Heating Humid Air

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Heating Humid Air

Calculating enthalpy change and temperature rise when heating moist and humid air without adding moisture
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The process of sensible heating - heating without adding moisture - of air can be expressed in the Mollier diagram as:

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Heating of air moves the air condition from A to B along a constant specific humidity - x - line. The supplied heat dH - can be read in the diagram as shown. The heating process of air expressed can also be expressed in the psychrometric chart as:

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Length m km in ft yards miles nautical miles Note! When heating air the specific moisture remains constant and the relative humidity decreases. Volume

Calculating Enthalpy
m3 liters in3 ft3 us gal Velocity m/s km/h ft/min ft/s mph knots Pressure h = 1.01 (kJ/kg.oC) t + x [1.84 (kJ/kg.oC) t + 2502 (kJ/kg)] Pa (N/m2) bar mm H2O (1b) The enthalpy of moist air can be expressed as: h = cpa t + x [cpw t + hwe] where h = specific enthalpy of moist air (kJ/kg) cpa = 1.01 - specific heat capacity of air at constant pressure (kJ/kgoC, kWs/kgK) t = air temperature (oC) x = humidity ratio (kg/kg) cpw = 1.84 - specific heat capacity of water vapor at constant pressure (kJ/kg.oC, kWs/kg.K) hwe = 2502 - evaporation heat of water at 0oC (kJ/kg) (1) can be modified as: (1)

The Enthalpy Difference

The enthalpy difference when heating air without changing moisture content can be expressed as:

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kg/cm2 psi inches H2O Flow m3/s m3/h US gpm cfm

dhA-B = cpa tB + x [cpw tB + hwe] - cpa tA + x [cpw tA + hwe] = cpa(tB - tA) + x cpw (tB - tA) (2)

Example - Enthalpy Difference Heating Air The specific humidity of air at 25oC and relative moisture 50% is 0.0115 kg/kg - check the Mollier diagram. The change in enthalpy when heating the air to 35oC can be calculated as: dhA-B = (1.01 kJ/kgoC)(35oC - 25oC) + (0.0115 kg/kg) (1.84 kJ/kgoC) (35oC - 25oC) = (10.1 kJ/kg) + (0.2 kJ/kg) = 10.3 (kJ/kg) Free Industry Magazines RFID Journal Note! The contribution from the water vapor is relatively small and for practical purposes it may often be neglected. (2) can then be modified to: dhA-B = cpa( tB - tA) (2b)

Increase in Temperature when Heating Air

If heat is added to humid air the increase air temperature can be calculated by modifying (2b) [(2) to be more exact]: tB - tA = dhA-B / cpa Information Management (2b)

Example - Heating Air and Temperature Rise If 10.1 kJ is added to 1 kg air, the temperature rise can be calculated as: tB - tA = (10.1 kJ/kg) / (1.01 kJ/kgoC) = 10 (oC)

Heat Flow in a Heating Coil

POWER The total heat flow rate through a heating coil can be calculated as: q = m (hB - hA) where q = heat flow rate (kJ/s, kW) m = mass flow rate of air (kg/s) (3)

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The total heat flow can also be expressed as: qs = v (hB - hA) where v = volume flow (m3/s) = density of air (kg/m3) Note! The density vary with temperature. At 0oC the density is 1.293 kg/m3. At 80oC the density is 1.0 kg/m3. It's common to express the sensible heat flow rate as: q = m cpa (tB - tA) or alternatively: q = v cpa (tB - tA) (3c) (3b) (3a)

Heating Coil Effectiveness

For a limited heating coil surface the average surface temperature will always be higher than the outlet air temperature. The effectiveness of a heating coil can be expressed as: = (tB - tA) / (tHC - tA) where = heating coil effectiveness tHC = mean surface temperature of the heating coil (oC) (4)

Example - Heating Air

1 m3/s of air at 15oC and relative humidity 60% (A) is heated to 30oC (B). The surface temperature of the heating coil is 80oC. The density of air at 20oC is 1.205 kg/m3. From the Mollier diagram the enthalpy in (A) is 31 kJ/kg and in (B) 46 kJ/kg. The heating coil effectiveness can be calculated as: = (30oC - 15oC) / (80oC - 15oC) = 0.23

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The heat flow can be calculated as: q = (1 m3/s) (1.205 kg/m3) ((46 kJ/kg) - (31 kJ/kg)) = 18 (kJ/s, kW) As an alternative, as one of the most common methods: q = (1 m3/s) (1.205 kg/m3) (1.01 kJ/kg.oC) (30oC - 15oC) = 18.3 (kJ/s, kW) Note! Due to inaccuracy when working diagrams there is a small difference between the total heat flow and the sum of the latent and sensible heat. This inaccuracy is in general within acceptable limits.
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Related Topics
Air Psychrometrics - The study of moist and humid air - air condition - psychrometric charts, Mollier diagrams, air temperature, absolute and relative humidity, moisture content and more

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