pA / (P-pA) / (PAS/P-PAS) x 100%---------12

The above eq 12 can be written as

Percent humidity = Relative humidity (P-PAS) / (P-pA) ---13

Since the ratio (P-PAS) / (P-pA) in eq 13 is always less than 1. Percent humidity<
Relative humidity.

Dry bulb temperature

The temperature of a vapor gas mixture as recorded by immersing the bulb of a

thermometer in the mixture is called dry bulb temperature

Humid volume

The volume occupied by unit mass of dry gas and the volume of vapor contained
by it at that condition in consistent units is termed humid volume (vH) of the vapor
gas mixture.

VH = (Y/MA+ 1/MB) x 22.4x (tG + 273/273) X1/P

Humid heat

Humid heat (CS) is defined as sum of the specific heat of the dry gas and the
specific heat of the vapor contained by the gas multiplied by the absolute humidity

CS = CB + YCA

Where CA and CB are the specific heat of the vapor and the dry gas

In the air water system of ordinary temperature and pressure the heat capacities
of the dry air and water vapor being approximately 1.005 and 1.88 kj/kg K , the
humid heat of moist air may be expressed as

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CS = 1.005 + 1.88 YkJ/kg dry air K

Dew point

It is defined as the temperature at which a vapor gas mixture becomes saturated

when cooled at constant pressure in the absence of the liquid. In other words at
the dew point the partial pressure of the vapor in the mixture becomes equal to the
vapor pressure of the liquid.

Dew point is always lower than the dry bulb temperature of the gas except at
saturation when both become equal.

Enthalpy

The enthalpy (H) of a vapor gas mixture is the sum of the enthalpies of the dry gas
and of the vapor contained in it The enthalpy of the vapor gas mixture per unit
weight of the dry gas is given by

H= CS (tg – t0) + Y‫ג‬

Adiabatic saturation Temperature

It refers to a temperature at which water converts into air by the process of

evaporation and the device used for this adiabatically type of process is known as
adiabatic saturator.

Wet bulb temperature

Wet bulb temperature is the steady state temperature attained by a small amount
of liquid evaporating into a large amount of unsaturated vapor- gas mixture.

When a small drop of liquid is brought into contact with a moving stream of vapor
gas mixture whose dew point is lower than the temperature of the liquid, the vapor
pressure of the liquid at its surface becomes higher than the partial pressure of the
vapor in the bulk of the gas. As a result the liquid evaporates and diffuses into the
gas. The required latent heat is initially drawn from the liquid and the temperature
of the liquid starts going down.. Finally a dynamic equilibrium is established so that
so that the sensible heat transferred from the gas to the liquid is equal to the latent
heat required to maintain the evaporation of the liquid. The steady state
temperature is called the wet bulb temperature.

Wet bulb temperature is an important psychometric property of air water system.

It is measured by a wet bulb thermometer. In a wet bulb thermometer a wet wick
covers the bulb of the thermometer, the other end of the wick is dipped into a water
pot. The wick remains wet by capillary action. The thermometer is placed in a

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moving stream of unsaturated air water vapor mixture whose wet bulb temperature
has to be measured. The temperature indicated by the wet bulb thermometer is
the wet bulb temperature. Wet bulb temperature mainly depends on the dry bulb
temperature of the air and its humidity.

Figure 1.1 Wet bulb Temperature

Let us consider a drop of water surrounded by a moving stream of large quantity

of unsaturated air water vapor as stated above and shown in figure1.1

Under steady state conditions, the sensible heat q1 transferred from air to water
drop is

Q =hG (TG – TW ) ------------------1

Where TG = Dru bulb temperature of the air

TW = Wet bulb temperature

hG = heat transfer coefficient of the air film

we know that heat flux and mass flux are related as

Q= N λW ---------------------2

Where N is the mass flux and λW is the latent heat of vaporization

The number of moles of water evaporated is N = K y (YW – Y)------------------3

Since the sensible heat transferred from air to water is fully utilized as latent heat
of vaporization of water.
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From equation 1, 2 and 3 we can write

Q = hG (TG – T W) = λW Ky (YW – Y)--------4

Then we get TG – TW) = λW (YW – Y) / (hG/ Ky)------5

Where Ky is the mass transfer coefficient of water vapor per unit partial pressure /
mole fraction driving force, kg/m2hr (driving force)

λW is the latent heat of vaporization of water at WBT

Y= humidity of ambient air

YW = Saturation humidity of air at wet bulb temperature

The equation no 5 is used to determine the wet bulb temperature provided hG and
Ky are known.

Experimental data indicate that for air water system under moderate conditions the
ratio (hG/ Ky) is approximately equal to 0.227 kcal/kg 0C which is equal to the humid
heat (CS) of air at moderate humidifies. This leads to a very interesting correlation
known as Lewis relation. That is

(hG/ Ky) = CS ----6

Or we can write from equation no 5 and 6 as TG – TW ) = λW (YW – Y) /CS-----7

Note: The adiabatic saturation temperature and wet bulb temperature of an air
water system are almost equal.. This is how ever not true for other systems.

The psychometric chart

A psychometric chart for air water vapor at 1 atm pressure is shown in figure. In
this chart, temperature is plotted along the abscissa. All the four relevant
temperatures namely dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, adiabatic
saturation temperature and dew point can be read from the abscissa. The ordinate
represent the absolute humidity, percentage humidity, specific volume of dry air ,
humid volume of saturated air , enthalpy of dry air and enthalpy of saturated air.
These properties are all interrelated so that any two of them are known, the rest
can be determined from the chart.

Cooling Tower

A Cooling tower is a special type of heat exchanger in which the warm water and
the air are brought in direct contact for evaporative cooling. It must provide a very
good contact of air and water in terms of the contact area and mass transfer
coefficient of water vapor while keeping the air pressure drop low.
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Classification of cooling tower

Classification based on air draft

1 Atmospheric

2 Natural draft

3 Mechanical draft

(a) Forced draft

(b) Induced draft

Classification based on air flow pattern

(a) Cross flow (b) Counter flow

Forced draft cooling tower

Process description

It has one or more fans located at the tower bottom to push air into the tower.
This is why it is called forced draft. The air flows counter current to water. In the
tower, Air enters the tower beneath the fill and is drawn up vertically into the
tower. Above the fill, hot water is introduced through low pressure spray
nozzles to divide the hot water over the surface of the fill in fine droplets. The
cooling air draws heat from the water as it progresses to the bottom of the
tower. Part of the water evaporates into the air, and sensible heat is transferred
from the warm water to the cooler air.

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The advantage are the following (1) A part of the velocity head of air thrown
by the blower is converted to pressure head on entering into the tower. This
makes the forced draft tower slightly more energy efficient than the induced
draft type (ii) The system is less susceptible to vibrations because the fans are
installed near the ground on a solid foundation.

The disadvantage are (1) The air flow through the packing may not be uniform
(ii) some of the warm and humid air may be recirculated back into the tower
there by reducing the performance. The recirculation rate becomes low if the
wind velocity is high. Forced draft tower is not very popular except for small
capacities.

The difference in temperature is known as approach and change in

temperature in the water from inlet to out let is known as the range.

Induced draft towers

An induced draft tower has one or more fans located at the top . The fans suck
fresh air through the air inlets at the bottom. The air flow or draft is induced by
the suction created by the fans and hence the names . They are two types
cross flow and counter flow –depending upon the air inlet and flow pattern . In
a counter flow induced draft tower a vertical movement of air counter current to
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 the warm water occurs. The major advantage of this flow configuration is that
the relatively dry air contacts the coldest water at the bottom and the humid air
contacts the warm water at the top of the tower. This ensures maximum
average driving force for both heat and mass transfer. But more fan horse
power is required because of the restricted area of air flow at the bottom and,
unlike the forced draft system, the velocity head of the air thrown out of the
tower by the fan is dissipated.

Methods for determining humidity

The humidity of a stream may be found by measuring either the dew point or
the wet bulb temperature or by direct absorption methods.

Dew point methods

If a cooled, polished disk is inserted into gas of unknown humidity and the
temperature of the disk gradually lowered, the disk reaches a temperature at
which mist condenses on the polished surface. The temperature at which this
mist just forms is the temperature of equilibrium between the vapor in the gas
and the liquid phase. It is therefore the dew point. A check on the reading is
obtained by slowly increasing the disk temperature and noting the temperature
at which the mist just disappears. From the average of the temperatures of mist
formation and disappearance, the humidity can be read from a humidity chart.

Psychometric method

A very common method of measuring the humidity is to determine

simultaneously the wet bulb and dry bulb temperature. From these readings
the humidity is found by locating the psychometric line intersecting the
saturation line at the observed wet bulb temperature and following the
psychometric line to its intersection with the ordinate of the observed dry bulb
temperature.

Direct methods.

The vapor content of a gas can be determined by direct analysis, in which a

known volume of gas is drawn through an appropriate analytical device.

Applications of humidification/dehumidification in chemical and process

industries

The industries like petroleum refineries, petrochemical plants and paper

pulp industries etc. require very large cooling capacities. The requirement of each
industry-process wise and equipment-wise is different hence refrigeration system
has to be customized and optimized for individual application. The main

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applications of refrigeration in chemical and process industries involve the
following categories.

 Separation of gases: In petrochemical plant, temperatures as low as –

150oC with refrigeration capacities as high as 10,000 Tons of Refrigeration
(TR) are used for separation of gases by fractional distillation. Some gases
condense readily at lower temperatures from the mixtures of hydrocarbon.
Propane is used as refrigerant in many of these plants.

 Condensation of Gases: some gases that are produced synthetically, are

condensed to liquid state by cooling, so that these can be easily stored and
transported in liquid state. For example, in synthetic ammonia plant,
ammonia is condensed at –10 to 10oC before filling in the cylinders, storage
and shipment. This low temperature requires refrigeration.

 Dehumidification of Air: Low humidity air is required in many

pharmaceutical industries. It is also required for air liquefaction plants. This
is also required to prevent static electricity and prevents short circuits in
places where high voltages are used. The air is cooled below its dew point
temperature, so that some water vapor condenses out and the air gets
dehumidified.

 Cooling for preservation: Many compounds decompose at room

temperature or these evaporate at a very fast rate. Certain drugs,
explosives and natural rubber can be stored for long periods at lower
temperatures.

 Recovery of Solvents: In many chemical processes solvents are used,

which usually evaporate after reaction. These can be recovered by
condensation at low temperature by refrigeration system. Some of the
examples are acetone in film manufacture and carbon tetrachloride in textile
production.

 Solidification of Solute: One of the processes of separation of a substance

or pollutant or impurity from liquid mixture is by its solidification at low
temperature. Lubricating oil is de waxed in petroleum industry by cooling it
below –25oC. Wax solidifies at about –25oC.
 Storage as liquid at low pressure: Liquid occupies less space than gases.
Most of the refrigerants are stored at high pressure. This pressure is usually
their saturation pressure at atmospheric temperature. For some gases,
saturation pressure at room temperature is very high hence these are stored
at relatively low pressure and low temperature. For example natural gas is
stored at 0.7 bar gauge pressure and –130oC. Heat gain by the cylinder
walls leads to boiling of some gas, which is compressed, cooled and
expanded back to 0.7 bar gauge.

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 Removal of Heat of Reaction: In many chemical reactions, efficiency is
better if the reaction occurs below room temperature. This requires
refrigeration. If these reactions are exothermic in nature, then more
refrigeration capacities are required. Production of viscose rayon, cellular
acetate and synthetic rubber are some of the examples. Fermentation is
also one of the examples of this.

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